Meet your new Board of Governors: Johnny Boyer, YLS
Johnny Boyer was recently elected to represent the Young Lawyers’ Section on The Missouri Bar Board of Governors. The board is comprised of 45 lawyers elected by their peers to represent their respective geographical areas.
Boyer is a staff attorney at Legal Aid of Western Missouri, practicing in family law, tenant defense, consumer defense, and public benefits. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma City School of Law.
Boyer answered the following questions to help constituents get to know him.
What made you interested in serving on the Board of Governors?
“I wanted to join the Board of Governors to meet other lawyers across the state and provide a voice for lawyers that work for Legal Aid organizations.”
What part of being on the board are you most excited about?
“I am most excited to meet lawyers from all backgrounds and work in all corners of our state. I’m excited for the opportunity to help improve our profession through the work I can do on the Board of Governors and the Young Lawyers’ Section.”
What do you want the lawyers you represent to know?
“I think lawyers all across the state should know all of the benefits we receive from The Missouri Bar. I also want any lawyer to understand that you are not alone, and you can always reach out for help, to vent, or for more information.”
What do you value most about The Missouri Bar and its mission?
“I value the amount of care that the bar takes in making the lives of Missouri lawyers better. In law school, The Missouri Bar seems like this ominous, somewhat scary, entity. The Missouri Bar, however, strides to make lawyers’ lives better and empowers lawyers to not only take care of their clients but also to take care of themselves.”
Why did you want to become a lawyer?
“I honestly was not sure I wanted to be a lawyer until I was in undergraduate school. I thought I wanted to do public relations and informed my advisor that I was somewhat interested in law school. I fully realized that I wanted to be a lawyer while I was in law school and was able to help a client get a divorce from her abusive husband. The gratitude expressed by the client made me realize that I wanted to use my skills to help people who are often overlooked in our system. The day we received the judgment, and I was able to explain to the client that everything was over and she could start a new life, was my Elle Woods moment and made me realize I didn’t want to do anything else but practice law.”
Is there anything else you would like members of the bar to know about you?
“Honestly, I would like all members of the bar to just know they are not alone regardless of what part of the state you are in or what type of law you practice; there are people out there who will be happy to help in any way. Our profession is difficult enough and I think often times lawyers tend to isolate because we believe we have to have all the answer all the time. There are so many people here at The Missouri Bar who will help or point you in the direction for help. Always reach out and ask.”
Learn more about the Board of Governors here.