YLS: a review of 2024
The Missouri Bar Young Lawyers’ Section (YLS) works to facilitate the professional growth and public service of new and recently admitted Missouri lawyers. The YLS Council is comprised of approximately 35 lawyers from districts across the state who are elected by their peers to serve two-year terms.
Check out the stories below to see how YLS worked to improve the legal profession in 2024.
The YLS Council met Feb. 23-24 in St. Louis for networking, planning, and community service.
March: diversity networking events
The YLS Diversity Committee held three networking events March 14 in St. Louis, Kansas City, and Springfield.
July: YLS Council summer meeting
The YLS Council held its summer meeting July 20 in Branson, combining business with community service. Prior to the meeting, council members assembled blankets and sensory bags for the Child Advocacy Center in Springfield and collected items for the Greene County Family Justice Center. The council began its meeting with a visit from 2023-2024 Missouri Bar President Megan Phillips, who gave several updates pertaining to the Board of Governors. The council also welcomed new members and elected a new YLS Council delegate to The Missouri Bar Board of Governors.
August: Missouri lawyer elected as clerk for ABA Young Lawyers Division
YLS member Portia Britt, associate county counselor for the St. Louis County Counselor’s Office, was elected as the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division clerk for the 2024-2025 year at the ABA Annual Meeting in August. She is the first Missouri Lawyer in 30 years to serve as clerk.
Read the full article to learn more about Britt and her involvement with YLS and the ABA.
September: YLS presents awards at Annual Meeting
YLS presented four awards during The Missouri Bar’s Annual Meeting and Missouri Judicial Conference. Learn about the awards and their recipients below.
JoEllen Engelbart Award: Ashley J. Moore
Liberty Bell Award: Eugene O’Loughlin
Tom Cochran Community Service Award: Dashawn R. Cason
YLS Chair Awards: Danielle Drake, Sarah Ernst, and Aaron Rankin
September: Nearly 200 #NewMOLawyers sworn in during Fall Enrollment Ceremonies
The Missouri Bar celebrated 194 new lawyers who took their oath of admission and were sworn in to the legal profession during multiple Fall Enrollment Ceremonies at the Supreme Court of Missouri building in Jefferson City. Those lawyers were among the 286 individuals who passed the July bar examination and met all other admission criteria.
See more photos from the day’s celebration here.
September: Missouri lawyers inspire students with Constitution Day presentations
More than 600 Missouri students had the opportunity to learn about the U.S. Constitution from lawyers during the annual Constitution Day presentations in September.
Each year, YLS partners with the bar’s citizenship education department to send lawyers to present for Constitution Day. In September, more than 600 students across the state had the opportunity to learn about the U.S. Constitution from those who regularly interact with it.
October: Milly Project event at Saint Louis University School of Law
YLS hosted a continuing legal education program which featured a screening of “The Milly Project” followed by a panel discussion with Hon. George W. Draper III, former Supreme Court of Missouri chief justice, and Twinette Johnson, Saint Louis University School of Law dean.
"This program was truly powerful and riveting, leaving a profound impact on all who attended,” said Katie Krispin, YLS Council District 8 representative. “It inspired meaningful conversations between attendees and our insightful panelists that will resonate with participants long after the event."
November: YLS plans for 2025 during fall meeting
YLS met November in Jefferson City to plan for the upcoming year and participate in a Missouri.FreeLegalAnswers.org clinic.
December: Diversity networking events
YLS hosted three networking events Dec. 5 in St. Louis, Kansas City, and Jefferson City.
YLS also helped sponsor the Boone County Bar Association Young Lawyer’s Division holiday party.
New representatives elected
This year, 12 new representatives were elected to serve on the YLS Council. Learn about them below.
District 3: Andrew Tremonti, Eli Dodge, and Jackson Hobbs
District 4: Cody Wiegers
District 8: Darrian Castro, Vince Taormina, Carleigh Cavender
District 9: David Wasserman, Killian Walsh, Michael Figenshau, and Sean Connelly
District 11: Brian Moody
In addition to the new YLS Council members, Johnny Boyer was elected to represent YLS on The Missouri Bar Board of Governors.
Continuing legal education
One of the largest programs YLS offers is the Accelerator Series, a series of online courses designed specifically to provide the most current continuing legal education to lawyers in any stage of practice. They hosted 11 programs in 2024. Click here to view past and upcoming programs.