Meet your 2025-2026 Leadership Academy class: Des’Aire Taylor

Meet Des’Aire Taylor, a member of the 2025-2026 Missouri Bar Leadership Academy class! A graduate of the University of Missouri School of Law, Taylor is an associate attorney at Franke Schultz & Mullen in Kansas City, where she primarily represents businesses and insurers in complex personal injury, premises liability, and transportation matters throughout Missouri and Kansas.

Every year, The Missouri Bar brings together a select group of new and young lawyers to serve on Leadership Academy. Each class completes a service project, engages in leadership workshops, networks with leaders in Missouri’s legal profession, and attends bar meetings. Following graduation, members continue to serve The Missouri Bar in an active capacity for two years. 

Taylor recently chatted with The Missouri Bar about her excitement surrounding Leadership Academy’s service project, her advice to new and young lawyers, and her two four-legged coworkers.

Why did you decide to apply for Leadership Academy?

“My mentor and boss, John Schultz, strongly encouraged me to apply, and I’m grateful he did. I wanted to intentionally develop my leadership skills, connect with other driven and service-oriented lawyers across the state, and contribute meaningfully to The Missouri Bar. The practice of law can sometimes feel siloed, especially early in your career. Leadership Academy provides a platform to step outside of daily litigation and engage in broader conversations about the future of the profession.”

This year's class service project centers around learning about new lawyers’ needs, wants, and perceptions of The Missouri Bar. How do you see this work shaping the bar’s overall ability to continue helping lawyers even better serve their clients?

“If we truly understand what new lawyers need — whether it’s mentorship, access to leadership, practical skills training, or a clearer ‘“on-ramp’” to involvement — we can build systems that support them earlier and more effectively. When young lawyers feel connected, supported, and seen, they are more confident and better equipped to advocate for their clients. Strengthening that foundation doesn’t just benefit individual lawyers; it elevates the profession as a whole. Sustainable excellence starts with intentional engagement.”

What are you most looking forward to about serving on Leadership Academy?

“I’m most excited about our service project focused on bridging the gap between young lawyers and engagement with The Missouri Bar. Early involvement can shape the entire trajectory of a lawyer’s career, and I love that we’re taking a thoughtful, data-driven approach to understanding what new lawyers actually need.

“Beyond the project itself, I’m truly looking forward to the relationships forming within this class. The connections we’re building already feel special, and I’m excited for the memories, collaboration, and continued service opportunities ahead. Being part of something bigger than your own practice is energizing.”

What do you value most about The Missouri Bar and its mission?

“What I value most is the bar’s ability to unify such a diverse group of professionals under a shared commitment to competence, integrity, and service. At its core, The Missouri Bar strengthens lawyers so that lawyers can better serve their clients and communities. The profession demands a great deal from us, intellectually, emotionally, and ethically. The bar’s role in supporting lawyers through education, connection, and leadership development ensures we can meet that demand in a way that upholds public trust.”

Why did you want to become a lawyer?

“I was drawn to the intellectual challenge, the strategic thinking, and the ability to directly influence outcomes in meaningful ways. The law offers a blend of structure and creativity. You operate within defined rules, but how you analyze, argue, and advocate is uniquely yours.

“I also appreciated the flexibility of the career — the ability to pivot practice areas, build a business, lead organizations, and impact communities in different seasons of life. It’s a profession that constantly pushes you to grow, and I love that.”

What advice would you give to new/young lawyers?

“Be someone others enjoy working with. You never know who you’ll encounter again in a different role — opposing counsel today may be a referral source, co-counsel, or judge tomorrow. One of the best compliments I’ve received is that I am ‘easy to work with.’ In an adversarial profession, that means a lot to me … Professionalism and composure make this career far more sustainable and far less stressful.”

What is one interesting/unique thing in your home/work office that brings you joy?

“In my home office, I have two dog beds for my two furry coworkers. They wander in throughout the day and sleep peacefully while I’m on calls or drafting motions. Watching them nap without a care in the world while I work tirelessly is oddly grounding. Oh, to be a dog.”

Editor’s note: These answers have been edited for clarity and conciseness. Learn more about Leadership Academy here.