Jan. 25, 2024

Two Mizzou Law Alumni Win 2024 Geyer Awards

Caleb Jones ’07, executive vice president and CEO of the Missouri Electric Cooperatives; and Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer ’09, will be recognized with Geyer Awards at a ceremony held at the Missouri Governor’s Mansion  February. Each year, the Mizzou Alumni Association presents the Geyer Awards to those who exemplify the dedication and spirit of Henry S. Geyer, a state representative from St. Louis. Geyer believed education was the key to progress and prosperity in Missouri and introduced a bill to establish the University of Missouri in 1839. Caleb Jones Jones is the executive vice president and CEO of the Missouri Electric…

Nov. 14, 2023

Ben Thomas ’73 and John Shaw ’77 given 2023 Faculty-Alumni Awards

On Nov. 10, Ben Thomas ’73 and John Shaw ’77 were two of 13 winners of the 2023 Mizzou Alumni Association Faculty-Alumni Awards. Alumni are chosen for this award for outstanding professional achievement and loyal, devoted service to their community and alma mater. Ben Thomas ’73, has been a staunch supporter since — contributing funds for necessary staff, mentoring students at the clinic, and speaking on behalf of the program at events for both alumni and veterans alike. Additionally, he has inspired major clinical projects, most recently involving a team of students dedicated to challenging the VA’s handling…

Nov. 8, 2023

Alumni Spotlight — Meet Skip Walther

Skip Walther’s attachment to Columbia and the University of Missouri began early —  through selling carnations and cokes to Tiger fans on game days and watching his Uncle Butch preside over the Boone County Commission. So when it became time to choose a college, it was a no-brainer. “I never even gave it a second thought,” he said. “I just love this place.” Walther’s admiration for the practice of law, too, began in childhood. He frequently interacted with attorneys through his mother’s work as a legal secretary, through his uncle, who he describes as a “second father” while in junior…

Oct. 31, 2023

Judge Ginger Gooch, ’00, named to Missouri Supreme Court

Gov. Mike Parson has appointed Judge Ginger Gooch, ’00, to the Missouri Supreme Court to replace retiring judge Patricia Breckenridge, ’77. With Judge Gooch’s appointment, Mizzou Law alumni now fill six of the seven Missouri Supreme Court bench seats, including Chief Justice Mary Russell, ’83. Judge Gooch began her legal career as a law clerk for Mizzou Law alumna Ann Covington, ’77, the first woman to serve on the Missouri Supreme Court. Judge Gooch worked in private practice in the Springfield, Missouri area until she was appointed as a judge in the the Court of Appeals Southern District last year.

Sep. 21, 2023

LLM Alumni Spotlight — Gerardo Pico

When Gerardo Pico, ’00, came to Missouri with his young family in the late 90s for his LLM in Dispute Resolution, he never imagined the many doors it would open for him in and beyond the legal fields. After earning his law degree from the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico in 1992, Pico began working at a state agency as head of the legal division, where his interest in dispute resolution began. “I became significantly involved in the mediation project and found its potential for helping with access to justice,” Pico said. “At the same time, I was impressed with…

Sep. 21, 2023

LLM Alumni Spotlight — Rea Kryeziu

Growing up in post-war Kosovo had always been Rea Kryeziu’s ’15, motivation for uplifting her community through the law. After participating in an international arbitration competition in Vienna while pursuing her undergraduate degree, Kryeziu knew she wanted to study alternative dispute resolution to help build the new legal system in her home country. “The legal system in Kosovo has undergone many transitions in the past two decades and especially ever since Kosovo’s independence back in 2008,” Kryeziu said. “Today, the system runs more smoothly, cases are resolved quicker and enforcement officers carry quite a big load of work. The improvements…

Sep. 13, 2023

Judge Kelly Broniec, ’96, appointed to Missouri Supreme Court

Judge Kelly Broniec, a 1996 Mizzou Law graduate, has been appointed by Gov. Mike Parson to the Missouri Supreme Court. At the time of the appointment, six of the seven judges on the Missouri Supreme Court are Mizzou Law alumni. To read more about this appointment, visit: https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/government-politics/parson-picks-former-montgomery-county-prosecutor-to-fill-missouri-supreme-court-vacancy/article_a3ce5022-517a-11ee-ab5c-53ee4da4cfc2.html.  

Aug. 11, 2023

Three Mizzou Law Alumni Named MAA Faculty and Alumni Award Winners

The Mizzou Alumni Association has announced the 2023 winners of the Faculty and Alumni Awards. Among the recipients, three Mizzou Law alumni have been recognized with awards, Ray Klinginsmith, ’65, John Shaw, ’77, and Benjamin Thomas, ’73. First celebrated in 1968, the Faculty and Alumni Awards highlight the contributions of exceptional individuals to the University’s growth and core mission, through their professional accomplishments, teaching and research excellence or service to the institution. Through the awards program, the Mizzou Alumni Association expresses its appreciation for these individuals and their service to higher education. It focuses attention not only on these…

March 14, 2023

Alumni Spotlight — Meet Phelan Simpkins

Anyone who’s been through the law school application process knows it can be a daunting task. From choosing when and how to study for the LSAT to crafting the perfect personal statement, it can be confusing and hectic even for the most qualified applicants. First-generation students face an even greater challenge of going through this process without a close family member to advise them. Two-time Mizzou alumnus Phelan Simpkins, BS ‘16, JD ‘21 had to overcome this challenge during his own admissions cycle, and it inspired him to create a tool to help other first-generation students. His podcast and video…

Dec. 26, 2022

LLM Alumni Spotlight — Flavia Fragale

In the United States, it’s nearly impossible to imagine becoming a judge before turning 25 years old. In Brazil, moving from law school directly to a judgeship is fairly common. For Flavia Fragale, LLM ‘05, ‘19, she became a judge at just 24. After growing up in Vitória, Brazil, she was admitted to a law program at the University of São Paulo, the oldest and most recognized law school in Brazil. “Law school in Brazil is a graduate course that lasts five years,” Fragale said. “There is no college before it— you finish high school and apply directly to law…