Professors Henson, Pratzel honored with 2022 Spurgeon Smithson Awards

  Mizzou Law professor Chuck Henson and adjunct professor Alan Pratzel were honored on Sept. 14 with Spurgeon Smith Awards by the Missouri Bar Foundation. This award recognizes judges, law teachers, and/or lawyers who have provided outstanding services toward the increase and diffusion of justice. The Foundation’s board recognizes the great work Professor Henson has done at the university, with the Supreme Court of Missouri’s Commission on Racial and Ethnic Fairness in the Law, and with students: “Henson seeks out the meaning of justice and ensures his students focus on the special responsibility lawyers have for the quality…

Professor Angela Drake Wins Distinguished Faculty Award

Professor Angela Drake, director of the Mizzou Law Veterans Clinic, has been honored by the Mizzou Alumni Association (MAA) with the 63rd Annual Distinguished Faculty Award. This award honors one Mizzou faculty member each year for their exceptional contributions to the University’s growth and core mission, through their professional accomplishments, teaching and research excellence or service to the institution. Under Professor Drake’s leadership, the Veterans Clinic has assisted over 1,000 veterans and their family members with discharge upgrades and disability compensation claims, free of charge, and secured over $10 million in federal compensation benefits for those they represent.

Paul Litton Takes Office as Interim Dean of Mizzou Law

Paul Litton today took office as interim dean of Mizzou Law following the leadership of Dean Lyrissa Lidsky, who stepped down on July 4. MU Provost Latha Ramchand announced in April that Litton had been named interim dean after Dean Lidsky finished her tenure. Litton, who is the R.B. Price Professor of Law at Mizzou Law, has been a member of the faculty at MU since 2006 and served as associate dean for research and faculty development for the last seven years. In addition, he has served as director of the office of academic integrity within the MU…

USSC Justice Cites Mizzou Law Veterans Clinic Amicus Brief in Dissenting Opinion

An amicus brief written by Mizzou Law Veterans Clinic students and faculty was cited three times by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch in his dissenting opinion in George v. McDonough. The case, decided on June 15, found that discharged military veteran Kevin George was not entitled to have his earlier decision denying veterans benefits for preexisting mental health issue, exacerbated by his time in service, revised to conform to the law. The case involved the scope of “clear and unmistakeable error” in agency decisions. In George’s case, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs denied his benefits initially…

Coming together for veterans

Contact: Sara Diedrich, 573-882-3243, diedrichs@missouri.edu The Mizzou Law Veterans Clinic has announced a new program to partner with medical students from the University of Missouri School of Medicine. This partnership will involve collaboration between the two professional schools with regard to securing Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability compensation benefits for veterans. Mizzou medical students will collaborate with law students and staff at the clinic to review medical records and provide guidance on medical issues. This partnership will enhance the ability of the clinic in its zealous advocacy for veterans. Mark Buck, a second-year law student…

Mizzou Law earns ACS Programming Award

The American Constitution Society (ACS) Mizzou Law chapter earned a 2022 Programming Award from the American Constitution Society. ACS Programming Awards are presented annually to our most active chapters. The winning chapters helped to shape the debate and promote a progressive vision of the Constitution at their universities. Winning chapters include: Georgetown University Law Center Harvard Law School New York University School of Law Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law Stanford Law School The University of Texas School of Law University of Chicago Law School University of Missouri School of Law University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School University of Virginia…

Paul Litton Named Interim Dean of Mizzou Law

University of Missouri Provost Latha Ramchand has announced that Paul Litton, associate dean for faculty research and R. B. Price Professor of Law will serve as interim dean of Mizzou Law. This appointment follows the announcement that Lyrissa Lidsky, dean and Judge C.A. Leedy Professor of Law at Mizzou Law will step down from the deanship on July 4. Dean Litton will assume the office on that day. “Over the last several weeks, we received input from a variety of constituents, including faculty, staff, and alumni, on the interim appointment,” said Provost Ramchand. “This collective input, along with Paul Litton’s…

Mizzou Law Announces Additional New Faculty Hires for Fall 2022

Officials at the University of Missouri School of Law are continuing the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the school by announcing two exciting new faculty hires joining the ranks of the nationally renowned faculty scholars and teachers at Mizzou Law. Lauren Shores Pelikan, a senior manager of global tax planning at Emerson in St. Louis and Yunsieg P. Kim, a law clerk at the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, will be joining the faculty at Mizzou Law in time to begin teaching classes in the Fall 2022 semester. “We are thrilled to welcome these accomplished…

MU Law Veterans Clinic surpasses milestone: $10 million for veteran-clients

April 7, 2022 Contact: Sara Diedrich, 573-882-3243, DiedrichS@missouri.edu The University of Missouri School of Law Veterans Clinic recently surpassed more than $10 million in disability benefits returned for its clients. The clinic, which opened in 2014, is staffed by Mizzou law students under the supervision of lawyers specializing in veteran law. The Veterans Clinic team appeals denied benefits cases to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, a lengthy process that takes an average of five years. Angela Drake is director of the Veterans Clinic, which has assisted more than 600 veteran clients. She said an important part of…

Professor Oliveri Wins Outstanding Volunteer Service Award

Rigel Oliveri, the Isabelle Wade and Paul C. Lyda Professor of Law at the University of Missouri School of Law, has received the 11th Howard B. Lang, Jr. Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service to the City of Columbia. Professor Oliveri earned the award due to her involvement with fair and affordable housing programs and services, which includes her work with the Columbia Housing Authority and other agencies and programs. She currently serves on the Columbia Housing Authority Board and works on providing support services for low-income, public housing residents in Columbia in order to help them improve the quality of…