Top 5 takeaways: May/June 2026 Journal of The Missouri Bar

For Missouri lawyers, the ethical issue is not whether AI may be used, but how it may be used consistently with duties of competence, candor, confidentiality, and supervision. In this article, authors Bill Martucci, Burcu Erbaz, and Minha Jutt analyze guidelines, case law, and enforcement trends in Missouri and nationwide regarding the use (and misuse) of AI in the legal profession.

The Missouri Bar wants to congratulate the 70 individuals who passed the February 2026 bar examination in Missouri and have completed all other requirements under Rule 8 for admission to The Missouri Bar. View the list of new lawyers here.

The legal profession’s fingerprints are all over the American founding. Of the declaration’s 56 signers, roughly 25 were lawyers or had legal training. In her latest column, Missouri Bar Executive Director Mischa Buford Epps writes about the upcoming 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and how lawyers can continue to uphold the rule of law.

The traditional law firm model is under pressure, but mid-tier and smaller firms have a distinct advantage if they can strategically adapt. In the latest issue of the Journal, Jeffrey Schoenberger breaks down steps small and mid-sized firms can take right now to protect their bottom line and thrive in an evolving legal market.

Missouri will be among 10 jurisdictions to administer the NextGen Uniform Bar Exam starting July 2026. Hon. Cynthia L. Martin explains how the NextGen UBE was developed, what skills and knowledge will be evaluated by the NextGen UBE, and how Missouri has stayed at the frontline of change in this article.

Download and read the full Journal issue here.