Sep. 4, 2024

Alumni Spotlight — Meet Kristen Evans

Going into law school at the University of Missouri, Kristen Evans, ’22, already had her eyes on a coveted position after graduation: a federal clerkship. “I felt that it would be really resourceful to do,” Evans said. “[Judicial clerks] gain a lot of knowledge about how the courts work, and that includes learning the court system, learning how to cater your arguments, your motions, your orders, to judges’ preferences.” However, Evans felt discouraged by the pervasive message that clerkships were out of her reach. Outside of Evans’ friends and mentors at Mizzou Law, many emphasized the exclusivity of federal clerkships.

Aug. 12, 2024

Alumni Spotlight — Meet Keesha-Lu Abrahams-Mitra

by Anna Sago As the first female senior vice president and general counsel at State Farm, Keesha-Lu Abrahams-Mitra, ‘89, still finds herself relying on a skill she learned on her very first day of law school at Mizzou. “My very first day of law school — civil procedure,” Abrahams-Mitra said, “I happened to have Professor Carl Esbeck. My maiden name was Abrahams and he called on students alphabetically. So Pennoyer vs. Neff is indelibly etched in my mind, not necessarily positively.” Though Abrahams-Mitra can now laugh at her first-day cold call blunder, it taught her a valuable lesson that…

March 12, 2024

Missouri Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary Russell ’83, Named a USA Today Woman of the Year

Missouri Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary Russell ’83, has been named a 2024 Woman of the Year by USA Today. Read about her honor here.

March 5, 2024

Alumni Spotlight — Meet Maggy Carlyle

Growing up, Maggy Carlyle ’11, was always surrounded by football. She remembers cheering first for the Dallas Cowboys and later for the Chiefs after she and her family moved to Kansas City. After receiving a degree in strategic communications from the University of Missouri and spending time working as a teacher, Carlyle never saw herself working in sports — especially after she made the decision to return to Columbia to attend the University of Missouri Law School. “I didn’t go to law school thinking I would go into sports law. My only experience with law was litigation and criminal justice…

Feb. 22, 2024

Reaching Remarkable Heights: The Women of the Mizzou Law Class of 1996

The achievements of the women of the Mizzou Law class of 1996 have shone brightly this year: Kelly Broniec earned a Missouri Supreme Court appointment in 2023 making her one of six Mizzou Law alumni on the Missouri Supreme Court. Her appointment also contributed to making the Missouri Supreme Court a majority female bench. Additionally, Megan Phillips was elected president of the Missouri Bar Association, and many others continue to succeed in new and existing roles. Almost as admirable as their career trajectories is the strong bond many of these women have built and maintained in the nearly…

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…

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…