Volunteers Needed April 9-11 for Missouri High School Mock Trial Competition

The Missouri High School Mock Trial Competition State Championship is this week, and volunteers are needed to serve as judges and jurors. The competition is being held April 9-11 virtually via Zoom. 

No mock trial experience is necessary. A volunteer briefing will be conducted immediately prior to the trials, and a volunteer guide will be provided prior to the competition nights. This is an excellent opportunity to hone your trial advocacy and evidentiary skills from the other side of the bench. 

Anyone interested in serving as a judge or juror, please sign up at https://signup.com/go/vnxjGnb or email dbarnett@bamsl.org.

Special Virtual Meeting April 30 to Swear in 2021-22 Board of Governors, YLD Executive Board

BAMSL will host a special virtual meeting from noon to 12:15 p.m. on Fri., April 30 via Zoom to officially swear in the 2021-22 Officers, Board of Governors and YLD Executive Board. The meeting will include a virtual passing of the gavel with remarks from 2020-21 BAMSL President Hon. Glenn A. Norton, followed by remarks from incoming 2021-22 BAMSL President Robert Tomaso.

Everyone then will be invited to raise their right hand from their respective living rooms or home offices to be sworn in.

The official announcement is below:
Pursuant to Section 15 (b) and Section 15 (c) of the By-Laws of the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, a special meeting is hereby called by the Bar Association Executive Committee for the purpose of transitioning from the current  President, Officers and Members to the newly and duly elected President, Officers and Members for the 2021-22 Bar Year.

Please register for the virtual swearing in at www.bamsl.org/2021swearingin. The Zoom link will be provided in the registration confirmation email.

An in-person ceremonial swearing-in and the annual tradition of passing the gavel to the new president, Bob Tomaso, will take place during Law Day 2021, rescheduled for Thurs., Sept. 9 at the Four Seasons - Downtown St. Louis.

New Bar Year Begins May 1; Dues Renewals in Progress

We are incredibly grateful that all of you have chosen to become and remain a member of BAMSL. It is hard to believe that the start of the 2021-22 BAMSL bar year is rapidly approaching.

Be watching for a message from current BAMSL President Hon. Glenn Norton and BAMSL President-Elect Bob Tomaso along with a notification via email about renewing your membership by May 1, 2021. Renewing is simple via renew.bamsl.org.

IMPORTANT REMINDER ABOUT AUTO-RENEWAL: BAMSL instituted a new automatic renewal procedure to make renewing your dues even simpler. Memberships will be automatically renewed if members have previously provided a credit card number. If you did not opt out of this convenient feature, charges will automatically post on May 1, 2021. (Anyone who is set up on a monthly payment schedule will continue to have their credit card charged on their designated day each month.)

BAMSL staff and leadership thank you all of you for continued commitment to BAMSL.

Win an Amazon Gift Card: Update Your BAMSL Member Profile

Don't forget to update your BAMSL Member Profile in April for a chance to win a $10 Amazon Gift Card. Add a photo to your profile, make sure all of your contact information and firm information is up to date. Update your preferences for receiving mailings and emails.

One winner per month in a random drawing, to be selected on the first day of the next month.

LGBTQ+ Committee Survey for Article in June 2021 issue of St. Louis Lawyer

BAMSL's LGBTQ+ Committee is putting an article together about what Pride means to LGBTQ+ lawyers and legal professionals in the St. Louis metropolitan area. The committee would like to hear from you and get your thoughts and feedback via a survey: www.surveymonkey.com/r/BAMSLLGBTQ2021.

Please be aware that we may include what you say in our article, so you have the option of submitting anonymously (just leave the personally-identifying fields blank). Submissions must be received by May 1, 2021.

Calling All Golfers: BAMSL's Annual Golf Outing Is June 14

Are you ready to get out on the links, enjoy some sunshine and challenge your BAMSL colleagues for the title of BAMSL's best golf team?

The BAMSL Golf Committee is excited to be able to host its 2021 Golf Outing on Mon., June 14 at Greenbriar Hills Country Club. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. with a shotgun start at 11 a.m.

Watch your mail for this year's flyer with all the details. BAMSL members also may visit www.bamsl.org/2021GolfOuting for more details and to register.

Programs for Law Students: Navigating a Virtual Summer Associate Position, Preparing for the Bar Exam During a Pandemic

One of the many missions of the BAMSL Young Lawyers Division (YLD) is law student outreach and law student guidance. The YLD invites law students to two upcoming virtual panels of BAMSL members, offering their guidance and outlook about the legal industry in a pandemic era.

During the first event, scheduled for 1 p.m. on Wed., April 7, the panelists will discuss how to navigate your way through your first position as a Summer Associate. This event is targeted toward 1Ls who are about to experience their first Summer Associate position but all law students are welcome to attend.

Moderator 
Vince Taormina, The Taormina Firm

Panelists
Katie Little, 3L at Saint Louis University School of Law 
Tori Schafer, 3L at University of Missouri School of Law
Isaac Singleton, 3L at Washington University in St. Louis School of Law

To register, please visit www.bamsl.org/LawStudentGuidance1L. The Zoom link will be provided in the registration confirmation email.

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During the second event, scheduled for noon on Tues., April 20, the panelists will discuss how to prepare for the Bar Exam during the pandemic. This event is targeted toward 3Ls who are preparing for the Bar Exam, but all law students are welcome to attend.

Moderator
Alexus Williams, St. Louis County Counselor's Office

Panelists
Brooke Bishop, Niewald Law Firm, LLC
Andrea Ellis
Thomas Selig, United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas

To register, please visit www.bamsl.org/LawStudentGuidance3L. The Zoom link will be provided in the registration confirmation email.

Please Welcome BAMSL's New CLE Manager

Please welcome Sebrina Colvin as BAMSL's new CLE manager. Colvin's first day was yesterday, April 5.

Colvin joins BAMSL with many years of experience in higher education and specifically career development and mentoring.

"We are looking forward to having Sebrina further develop our CLE programs, bring fresh ideas to our Sections and Committees, and provide creative promotion of our educational programming," BAMSL Executive Director Susan Baltz said. "We are excited to have her on our team."

Please extend a warm welcome to BAMSL's newest staff member.

SAVE THE DATE: BAMSL's Annual 15-Hour CLE

BAMSL's annual 15-Hour CLE has been scheduled for 7 a.m.-9:50 p.m. on Thurs., June 24. This year's event will once again be held virtually. A brochure of the programming will be available in the coming weeks. Stay tuned to www.bamsl.org/CLE for all updates and registration information.

Contribute to BAMSL's Virtual Food Drive Benefiting St. Louis Area Foodbank

As part of the St. Louis Attorneys Against Hunger Committee's efforts to help people in need in our community, the St. Louis Area Foodbank established an ongoing Virtual Food Drive.

BAMSL members can donate food or money directly through the BAMSL Virtual Food Drive, with all proceeds going to the St. Louis Area Foodbank.

Donations can be made directly from your computer or phone via www.bamsl.org/VirtualFoodDrive.

Help Make Sandwiches Every Thursday, Distribute Food In Community Every Week

Volunteers are always welcome beginning at 5:30 p.m. every Thursday to assist Step It Up, Inc., in making sandwiches for weekly distribution events. The volunteer opportunities are held in the lower level of Boggs, Avellino, Lach & Boggs (9326 Olive Blvd., Olivette, MO 63132). 

Additionally, there are ongoing mass distributions of food and masks where volunteers are needed during the day Tuesday through Saturday every week at various location around the St. Louis area.

For more information about specific dates and times and to volunteer, please contact Sarah Bardol at sarahbbardol@gmail.com.

Opportunities to Sponsor BAMSL Events in 2021

Please note that most of BAMSL's signature events have been postponed (see new dates below). Visit www.bamsl.org/events and the links below frequently for the most updated information about each event.

GOLF OUTING: June 14 - www.bamsl.org/GolfOuting2021

BENCH & BAR CONFERENCE: Postponed to Aug. 18-20 - www.bamsl.org/BenchBar2021

LAW DAY: Postponed to Sept. 9 - www.bamsl.org/LawDay2021

SAINT LOUIS BAR FOUNDATION SPIRIT OF JUSTICE AWARDS CELEBRATION: Postponed to Oct. 15 - www.bamsl.org/SpiritofJustice2021

For more information about sponsorship opportunities in 2021, please email Susan McCourt Baltz at sbaltz@bamsl.org.

Well-Being Committee Is Here For You

Post questions or comments anonymously, email Dan Barnett at BAMSL at dbarnett@bamsl.org, or Well-Being Committee Chair, Amy Rebecca Johnson at ajohnson@pcblawfirm.com. 

Resources are always available at www.bamsl.org/WellBeing.

Upcoming CLE Opportunities

Reminder that announcements about upcoming CLEs are now condensed into one weekly e-mail arriving every Thursday in your inbox. The weekly emails will list all upcoming CLEs with a link for more information and to register for each one.

Please visit http://events.bamsl.org for all BAMSL events, details and registration information.

BAMSL's Legal Placement Service

Junior Level Associate Attorney

BAMSL’s Placement Director is currently assisting a growing downtown plaintiffs’ asbestos/mass tort/class action firm with its associate attorney recruiting. Position will be handling client depositions in asbestos cases. Qualified candidates will have recently obtained their Missouri and/or Illinois bar license. Experience handling (or shadowing) depositions a plus. Interested candidates should e-mail their resume in confidence to jmacke@bamsl.org.  

St. Louis Lawyer Magazine

Special Opportunity to Congratulate BAMSL's Incoming President, Bob Tomaso

Advertising space is now on sale for the May 2021 issue of the St. Louis Lawyer magazine. The issue will feature a cover story on incoming BAMSL President Bob Tomaso for the 2021-22 bar year. Please e-mail Jennifer A. Macke at jmacke@bamsl.org to place your congratulatory ad in the issue.  Sample ads can be provided.  The ad deadline for the May issue is 9 a.m. on Fri., April 16.