On Friday, December 15, from 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM CT this CLE documents the story of the murder of Mischelle Lawless and the conviction of Josh Kezer, who spent 16 years behind bars. Just about everything that could go wrong in the American criminal justice system did go wrong. During this CLE, attorney and author, Stephen R. Snodgrass unveils the corruption that led to the conviction of an innocent man. Topics will include coaching by law enforcement, withholding exculpatory evidence, and false testimony.

Please join BAMSL's St. Louis Attorneys Against Hunger and LGBTQ+ Committees as we participate in a food packing event on Saturday, January 20th between 8:00am and 12:00pm at Food Outreach, 3117 Olive St, St. Louis, MO 63103.  Space is limited, so please register early.  You will be required to sign Food Outreach's volunteer waiver form (sent at a later date).  Food Outreach's mission is to provide nutritional support and enhance the quality of life of men, women and children living with HIV or cancer.

Presented by BAMSL's Appellate Practice Committee, co-sponsored by the Missouri Supreme Court Historical Society and the Missouri Bar Appellate Practice Committee

On Tuesday, December 12, from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM CT this 3-hour CLE offers attendees the opportunity to gain valuable insights into the latest developments, trends, and best practices in appellate practice.

By Mark Sableman, Thompson Coburn LLP 

The names of witnesses in Missouri court cases have become a state secret. This is so even for the names of public officials, like prosecutors, and other people who expect to be in the public eye, like trial lawyers. Some recent court opinions mention scores of witnesses—but none of them, except the parties, are named...

Read more in the November - December issue of the St. Louis Lawyer, out now!

Volunteers are needed for the Missouri High School Mock Trial Competition Preliminary Round 1: January 14 & January 16, Preliminary Round 2: February 11 & February 13, and Regionals: March 4 & March 6

Volunteers are needed to serve as presiding judges and jurors for the Missouri High School Mock Trial Competition. Judges must be licensed attorneys. Jurors may be anyone with at least a bachelor's degree. The trials will be held at the St. Louis County Circuit Court (105 S Central Ave).

Designed specifically for BAMSL, watch the playback of the November 15th How Attorneys Can Experience More Peace and Less Pressure During the Holidays CLE. You will learn how to build your personal holiday playbook to address the inevitable seasonal pressures around countless holiday parties, escalating family and business conflicts, endless people pleasing, and year-end financial performance – to find more peace.

Register for part 2 on Wednesday, December 13 from 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM CT HERE

In the first two installments of this series, I identified challenges in navigating rapidly evolving Generative Artificial Intelligence (“GenAI”) technology. I suggested adoption of a long-term perspective and predicted that GenAI technology tools for legal will look very different in 18-24 months. Part 1. Next, I outlined some strategies to prepare yourself and your firm to leverage GenAI in practice:  the need for education about AI developments; reviewing contracts with current service providers, who will likely provide your first exposures to legal GenAI tools; designating a point person or committee to take the lead on legal GenAI issues, and performing a readiness assessment of firm data that might be accessed in your first GenAI use cases. Part 2.

In this third and final part of the series, let’s focus on ways to move forward with initial GenAI initiatives:

6. Consider how AI fits into your broader business strategy. There are currently no universal AI solutions to fit all needs. Thus, the AI tools, back to plurality, you choose should be tailored to your specific practice. For example, if your work involves managing extensive contracts or portfolio litigation, your AI investment will differ from a firm specializing in complex intellectual property matters. By pinpointing your initial use case(s), you can streamline your search and control your initial GenAI technology spending.
7. Prepare for a rigorous AI vendor due diligence process. Early guidance from judicial standing orders and the American Bar Association indicates concerns about the impact of AI on the integrity of the judicial process, the need for explainability and transparency, and potential for bias and discrimination in AI outputs. Early regulation will likely focus on addressing these broad concerns, and you need to select vendors who understand the issues surrounding the use of AI in legal and judicial applications. ABA Resolution 112 (2019) has specific sample questions to ask AI technology vendors focused on these issues, as well as monitoring, accountability, controls, and oversight. As with any other third-party provider, you must understand the financial viability of the vendor and its insurance posture. The need to integrate new AI tools with existing applications like internal firm accounting software or document management systems is another important consideration to discuss with potential vendor partners.
8. Don’t underestimate the importance of change management. By design, AI technology changes the way tasks are performed and how processes work. Like most people, lawyers may not readily embrace new concepts or welcome challenges to established practices. Anticipate some resistance, particularly because of the way AI has been portrayed as a threat to the legal profession and the traditional billable hour model.

To ensure the success of your new AI tools, an intuitive interface is critical. Plan for how these new technologies will be introduced within the firm, what training will be needed and how it will be implemented, and what strategies can be employed to motivate and incentivize the adoption of these new technologies.

9. Develop clear metrics to measure the value and effectiveness of your AI investment. As you think about potential AI applications, consider how you will measure success. For example, if you implement an AI contract tool, will you track performance in terms of productivity and time saved? How might you monetize the use of an AI tool or demonstrate the value of your innovation to clients? What metrics can you use as market differentiators? Ultimately, the purpose of AI is to enhance client service and thus add value to your practice like any other investment.
10. Develop clear metrics to measure the value and effectiveness of your AI investment. As you think about potential AI applications, consider how you will measure success. For example, if you implement an AI contract tool, will you track performance in terms of productivity and time saved? How might you monetize the use of an AI tool or demonstrate the value of your innovation to clients? What metrics can you use as market differentiators? Ultimately, the purpose of AI is to enhance client service and thus add value to your practice like any other investment.

The integration of AI into your firm's practice can be a transformative journey. By adopting a strategic approach, firms can navigate this new terrain more smoothly and avoid some of the inevitable bumps in the road. As the legal technology landscape continues to evolve, staying ahead of the curve with AI can position your firm for success in an increasingly competitive and dynamic industry.

If you have GenAI questions or want more information about how to get involved in the Innovation & Technology in the Legal Profession Committee, please contact me at joy@joyholley.com.

SAINTS PETER AND PAUL COMMUNITY KITCHEN - MEALS FOR THE NEEDY

The Women in the Legal Profession Section invite you to join us for Meals for the Needy Community Service event of Monday December 4 from 3:30 –6:30 p.m. at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church located at 816 Allen Street, St. Louis, MO 63104

For more than 30 years, Motion for Kids has provided gifts for up to 2,500 St. Louis area children in the foster care system or children whose lives have been severely impacted by the criminal justice system.

Motion for Kids partners with local support organizations to identify the children invited to participate. Those children are matched up with sponsors from the St. Louis legal community (lawyers, judges, paralegals, office administrators, law students, legal secretaries, and their families). Each sponsor is asked to purchase and wrap two gifts (totaling $30) chosen from the child's wish list. Gifts are distributed at an event to which the children and their families are invited.

Since 2022, the holiday event has been held at Harris-Stowe State University's Emerson Performance Center. Motion for Kids is hosted by The Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis and the Saint Louis Bar Foundation with generous support from Harris-Stowe State University, the St. Louis Cardinals, the St. Louis Blues, the Isaac Bruce Foundation, and many others.

Michael McKitrick, veteran attorney, reflects on his five decades in the legal profession, highlighting significant changes that have shaped the practice of law. These changes include the march of technology, the addition of women to the legal profession, the rise of specialization, and advertising. Mr. McKitrick acknowledges that while technology and societal shifts have transformed the legal profession, some core aspects remain unchanged. Legal analysis, client interactions, and the importance of professionalism and ethics persist, even as lawyers adapt to evolving trends. 

Read More in our BAMSL blog, located on our website!