MoveMakers and NewsMakers for June 4, 2024

Kansas City | Other States

Kansas City

On Friday May 24, 2024, Avila University awarded adjunct professor Lawrence J. Altman its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 2024 Ambassador Award. Before his time at Avila, Mr. Altman was the Special Education Lead Attorney and Compliance Officer for Kansas City Public Schools and the Title IX Coordinator for the Kansas City School District. Prior to that position, he was a practicing attorney in St. Louis County for 34 years. In addition to membership in the Missouri Bar, he is a member of the Kansas City Bar Association, the National School Board Association’s Counsel of School Attorneys, and the American Law Society.

Other States

The American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division has posted its 2024 On the Rise – Top 40 Young Lawyers honorees. Portia Britt, a MO Lawyer with the St. Louis County Counselor's Office, is one of this year’s honorees.

The annual On the Rise – Top 40 Young Lawyers provides national recognition for 40 ABA young lawyer members who exemplify a broad range of high achievement and legal and community service.

Portia Britt graduated from the University of Missouri with a Juris Doctor and Master of Public Affairs and obtained a B.A. from Washington University in St. Louis. She currently serves as an Associate County Counselor for St. Louis County, handling an array of civil litigation matters at the state and federal level. Before becoming a County Counselor, Ms. Britt was a prosecuting attorney focusing mainly on domestic violence cases. Ms. Britt currently serves on the ABA YLD Senior Council, the Missouri Bar Young Lawyers Section Council, and is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Ms. Britt lives in Missouri with her husband, Steven, and their two dogs, JoJo & Misty. They are expecting their first child in August.

The honorees were chosen for their work pertaining to service to the community, service to the legal profession, leadership, vision, innovation and professional achievement. The awards and subgrant committee under the chief judge and marketing director selected the winners based on their ability to excel in all categories.

On the Rise – Top 40 Young Lawyers welcomes new nominees each year. Nominations for the 2025 group of recipients will open on Oct. 31 and will remain open through the end of February 2025.

The Young Lawyers Division is committed to assuring it is best able to represent the newest members of the profession, ensuring that it reflects the society it serves and providing young lawyers and young lawyer organizations with the tools and opportunities for professional and personal success.