Leadership Academy provides update on succession planning guide

The Leadership Academy Class of 2018-19 shared its service project with the Board of Governors during the Board’s July 12 meeting. The project, A Missouri Guide to Succession Planning, is designed to be a comprehensive resource for Missouri lawyers as they plan to transition out of law practice.

The class chose this project to update a resource originally drafted in 2005 that did not include recent changes to Rule 5.26 regarding designation and appointment of trustees. The updated resource will also add checklists and forms to assist practitioners in planning for transitions in practice. Prior to publication, the guide will be reviewed by the Legal Ethics Counsel to ensure it conforms to the requirements of disciplinary and professional responsibility rules.

Members of the 2018-19 Leadership Academy class are Portia Britt. Branden Brooks, Melissa Buchanan, Olenka George, Jason Harmon, Amy Jackson, Kristen Johnson, Charles "Chip" Lee, Maurice Moss, Rachel Rutter, Scott Schrum, Cara Stuckel, and Kimberly Turner.Assistance was provided to the class by Leadership Academy alumnus and advising co-chairs Mohsen Pasha and Austin Fax.

The mission of the Leadership Academy is to recruit, train, and retain Missouri attorneys who have been admitted for 10 years or less for leadership positions in The Missouri Bar. The academy seeks diversity in gender, race, area of practice, and region within the state. The academy anticipates that bringing in attorneys from underrepresented arenas will broaden and strengthen The Missouri Bar. Members of each year's Leadership Academy class participate in the Missouri Bar Annual Meeting, Board of Governors meetings, committee meetings, and workshops specifically designed for the Leadership Academy. For one year, the members work closely with bar leaders to learn more about The Missouri Bar, cultivate leadership skills, and develop a public service project. Members take full responsibility for completing their public service project before the end of the class year. At the end of the year, members commit to serve The Missouri Bar in an active capacity for two years.