It’s late on a Sunday afternoon. Judge Agnelly of the 16^th Judicial Circuit returns to the Courtroom and takes her seat. “Has the jury reached its verdict?” “Yes, your honor,” replies jury foreperson, Jordan May. “Mr. Wild, will you please rise?” Judge Agnelly asks. I stand. I know it’s not real. I don’t stand accused of murdering my good friend and sometime mock trial rival coach, Josh, er, “Julius” Jones, but for a moment, I look up at the Judge, and she looks serious.

“How do you find?” she asks, turning to the jury. Ms. May looks down at the sheet of paper in her hand, and then back up at me. “We find the defendant…guilty of murder in the first degree.” Judge Agnelly bangs her gavel and looks back over at me. “Mr. Wild,” and her look tells me I’m about to spend a very long stint upstate, “You are hereby remanded into the custody of the state. Case to be reset in 6 weeks for sentencing.”

Counsel table for the Prosecution erupted with cheers. My defense team from Rockhurst High School turned to me and told me that they were sorry and one by one shook my hand. One attorney even told me he’d handle my appeal. And this, this more than anything, is why I love mock trial. Even in the face of defeat, my defense team proved to be consummate professionals even after a very hard fought match. Gentlemen, you did a very nice job.

Every year, students from high schools across the state take on roles as attorneys and witnesses to tell stories in the high school mock trial competition. Yes, we give them the roles, we give them the conflict that they need to resolve, but the students become storytellers. As trial attorneys, we hold a unique place within our society. We are the storytellers for our clients, for those in the same positions as our clients, for the victims of crime, for the very conscience of our communities. This is ultimately why I went to law school, to learn to become a storyteller.

Becoming a storyteller is not something we are born knowing how to do. It must be learned, it must be practiced, over and over again. And the patience and perseverance of the many teachers and lawyers who give up countless hours with these highschoolers shows. From January when the preliminary rounds begin, to the regionals in March, and then to the Finals at the end of March, the lawyers get better and better. The objections, more crisp, more timely, the arguments more focused. The witnesses learn to draw in the jury, to learn to tell the story of the character they are portraying. All of them, attorneys and witnesses get better and better as the season goes on, until on a Sunday afternoon, and the final round starts and the last two teams standing go for broke.

I am at an age where I am starting to complain about the younger generations, how we didn’t do it that way back in our day, that’s not the way that Todd Muchnick taught me how to do it back when I was a sophomore in high school. But watching these students and how passionate they are, how seriously they take this craft, gives me hope that the jury trial will continue on well into future rather than slowly die off as the practitioners, the greatest storytellers of our culture retire from the practice.

We have the great fortune in Missouri to have a dedicated group of teachers and attorney coaches who have grown the Missouri high school mock trial into a program that has over 45 different schools participate every year from Jackson, Greene, St. Charles, Jefferson, and St. Louis County as well as the City of St. Louis. Close to 1000 students participate every year and learn something about what it is we do. And even those who don’t end up going to law school or becoming trial attorneys learn important skills like extemporaneous speaking and critical thinking. Just like me and the Pythagorean Theorem, they may never have a chance to object to hearsay when they get to the workforce, but they will be able to work together in small teams and to articulate how and why their position should carry the day.

And to the hundreds of volunteers that come to be our evaluators and our trial judges, thank you. Without you being there, we would not be able to provide these students with this experience. You share your time and your own experience and you help make mock trial into the exceptional program that it is for so many high schoolers. And to our judiciary who are time and again willing to let us borrow their courtrooms, thank you. And finally, to Judge Agnelly and Judge Navarro-McKelvey who have been our trial judges for the Finals for the last three years, you have given the students the most realistic trial court experience any of us on the steering committee could have hoped for, and for that, thank you.

And to everyone that hasn’t come to one of our rounds yet, or maybe hasn’t come in awhile, please know that we are always happy to have you, even if you can only make one round a year. Many of our volunteers come to two or three, or even six nights every year. There is a reason they come back over and over again and it’s because they know this is important and like me, they find this fun. The future generation needs us, whether they know it or not, and the least we can do is be there to help them with skills that we know something about.

In May 2027, the St. Louis region will be hosting the national high school mock trial tournament. We will have 50-55 rounds of mock trial every day over the course of a three-day weekend. That is a lot of volunteers! To make this happen, we also need to provide space and food which will also require money. So to any firms that might have some money set aside for charitable purposes, maybe consider putting your name on our promotional materials and making a donation to help us put on this tournament in two years. Susan Baltz and Dan Barnett-Foster at BAMSL would love to talk to you about what we need and how you can help.

Finally, congratulations to Maplewood-Richmond Heights High School for successfully prosecuting my alter ego, James Wild, in the final round. Hopefully, Judge Agnelly gives me the possibility of parole.

As Generative AI continues influencing creative industries, the U.S. Copyright Office has provided more guidance—if still case-specific—via a line in the sand: Copyright law protects human creativity, not the computational byproduct of algorithms operating without meaningful human direction.

In its January 2025 report, Copyright and Artificial Intelligence, Part 2: Copyrightability, the Copyright Office offers its most comprehensive guidance yet on its views of the legal status of AI-generated works. Building on public input from over 10,000 comments, the Office reaffirms a foundational principle: “Copyright law protects only works of human creation.”

Existing Law Can Be Applied to Authorship Issues for Generative AI

The Office’s message is pragmatic, recognizing that the law always lags behinds new technology. Advances in technology regularly clash with existing law—since well before Generative AI. Just as the law was adapted to those changes, existing copyright law is up to the task. Courts and agencies have long adapted copyright law to new creative tools, from the camera to video games and software. 

The questions surrounding AI authorship echo earlier debates from the 19th century, when cameras first entered the creative arena. In Burrow-Giles Lithographic Co. v. Sarony, 111 U.S. 53 (1884), the U.S. Supreme Court considered whether a photograph could qualify for copyright protection or whether it was merely the mechanical product of the camera, a machine. The Court ruled that photographs could indeed be protected, so long as the photographer made creative decisions about elements like lighting, pose, costume, and composition. The case established a critical precedent for future technologies such as Generative AI: Using a machine to capture or express an idea does not bar copyright protection, as long as a human author contributes the requisite original expression. Today, the Copyright Office applies the same reasoning to Generative AI-assisted works, emphasizing that copyrightability turns not on the tool used, but on the presence and degree of human creativity. The Office sees Generative AI through the same lens, distinguishing between works created with Generative AI assistance and those autonomously generated by Generative AI without the benefit of human creativity.

According to the report, copyright can still attach to works that involve Generative AI tools, but only to the extent that a human has contributed sufficient expressive elements. “Where AI merely assists an author in the creative process, its use does not change the copyrightability of the output,” the report concludes. However, “if content is entirely generated by AI, it cannot be protected by copyright.”

Prompts Are Not Authorship

Much of the debate centers around user prompts—text instructions submitted to Generative AI platforms like DALL·E or ChatGPT. One issue raised in the report is whether prompts serve as the basis for authorship of the resulting outputs.

The Copyright Office says: not usually.

While the prompts themselves may be copyrightable in rare cases if sufficiently creative, they typically don’t confer rights in the generated work. As the Office explains, users often have no real control over the AI’s expressive decisions, especially given the systems’ unpredictability and the “black box” nature of how outputs are produced.

Some commenters argued that prompting is akin to artistic direction, likening iterative prompting to “dabbing paint on a canvas.” Others disagreed, emphasizing the randomness of AI results and noting that similar prompts can yield entirely different outcomes—even when repeated under identical conditions.

The Office takes a middle ground. It acknowledges that while more detailed prompting and iterative revision may increase the user’s influence, that alone rarely meets the legal threshold for authorship. What matters is whether the human user has meaningfully shaped the expressive elements that are ultimately perceived in the final output.

No Copyright for Generative AI Alone—and No Sui Generis Alternative (Yet)

The report firmly rejects extending copyright protection to works created solely by Generative AI. It also resists calls to create a new “sui generis” legal regime tailored to AI-generated content. “The case has not been made,” the Office concludes, though it remains open to revisiting the question as technologies evolve.

Recent court decisions support this underlying reasoning, but it is important to keep in mind that the relevant copyright applications were filed years before the decision of the Court of Appeals. In Thaler v. Perlmutter, 130 F.4th 1039 (D.C. Cir. 2025), the D.C. District Court upheld the Copyright Office’s denial of a registration for a Generative AI-generated image, emphasizing that “human authorship is a bedrock requirement of copyright.” 

Thaler filed a copyright application to register a work on November 3, 2018, years before Generative AI tools became widely popularized. In the copyright application, Thaler expressly identified the author of the work as the “Creativity Machine” and that the work was “Created autonomously by machine.”  Thaler v. Perlmutter, Case No. 1:22-cv-01564-BAH (D. D.C.), Document 1, ¶ 17. Thaler further acknowledged in the application “the Work was autonomously created by a computer and that [Thaler] was entitled to own the copyright in the Work including by virtue of the work made for hire doctrine.” Id. ¶ 18. The Copyright Office rejected the application “because it lacks the human authorship necessary to support a copyright claim.” Id. ¶ 19.  Thaler responded to the Copyright Office that human authorship is not a requirement supported by law. Id. ¶ 20.  

What This Means for Creators, Developers, and Lawyers

For now, those who use Generative AI as part of their creative process should consider disclosing its role in copyright applications. Registrants must identify which parts of a work were authored by a human and which were generated by AI. Authors should further consider record keeping of the human creativity component, as they may become relevant to the Copyright Office’s initial analysis of determining registrability. Registrability relates to enforcement, but an adverse decision from the Copyright Office does not preclude enforcement. 

Under 17 U.S.C. § 411, a party may not file a lawsuit for copyright infringement until the Copyright Office has either issued a registration for the work at issue or has refused to register it. This means that obtaining a registration or receiving a formal refusal from the Copyright Office is a necessary precondition to initiating an infringement action in court. Past disputes have revolved around the distinction between applying for a copyright registration and actually receiving the registration from the Copyright Office. In Forth Estate Public Benefit Corporation v. Wall-Street.com, LLC, 586 U.S. 296 (2019), Justice Ruth Bader-Ginsburg’s opinion makes clear that registration “has been made” requires the “registration approach,” meaning that the Copyright Office must register (or reject) the work in order for a copyright plaintiff to comply with § 411 and that merely applying for a copyright registration before filing suit is not sufficient. This ensures that the Copyright Office has had an initial opportunity to review the copyright claim before judicial proceedings begin. But the Copyright Office does not necessarily have the final say.

If the Copyright Office refuses registration, the applicant may still bring an infringement lawsuit, provided they include the correspondence from the Office showing the refusal and take other procedural steps in compliance with the statute. Those procedural steps include notifying the Copyright Office concerning the lawsuit so that the Copyright Office can participate on issues related to registrability. Ward v. National Geographic Soc., 208 F.Supp.2d 429, 445-447 (S.D.N.Y. 2002). The Ward court cites another Ruth Bader Ginsburg-authored decision in OddzOnProducts, Inc. v. Oman, 942 F.2d 346 (D.C.Cir. 1991), for support that the District Court can review “the full panoply of copyright infringement issues” including issues of copyright validity.  

The practical takeaway is that AI is a tool—sometimes powerful, sometimes opaque—but it is not a creator under U.S. law. The human must still do the heavy lifting of authorship. Although the Copyright Office has staked out its view on where the line should be, in this new area of Generative AI, the line between sufficient human authorship will likely be discovered by the courts.

That may be good news for creators seeking to preserve the value of human-made works, even in a landscape increasingly shaped by machines.

What if I told you that there was an organization for lawyers through which I’ve met the greatest female athlete in history, Jackie Joyner-Kersee? And also Pro Football Hall of Famer Isaac Bruce? The Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis (BAMSL) is that organization.  Both of these individuals have been speakers at past BAMSL events, after which they mingled with the attendees.

Why You Should Join the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis

Celebrating its 151^st year, The Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis (BAMSL) is a dynamic and essential organization for legal professionals in the St. Louis area. Whether you’re an established attorney or a young lawyer just starting out, joining BAMSL offers a wealth of benefits that can elevate your career, improve your practice, and connect you with a community of like-minded professionals. The decision to join BAMSL is not only about professional growth but also about contributing to the continued development and betterment of the legal community in the St. Louis region.  One of the many intangible benefits that I derive from being a BAMSL member is networking with, and befriending, judges and attorneys in different practice areas that I may otherwise not know. 

Professional Development and Continuing Legal Education (CLE)

BAMSL provides its members with access to Continuing Legal Education (CLE) opportunities that are both affordable (including a monthly CLE that is free to members) and relevant. These educational programs are are taught by our local colleagues, who you will have occasion to meet in person at that CLE and at future events. Often the CLE offerings are outside-the-box thoughts, such as the History of the Death Penalty in Missouri with tour of the old Missouri State Penitentiary (operated from 1836 to 2004), or a tour of Bellfontaine Cemetery visiting graves of attorneys interred there.

Networking and Community Engagement

To paraphrase the Gambler’s advice to Kenny Rogers: "we’ll give you a taste of our whiskey, AND we’ll give you some advice." Come to one of the myriad events held annually such as the Holiday Party, Rendezvous on the Roof, or Member Appreciation event, to imbibe and seek advice from other lawyers. All of those are local AND free for members. 

The annual Bench and Bar conference at Lake of the Ozarks is another opportunity to mingle with many judges, at a registration rate that is deeply discounted for members

Joining BAMSL connects you with a vast network of legal professionals. Whether you're a solo practitioner or part of a large firm, BAMSL fosters an environment where you can share knowledge, insights, and experiences with other attorneys. The relationships built through BAMSL can be critical for growing your practice, finding mentors, or even discovering potential business opportunities.

In addition to networking with peers, BAMSL offers opportunities for members to get involved in local legal and community service projects, such as the 9/11 Day of Service, Veterans Day food distribution, Martin Luther King Day food distribution, Attorneys Against Hunger, and many others. Volunteering through BAMSL is a great way to give back to the community and use your skills to make a tangible impact. Whether through pro bono work, volunteering in non-legal work, or legal clinics, these experiences allow you to contribute to the public good while building your professional reputation.

Leadership Opportunities

BAMSL provides a platform for members to develop and refine their leadership skills. As a member, you can participate in committees and sections, become a board member, or take on leadership positions within the association itself. These roles not only help you build your leadership capabilities, but also give you the chance to contribute to the direction of the organization and the legal community at large.

Leadership positions in BAMSL are highly regarded within the St. Louis legal community, and being involved in BAMSL can enhance your professional credibility and visibility. Whether you’re looking to lead a committee or section, organize events, or advocate for important issues, BAMSL offers a wealth of leadership opportunities that can significantly benefit your career.

Resources for Career Growth and Client Referrals

As an attorney, it is crucial to have access to resources that can help grow your practice and improve client service. BAMSL provides members with a variety of resources, such as directories, referral networks, and discounted practice management tools and professional services that can support their professional needs. Through BAMSL’s lawyer referral service, members can connect with clients in need of legal assistance, while also gaining exposure to potential new cases.

The Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis is a very valuable resource for legal professionals in the region. Whether you’re seeking opportunities for professional development, networking, leadership growth, or community engagement, BAMSL offers the tools and support needed to succeed. The benefits of joining BAMSL extend beyond personal gain; as a member, you will also be part of an organization that advocates for the betterment of the legal system and the community at large. By joining BAMSL, you are making an investment in your career and in the future of the legal profession in St. Louis.

If you have not done so already, it is time to renew your BAMSL membership as May 1^st is the beginning of the bar year. Encourage other attorneys who are not BAMSL members to join. Talk to law students at events—after all, they may be your future opponent, mentee, colleague, or referral source.

By Kimberly Norwood, Henry H. Oberschelp Professor of Law, Washington University School of Law

We all need to do everything we can to ensure that every individual in every case in our system of justice is treated with respect and has his or her case adjudicated fairly and impartially according to the law. Until that is true in 100 percent of our courts, we cannot rest. Even a perception of justice denied anywhere should concern us all, no matter who or where we are.

2016 Missouri Supreme Court Chief Judge Patricia Breckenridge

Rocked by state and nationwide protests following the tragic killing of Michael Brown and the subsequent release of the Department of Justice Report on the Ferguson Police Department, the Missouri Supreme Court took decisive action. Among other initiatives, it established the Commission on Racial and Ethnic Fairness in the Courts (the "Commission"), on which I serve. The Commission's main objective has been to investigate the unequal treatment of racial and ethnic minorities within the judicial system. Early data indicated some disparities, prompting the Court to delve deeper into their accuracy and underlying circumstances. The Commission was tasked with examining existing practices and making recommendations to ensure fairness, impartiality, equal access, and full participation for racial and ethnic minorities in the judicial process and in the practice of law.

Now in its tenth year of pro bono service, the Commission made impactful recommendations early in its tenure. One such recommendation was for the Court to mandate cultural competency, diversity, inclusion, and implicit bias training as part of the required Continuing Legal Education (CLE) for all attorneys. The Missouri Supreme Court already mandates 15 hours of CLE for lawyers admitted to the Bar in Missouri, three of which must be dedicated to ethics. The Commission proposed that one of these three ethics hours focus specifically on bias, inclusion, cultural competency, and diversity.¹ The Court agreed, and effective July 2019, Missouri Court Rule 15.05 was amended to include this requirement:

(a) After July 1, 1988, except as provided in Rule 15.05(c), each lawyer shall complete and report, during each reporting year, a total of at least fifteen credit hours of accredited programs, seminars, and activities. For each reporting year:

1) at least three of the total fifteen credit hours must be devoted exclusively to accredited ethics programs, seminars, and activities, including professionalism, substance abuse, mental health, legal or judicial ethics, malpractice prevention, explicit or implicit bias, diversity, inclusion, or cultural competency; and

2) at least one of the three ethics credit hours required under Rule 15.05(a)(1) must be devoted exclusively to explicit or implicit bias...²

In January 2025, Missouri Lieutenant Governor David Wasinger, along with Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, Missouri Senator Eric Schmitt, and Missouri Treasurer Vivek Malek, wrote a letter to the Court. They requested that this dedicated hour be repealed, arguing it was "divisive" and led to "politically charged training" and "indoctrination." According to the signatories, the one-hour requirement “risks sewing professional discord in Missouri’s legal community as those terms are seen by many as being synonymous with a political ideology that presumes, without evidence, base motivations and racial animus in the hearts of fellow attorneys.³  The signatories requests that the Court adopt an approach that “honors the discretion and good intentions of Missouri’s lawyers by allowing members of the bar to meet their required ethics training by choosing topics most appropriate to their own educational needs—including, if they choose, training on how principles of non-discrimination should be applied to the rule of law.” 

I believe that this letter misses the mark for a variety of reasons. Let us delve into the terms described as divisive in the letter. Bias is an inherent part of human nature. It is neither racist nor an expression of racial animus; it simply denotes a predisposition towards or against something, which can have negative impacts. Biases can be known or unknown, conscious, or unconscious. By educating lawyers on both their known biases and potential unknown ones, the Court is not attributing racial animus to them but rather, is promoting self-awareness and assisting  judges and attorneys in their ability to comply with Missouri Supreme Court rules that already prohibit bias in the performance of judicial duties and in the representation of clients.⁴

Second, consider the words identified as divisive. Diversity means variety, an essential attribute we desire in many aspects of life. Examples include: different houses, automobiles, jobs, careers, schools, clothes, even different shades of blue.  Diversity always augments and enhances. We normally celebrate variety. Why not in people? Diversity in people—across disabilities, age, gender, race, ethnicity, political ideology, and religion, for example, brings different perspectives and experiences, enriching our collective environment and fostering growth. It brings a positivity that sameness does not. We all learn, grow, and thrive when different points of view and experiences are considered. 

Inclusivity, too, is a positive concept. It means ensuring everyone is involved and valued. Being included is normally considered a good thing. If you were sitting at a table and a discussion was taking place, wouldn’t you want to be included in the conversation? Wouldn’t you feel excluded if not included? Likewise, cultural competency seeks to expose us all to the differences in our respective cultural differences with the objective of gaining greater acceptance of those differences. Cultural competency promotes understanding and acceptance of our nation's rich amalgamation of cultures, leading to greater inclusivity and reduced discrimination. 

These terms are not intended to be divisive. The one-hour CLE requirement on bias, diversity, inclusion, or cultural competency, in effect since 2019, is designed to foster greater awareness and understanding. The topics covered are broad and can include but are not limited to issues related to antisemitism, disability, ethnicity, environmental justice, gender, islamophobia, poverty, and race. This requirement is far from an attempt to sow division; instead, it aims to create more compassionate and effective legal professionals. Cultural understanding and cultural inclusivity should be the hallmarks of the law and practitioners of the law. 

Additionally, no evidence has been presented demonstrating that this annual, one-hour topic (which is actually 50 minutes)⁵ has caused “base motivations and racial animus.” The Court also has the authority to require that attorneys live up to their oaths as counselors of law and officers of the court and thus may rightfully require that its officers spend a one hour per year to better understand how their experiences may differ from those who they represent. Being conscious of that difference lessens the risk of unintentional but potentially harmful stereotypes and biases that could affect their representation. This requirement is not an attempt at shame or divide. Far from divisive, it creates greater understanding, greater awareness,  and lawyering, prosecuting, and judging that complies with the rules already governing judges and lawyers in Missouri.

Finally, every lawyer in Missouri has taken an oath that includes practicing law “with consideration for the defenseless and oppressed.”⁶ Consistent with that oath, the Court correctly determined that a single, annual hour of cultural competency not only benefits the Missouri Bar and the profession but also promotes public confidence in the very sacred notion of equal justice under the law. Cultural competency and cultural inclusivity help to fulfill that oath and promote equal justice in the profession. Let that requirement continue unabated.

¹ This recommendation came shortly after a similar resolution was passed by the American Bar Association (ABA) in 2016. See American Bar Association Resolution 107; adopted by the House of Delegates on February 8, 2016). 16M107.

² 15.05 | Continuing Legal Education Requirements (emphasis added). 

³ https://ltgov.mo.gov/lt-gov-wasinger-urges-supreme-court-to-revise-divisive-dei-mandate/.

⁴ The Judicial Code of Conduct in Missouri asks judges to remain impartial. “ ‘Impartial,’ “impartiality,” and “impartially” mean absence of bias or prejudice in favor of, or against, particular parties or classes of parties, as well as maintenance of an open mind in considering issues that may come before a judge.  See Mo.Sup.Crt.Rule 2.2, https://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=198894. Lawyers have long been advised by the Court to not engaging in bias or prejudice in representing a client. See  Mo.Sup.Crt.Rule 4-8.4(g), https://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=198965. 

⁵ For CLE purposes in Missouri, one hour is 50, not 60, minutes.  Mo.Sup.Ct.Rule 15.01c, https://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=199183

⁶ Missouri Rule 8.15/Oath or Affirmation; https://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=199074.  

When you talk to Trez Quinn, two things stand out about him quickly: his adherence to the overriding principle of fairness, and his desire to do more. That drive to do more was evident as early as high school and continues throughout his legal career and as he prepares to take the reins of BAMSL as president.

While making a difference was always on his radar, becoming a lawyer wasn’t necessarily in his sights. Following high school, Trez expected to attend college on a baseball scholarship but quickly decided that he wanted to chart a different course, even if he wasn’t sure exactly what that course was or where it would take him. It eventually led him to the Air Force Reserves, where he trained for nine months as an EMT/medic. When he discovered that he really enjoyed the work, he thought military life could be the path for him. Unfortunately, defense cuts in the early 1990s meant his job also got cut and closed off the path to active duty.

Nevertheless, he’d discovered work he enjoyed, which led him to apply for healthcare jobs at hospitals. “I worked in a position typically held by student nurses, but I kind of sold myself by packaging my information from reserve training and brought it to interviews, which was how I ended up getting hired.”

His interactions with the nursing staff introduced him to hardworking, smart people who were doing well in life, and their example inspired him to go to nursing school. After graduating from Lutheran School of Nursing in 1994, he worked as a registered nurse for more than ten years. After earning his degree in business management, he transitioned into healthcare administration, advancing until he was responsible for two hospital floors of medical-surgical services.

Trez felt he was not being intellectually challenged enough, so looking for his next challenge, he turned his sights to the legal field, something he’d considered in the past but never pursued. “Law school came up, but I had a family by this point and needed to work. At the time, I was working at a local hospital, and on my break, I made a call to both (Washington University and Saint Louis University) and learned that SLU had an evening program. I thought, ‘This could really happen.’”

“When I got off break, I had a new patient, and the funny thing was, I don’t remember his name or why he came in, but I do remember he was a lawyer and he went to SLU in the evening program. I’m a spiritual guy, and I thought, ‘this may be confirmation.’”

“I always thought about entering the legal field because fundamentally for me, fairness is my passion, treating people fairly,” he says. “I think it comes from growing up and seeing things and wanting to put yourself in a position where you can help make things a little better.” He admits he would have been incredulous if you’d told him at the outset that he would become a defense lawyer, but he also sees it as consistent with that commitment to fairness. “We have an obligation to make sure our clients are treated fairly within the rule of law. It’s not a perfect system, but it’s one of the best in the world when it’s applied fairly.”

Following graduation from SLU’s evening program, he found his first position as an associate in the Belleville, Illinois office of a Chicago-based law firm, where he primarily worked on medical malpractice cases and municipal law. It was also at that firm that he met Senator James Clayborne Jr., who gave the freshly minted lawyer some valuable advice on starting to build his own book of business early. “He said, you can be a great lawyer, and you can work for attorneys and their clients for the rest of your career, or you can start now getting out there and meeting people and building your own clients. It’s up to you to want to do that. In law school, they don’t teach you the business side. That stuck with me, and since that day I started going to conferences, meeting people, getting my name out there and trying to build my own clients.”

It’s advice he passes on to young lawyers now, which he considers a responsibility. “You need to focus on being the best lawyer you can be. The second thing you need to do is get out into the legal community and get involved. It does no good if no one knows who you are. I feel like sometimes we don’t take enough ownership of making sure our young people are prepared.”

While medical malpractice still occupies a part of his practice, he has gradually transitioned his focus to more complex product liability and tort litigation. His practice evolved further in 2023, when he was named managing attorney of Armstrong Teasdale’s Edwardsville, Illinois office. His focus is to grow the office, but given his previous experience in management, he knows timing is everything. “You have to be patient. You’re constantly thinking about opportunities for growth, whether that’s talking to law firms, lateral partners, someone retiring from the bench; you’re always thinking about growth. You survey the landscape to see what those areas are. But it’s all about timing and finding the right people. We can add people for the sake of growth, but that doesn’t work. You have to be patient, and you have to add the right people.”

Part of meeting people and getting his name out there included becoming involved with BAMSL after he moved to Armstrong Teasdale. “I had recently started practicing in Missouri, so that gave me the opportunity to meet other attorneys. When I got involved, people were really organized, very professional, and fun to be around. I really enjoyed it.”

His commitment to fairness remains a guiding principle as he prepares to assume the role of president of BAMSL on May 1. His focus will be on activities and educational opportunities that further the fair administration of justice, fundamental constitutional principles, and the importance of adhering to legal principles and rules. “We’re an apolitical organization, but we do stand for and will work to protect the integrity of the legal system and the rule of law.”

Somehow, he finds time outside of the office to cycle and play the trumpet. And although most of his children have already left the nest, he is active in his 13-year-old son’s involvement in baseball, both coaching his select team and training him individually. “As with all of my children, I want to give him the opportunity to have fun, create fond memories, as well as build a foundation for him to be a productive and successful young man.”

Have any of his kids expressed an interest in the law? He laughs and shakes his head. “I’m kind of disappointed.”

Like many of you my journey to law was not a linear one. It was a path shaped by the support of those who believed in me, guidance by those who taught me, and resilience built through the challenges that tested me. It is because of this journey, I begin my next chapter as President of BAMSL, but not as a solo leader, but a steward with a shared mission, that mission, at its core, is to protect the integrity of the justice system and the rule of law.  

When we speak of the rule of law, we often speak of it in lofty terms, but rightfully so. It’s what separates justice from chaos, fairness from favoritism, and democracy from tyranny. However, most people don’t experience the rule of law in monumental constitutional moments. They experience the rule of law in every day living. It’s the tenant facing eviction who seeks the assistance of a legal aid attorney, or the small business owner or corporation that hopes the contracts they sign are enforceable. The power of the rule of law doesn’t come from words written on paper, it comes from people – people like many of you and me who decide to defend it when it’s hard and not just when it is easy.

I discovered very early in my career that, as lawyers, we don’t simply practice law, we restore dignity, and yet that ability to do that depends on one thing, above all else, the integrity of the justice system.  

At the heart of any legitimate legal system lies not only the rule of law but also the principle of fairness. While the rule of law ensures that government actions are governed by law rather than arbitrary decisions, it is the fair administration of justice that gives meaning to these rules. Without fairness in legal processes, the rule of law becomes hollow—an appearance of legality without justice.

Fairness and the fair administration of justice are not ancillary, but central components of the rule of law, and how they shape democratic governance, protect human rights, and ensure public trust in legal institutions. Public trust in the legal profession and the courts doesn’t happen by default. It is earned. Earned by committed, tireless, hard work. When that trust is tested, we have a choice – to speak up or to be silent. Nonetheless, silence in our profession as lawyers is never neutral. When and if the very justice system fails the very people or entities it is meant to protect, our obligation is not to retreat but to stand on our legal principles and professional integrity. 

As I assume the role of the President of BAMSL, I am hoping this year is one of meaningful connections and courageous leadership from all involved. Here are some priorities I hope we will work on together:

I. Protecting Public Trust in the Justice System

We cannot shy away from difficult conversations about equity, access and ethics. I hope to convene roundtables, engage the judiciary and advocate for reforms that promote transparency and fairness.

II. Support Each Other

The practice of law can be hard. Let’s foster a culture of mutual support where mental health is not a stigma, but a shared concern; where attorneys are recognized and not just managed.

III. Amplify Community Engagement

We often say that people don’t understand the law, but have we truly made it understandable? I hope to expand our civic education efforts and pro bono outreach. I believe that when people know their rights, they are empowered to use them. 

IV. Celebrate Each Other

Amid all the challenges, our profession is full of heroes. We will continue to celebrate those who exemplify the very best of the bar:  integrity, compassion, and service.

V. Support a Diverse, Equitable and Inclusive Legal Community

Diversity is embracing the differences everyone brings. Equity is treating everyone fairly. Inclusion is creating a culture that encourages everyone to communicate their ideas and perspectives. We will engage the legal community and create platforms to educate people on these principles and threats to same. Despite the recent attacks on Diversity Equity and Inclusion, we will continue to support a diverse, equitable and inclusive legal community.

To be a lawyer is to be entrusted with the power to shape communities, lives and the very fabric of society. Even though the law can be an instrument of bureaucracy, it can also be a force for belonging. Although the law can be used to exclude, it can just as powerfully be used to protect, heal and include. As lawyers we are not just interpreters of the law but also stewards of the law. As stewards, we must make sure we leave the law in a better position than when we started practicing. I am hopeful this year is about a recommitment to purpose – to why we became lawyers in the first place.

ATTORNEY POSITIONS

Closely-knit boutique law firm located in Kirkwood seeks a full-time civil litigation associate attorney.  Firm practice consists of civil rights defense, title litigation, employment, corporate, and other civil defense.  Qualified candidates will have 3 years of civil litigation experience and an active license to practice law in Missouri.  Prior real estate experience a plus.  Licensure and experience in federal courts would be helpful.  

Well-established mid-sized Clayton firm seeks a junior-level associate for their business litigation practice.  Firm is seeking a motivated candidate with 1-3 years of litigation experience (preferably in business-related cases), strong research/analytical skills, a desire to learn about written discovery and related processes, and an ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines effectively.  The ideal candidate will thrive in a collaborative environment and be ready to take on court appearances, including trials and appeals, as their career progresses.  Prior court appearances a plus but not required.  Missouri bar license.  

Well-respected IL legal aid organization seeks a full-time staff attorney to represent clients in the following areas of law:  eviction, sealing and expungement of criminal records, and public benefits (e.g. Social Security, SNAP, etc.).  Qualified candidates will have:  2 + years of experience in legal aid (preferred), civil litigation, criminal defense, public benefits, and/or landlord/tenant law; a strong commitment to social and racial justice; excellent verbal, analytical, writing, and organization skills; a demonstrated ability to build relationships and work with people of diverse social, economic, and racial/ethical backgrounds, an ability to supervise law students, support staff, and volunteers; and reliable transportation/valid driver's license/car insurance.  IL license (or requisite credentials for reciprocity).  

Sophisticated downtown litigation boutique seeks a full-time associate attorney to primarily work in the areas of employment law (heavier), medical malpractice (heavier), and insurance defense.  Qualified associates will have 2-4 years of civil litigation defense experience.  Must be licensed in Missouri and eligible for licensure in Illinois.  

Boutique law firm focused on estate planning and estate litigation seeks a full-time junior-level associate for its Clayton office.  Qualified candidates will have 1-3 years of civil litigation experience along with a sincere desire for a career in trust/estate litigation.  Prior trust/estate litigation experience a plus.  Firm may consider a MO licensed JD 24 or JD 25 (sitting for MO) with demonstrated subject matter interest.  

Well-established and respected 15 attorney Clayton firm seeks to add a commercial litigation associate.  Missouri license and 2-4 years of experience in civil litigation (of some commercial influence) required.  Applicant should be eligible to obtain admission to the Illinois bar if not already licensed.  

Growing Midwestern law firm is seeking a mid to senior level workers' compensation associate with 5-25 years of experience to handle defending workers' compensation claims in the firm's downtown, St. Louis office.  Qualified candidates will have 5 + years of experience handling and defending workers' compensation claims and/or general liability claims.  J.D. and license in IL required.  Both IL and MO licenses preferred.  

Leading Missouri mortgage creditor rights firm seeks a full-time litigation associate for its Chesterfield Valley office.  Qualified candidates will have five or more years of experience in real estate litigation matters and experience in working on real estate title related matters.  Candidate must be licensed by the Missouri bar and willing to become licensed in Kansas and Kentucky.  

Downtown plaintiff asbestos firm is seeking to hire an associate attorney for a discovery role.  The position will support a litigation team and primarily focus on legal research/writing.  Qualified candidates will have 2 to 10 years of experience with a plaintiff firm; possess excellent legal research and writing abilities; discovery experience; and law and motion experience.  Candidates must be members of the Missouri and/or Illinois state bars and able to travel periodically.  

Established and successful Creve Coeur estate planning firm seeks an experienced mid-level trusts & estates associate interested in an eventual leadership/ownership position within the firm.  Qualified candidates will have 5-10 years of experience handling sophisticated estate planning with trusts.  LLM in Taxation a plus.  Missouri license required.  Book of business a plus, but not a requirement.  Ideal position for an associate at a larger firm interested in transitioning to a small, stable, close-knit boutique environment. 

Small eight attorney workers' compensation defense firm located in Town & Country seeks a full-time associate attorney.  Qualified candidates will have 1-4 years of experience in workers' compensation (plaintiff or defense), personal injury, or insurance defense litigation.  Prior workers' compensation experience preferred.  Missouri and/or Illinois license required.  

10 attorney West St. Louis County law firm with a heavy workers' compensation defense practice is seeking an associate attorney.  Qualified candidates should have 2- 5 years of workers' compensation defense experience.  Missouri license required.  Missouri plus Illinois strongly preferred. 

20 + attorney law firm in Clayton seeks an experienced Trusts & Estates associate attorney.  Qualified candidates will have 2-6 years of experience in estate planning, gift and estate tax return preparation, probate matters and trust administration, along with a strong work ethic, attention to detail, and a desire to continually increase in experience in these fields.  Missouri license required.  Additional Illinois license a plus. 

Mid-sized civil litigation and trial firm located in Clayton seeks a full-time insurance defense litigation associate.  Qualified associates will have 1-5 + years of insurance defense, insurance coverage, and/or general civil defense litigation experience and a Missouri license.  Dual licensure with Illinois preferred.  Candidates must possess strong legal writing skills and have an interest in litigation and trial work.  

Well-respected 9 attorney civil defense law firm located in Lafayette Square is seeking a full-time litigation defense associate.  Qualified associates will have 3-5 years of civil litigation experience in one or more of the following areas:  construction, transportation, product liability, and/or general liability.  Missouri law license is required and dual licensure with Illinois is preferred.  

Well-established, small law firm in St. Louis County seeking a full-time litigation associate.  The firm is mainly an insurance defense litigation practice.  The ideal candidate will become involved in an active caseload.  A current Missouri license is required.  

Large downtown St. Louis based national plaintiffs' law firm that exclusively represents victims of mesothelioma is seeking to hire a litigation associate.  Qualified candidates will have 2-10 years of civil litigation experience, preferably in a med-legal environment (plaintiff asbestos, personal injury, medical malpractice, etc.), and be able to travel frequently.  Ideal candidate will have some trial, research and writing, and deposition experience, along with case management.  Candidates with judicial clerkship experience will be viewed favorably.  MO license required.  Additional licensure (or eligibility for reciprocity) in IL strongly preferred. 

National law firm with more than 110 attorneys in offices coast to coast seeks a defense litigation associate to join their St. Louis (Clayton) based team.  Qualified candidates will have 1-7 years of defense litigation experience; hands-on experience taking a case file from inception through resolution; experience in products liability, toxic tort, and/or general liability; and be admitted to practice in Missouri and Illinois.  

Litigation defense firm headquartered in Chicago is actively seeking an associate attorney for its downtown, St. Louis office.  Qualified candidates will have 2-6 years of litigation experience; be proficient with Lexis and MS Office; be licensed to practice law in Missouri; demonstrate strong legal research and analytical skills; and navigate hearings in state and federal court with poise and professionalism.  

Reputable 20 + attorney law firm in Clayton seeks an experienced senior litigation associate to join the firm's commercial litigation practice.  Qualified candidates will have at least 6 years of experience managing commercial litigation cases, with expertise in discovery, depositions, and motion practice.  Trial experience preferred.  Business development skills and client originations are a plus.  Missouri bar license required. 

Leading Missouri mortgage creditor rights firm seeks a full-time junior-level transactional associate for its Chesterfield Valley office.  Qualified associates will have 1-5 years of experience - preferably in the real estate and/or corporate transactional realm.  Candidates must be licensed in Missouri and willing to obtain licenses in KS and/or KY (UBE score transfer or willing to sit for another bar exam).  

PARALEGAL POSITIONS

National plaintiff's asbestos firm based in downtown, St. Louis seeks a full-time Medical Liens Paralegal.  Qualified candidates will have 3 to 5 years of paralegal experience (preferably with a paralegal degree or certificate). Experience in product liability, personal injury, lien resolution, and/or subrogation preferred.  Familiarity with ICD-9/10 billing codes a plus.  

Large full-service law firm based in downtown, St. Louis seeks a full-time business litigation paralegal.  Qualified candidates will have a minimum of 3 years of business litigation experience.  Associate's Degree or a paralegal certification is required, and Bachelor's Degree preferred.  Equivalent experience in litigation will be considered in lieu of education.  Experience with Microsoft Office software, including Outlook, Word and Excel, and a proficiency in litigation support software is a plus.  

High-end estate planning, estate administration, and fiduciary litigation boutique is seeking a full-time or part-time experienced probate and trust administration paralegal for the firm's Clayton office.  Missouri probate and trust experience required, Illinois a plus.  Experience with opening and filing probate cases from start to finish including accountings and inventories.  Experienced with trust administration including creditor and beneficiary notices and proposed schedules of distribution.  Not required, but experience with Form 706, and especially portability returns, is a plus.  

Law firm located in Chesterfield Valley seeks an experienced paralegal to assist with litigation related to mortgages, foreclosures, and title work.  Qualified candidates will have 1 + year of civil litigation experience.  Real estate litigation preferred.  BA/BS and/or certification preferred. 

SUPPORT STAFF POSITIONS

National asbestos plaintiffs' law firm based in downtown, St. Louis seeks a full-time Expert Witness Assistant to support the firm's Expert Witness Coordinator.  Qualified candidates will have at least 1 year of clerical experience in a professional services environment.  Experience with MS Word, Excel, Outlook, and Adobe Acrobat required.  Prior legal experience preferred.  

Established 3 attorney criminal defense, DWI, and traffic law firm located in the heart of Clayton seeks a full-time legal receptionist/legal assistant.  Qualified candidates will have prior clerical experience and strong computer skills.  Writing skills are essential as this position will use templates to draft basic legal pleadings, letters, and e-mails.  Prior legal experience preferred.  Ideal candidate will have experience with CaseNet/e-filing in Missouri; drafting traffic/municipal pleadings; coordinating and communicating with clients; managing attorneys' calendars and court dockets; and computer proficiency in Word, e-mail, electronic files (Google Drive), MyCase, and REJIS.  

Small plaintiff personal injury firm located in Chesterfield seeks a full-time litigation legal secretary/assistant.  Qualified candidates will have 3-5 years of litigation legal secretarial/assistant experience, preferably in the personal injury field; training in paralegal studies; ability to type 85 + WPM; and proficiency with Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint.  

National plaintiff asbestos firm based in downtown, St. Louis seeks a full-time legal assistant to support the firm's administration/IT department in a data-entry role.  Qualified candidates will have fast typing skills (50-70 wpm +) with knowledge of a touch typing system and be computer savvy - proficient knowledge of MS Office (Word, Excel, and Outlook especially) and Adobe Acrobat.  Data-entry clerk experience preferred.  

Well-established nine-attorney firm in the Clayton/Ladue area is seeking to add a full-time paralegal/legal assistant to their plaintiff personal injury/medical malpractice team.  Proficiency with MS Office Suite products including Word, Excel, and Outlook required.  2-3 years of significant and substantive civil litigation experience required.  Prior personal injury/medical malpractice experience preferred.