By Tamar Gandaho

Oftentimes, the role of in-house counsel is viewed as a place lawyers go after “real” practice, or when they are seeking a quieter alternative to firm life. When I went in-house five years ago, many people—both lawyers and non-lawyers—assumed my workdays would be slower-paced and less rigorous. Others assumed my scope of work would be more limited since I was now going to practice law at a pharmaceutical company. A few even expressed some envy and suggested I would finally have time to breathe. However, none of that turned out to be altogether true. 

Read more in the May-June issue of the St. Louis Law Journal, out now!

Join your BAMSL colleagues this Thursday, May 14 at 7:30 a.m. at The Original Pancake House at 8817 Ladue Road, St. Louis, Mo. 63124. Each attendee will order and pay for their own breakfast - no other cost to attend. Bring your business cards to pass around and be prepared to give a 1-minute introduction to your practice. There will also be a 10-minute presentation by someone at each meeting or a discussion on a topic of interest to everyone. Please RSVP as there is a limit on the number of people who can attend.

Join BAMSL for the 2026 Virtual 15-Hour Annual MCLE Update on Friday, June 26, from 7:00 a.m. to 9:50 p.m. This comprehensive webinar, offered via Zoom, provides a convenient way to fulfill your entire annual CLE requirement, including ethics and elimination of bias credits, in a single day. Sessions include jury selection, ERISA basics, managing conflicts of interest, use of AI, immigration and more.

Don't miss this opportunity to stay compliant and informed.

This CLE on Tuesday, May 19 at 12:00 p.m. is presented by the Patent Trademark & Copyright Section. Chris Clayton and John Schroeder will review recent developments and emerging issues regarding post-grant patent proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board.  

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Join BAMSL’s Young Lawyers Division and Well-Being Committee for a spring social and kickball game in celebration of Well-Being in Law Week. The event takes place on Friday, May 8, from 4:00–6:00 p.m. at the Shaw Park North Shelter in Clayton. Come out to enjoy the fresh air, connect with fellow members, and have some lighthearted fun. Be sure to register and sign the waiver in advance.

By Anne Brockland

I’m back! But this time, I’m talking about the constitution of your body. Like our country’s Constitution, it functions best when understood – and ramifications may follow when it’s ignored.

In athletics, genetics do not dictate your destiny. But when you hear someone say, “I don’t have an athletic bone in my body,” they may be on to something. Learning how my genetics aligned was a game-changer for me. You can test through consumer DNA tests like 23andMe, AncestryDNA, and FitnessGenes.

Read more in the March-April issue of the St. Louis Law Journal!

Mentors are needed for BAMSL’s Mentorship Committee. No matter where you are in your practice, you have valuable knowledge and experience to share. Young lawyers can give law students advice on law school and transitioning to practice. Intermediate lawyers can give younger lawyers advice on how to build a solid foundation and succeed in practice. Established lawyers bring a wealth of wisdom and can advise intermediate lawyers on next steps, whether that is a partnership, going in-house, or going out on their own.

By stepping up as a mentor, you contribute to the professional development of others and also enrich your own career through meaningful connections and fresh perspectives.

Join us for the 2026 BAMSL Golf Tournament on Monday, June 15 at Glen Echo Country Club for an 11:00 a.m. Shotgun Start – Scramble Format.

Registration includes boxed lunches before start, 18-holes of golf, golf cart, post golf reception with heavy appetizers and drinks while prizes are announced.

The Saint Louis Bar Foundation, the charitable arm of the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis (BAMSL), is coordinating the 2027 National High School Mock Trial Championship.

In 2027, St. Louis will host the National High School Mock Trial Championship for the first time in nearly three decades. This prestigious event will bring the nation’s top student competitors to our city, showcasing excellence in legal education while placing St. Louis at the center of a national conversation about civic engagement and the rule of law.

Your gift helps provide students with meaningful educational experiences, ensures access to high-quality programming, and allows St. Louis to host an event that inspires excellence on a national stage.