Meet #MOLawyers: Brittany Chapman

Brittany Chapman is the managing attorney for the Administrative Hearings Section with the Missouri Department of Social Services - Division of Legal Services, where she oversees administrative hearing operations and supports hearing officers in adjudicating public benefit cases. She was a member of the 2024-2025 Missouri Bar Leadership Academy class and is currently a mentor advisor for the 2025-2026 class. Chapman graduated from the University of Missouri School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 2014. 

Why did you want to be a lawyer? 

“What really made everything click were personal experiences where I saw people I love being treated unfairly. Seeing injustice up close helped me realize that I wanted to be in a position where I could help make sure things were done the right way. Being a lawyer doesn’t mean you always get the outcome you want, but it does mean you can help ensure the process is fair. For me, that mattered — and still matters — a lot.” 

What are some lessons you learned from being in Leadership Academy? 

“One of the biggest lessons I took from Leadership Academy was how much growth can happen when you’re in a space with other thoughtful, motivated leaders who are all willing to show up fully. Being able to learn from how my peers led, communicated, and approached problems pushed me to expand my own leadership style and perspective. 

“It was also a powerful reminder that even strong, capable leaders experience doubt and stress — and what matters is choosing to move forward anyway. The experience reinforced, for me, that with the right mindset and a supportive group, you can do hard things, execute well, and walk away feeling more confident in your abilities to tackle any challenges that come your way.” 

Why were you interested in being a mentor for Leadership Academy? 

“Mentorship fills my cup. While I’m not naturally the most social person, I genuinely enjoy pouring into others, sharing what I’ve learned, and helping make the path a little clearer. Leadership Academy felt like the perfect space to do that — to support individuals who are already leading, but who are still growing and stretching themselves. Being able to offer perspective, encouragement, and practical insight is what drew me to mentoring and continues to motivate me to give back.” 

What advice would you give to new/young lawyers? 

“Hold on to who you are while you’re growing into the lawyer you’re becoming. This does not mean refuse to adapt and evolve. It means you bring a voice and a set of experiences that the legal field needs. While you might not fully understand yet what makes your contribution unique, know that you will discover it over time. Trust that you chose this path for a reason and remember that no one else can bring what you bring to the table.” 

If you could pick one word that you hope describes your 2026, what would it be and why? 

“The word I’m leaning most into is ‘activate.’ It’s about taking the opportunities that are in front of me and moving some of the things I’ve envisioned from idea to reality — to do the thing, figure it out as I go, (and) just run with it. For me, 2026 feels like the year to flip the switch and go!” 

Answers have been edited for clarity, brevity, and style. Know a lawyer who you think should be featured in “Meet #MOLawyers”? Email the Journal team at Journal@MoBar.org.