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. 22, 2024

Class of 2027 has highest credentials ever

Incoming 1Ls at Mizzou Law have achieved something no other Mizzou Law class has ever achieved. Their credentials (GPA and LSAT scores) are the highest ever on record for an incoming Mizzou Law class. Median GPA for the class of 2027 sits at a stellar 3.75, which is the highest mark in history at Mizzou Law. Further, the median LSAT score for the class sits at an excellent 160, which ties the highest mark ever. Congratulations to the promising Class of 2027!…

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…

April 9, 2024

Mizzou Law Raises Record $70,000 at 20th Annual Tim Heinsz 5K

Mizzou Law’s hosted the 20th annual Tim Heinsz Race on last weekend. Students, faculty, alumni and community members enjoyed clear skies, a catered meal and the usual lineup of foot and bike races all in support of student scholarships. This year’s race set a new record, raising over $70,000 across all of the events. Maura Corrigan, a 3L from St. Louis, served as a student organizer this year. She was inspired to volunteer her time by the lasting legacy of Dean Heinsz and Dean Devine, who she said made the Mizzou Law community what it is today. “I was prompted…

March 25, 2024

Mizzou Law receives record $10 million gift

This spring, the University of Missouri School of Law received a $10 million estate gift from a confidential donor. This gift is the largest single donation to Mizzou Law in the school’s 152-year history. The gift was giving to support the dean’s discretionary fund, which will allow Dean Paul Litton to utilize the funds to support the school’s areas of greatest need. “We cannot thank our generous alumnus enough for this incredible gift,” Dean Litton said. “Our primary mission is to educate the finest lawyers for Missouri and beyond, and this record-setting gift will significantly benefit our students and…

March 22, 2024

Mizzou Law Helping to Develop the NextGen Bar Exam

In January, Mizzou Law contributed to the development of the NextGen bar exam by participating in a national field test in conjunction with the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE). By hosting a field test, Mizzou Law joined 88 other law schools in providing data and feedback to the bar exam developers to help inform and improve the new bar exam format, which will first launch in July 2026. The Mizzou Law field test was facilitated by Kellie Early, the Director of Academic and Bar Support at Mizzou Law.

Feb. 21, 2024

Mizzou Law 3L and Entrepreneur Opens Pop-Up Shop

Parker Owens, a Mizzou Law 3L student, entrepreneur and winner of the Mizzou Entrepreneur Quest Student Accelerator competition last fall, is opening a pop-up store for his business, Parker’s Brick Builds. The store will open from 9:30 a.m.- 2 p.m. on Feb. 21 in the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation in the MU Trulaske College of Business. Owens’ business, Parker’s Brick Builds, offers custom Lego kits to retailers and online to individuals.

Feb. 14, 2024

Mizzou Law Veterans Clinic Files Amicus Brief with United States Supreme Court

Attorneys in the Mizzou Law Veterans Clinic have filed an amicus brief with the United States Supreme Court in a crucial case awaiting consideration involving veterans seeking certiorari to challenge a decision made by the Federal Circuit.   The veterans in the case argue that the Federal Circuit erred in its judgment, contending that the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) must consult the complete agency record in every case to determine the proper application of the benefit-of-the-doubt rule. This rule, rooted in a longstanding history and codified by Congress, is a vital safeguard for veterans seeking…

Feb. 8, 2024

Mizzou Law Student, Assistant Dean Emeritus, Win Carnahan Awards

Walter Jackson, 3L and Assistant Dean Emeritus Bob Bailey, will be honored today, Feb. 8, with Mel Carnahan Awards. Walter Jackson is receiving the Carnahan Award for Legal Scholarship while Dean Bob Bailey is receiving the Carnahan Award for Public Service at the Governor’s Mansion in Jefferson City. The Mel Carnahan Award is an initiative of the Carnahan Policy Institute. Each year, the institute grants the award to individuals who have made outstanding contributions in education, law and public service in Missouri. The institute also provides scholarships to students attending the Truman School of Government…

Jan. 9, 2024

Mizzou Law Entrepreneurship Legal Clinic Now Offers NIL Contract Review for Student-Athletes

Beginning this January, the Mizzou Law Entrepreneurship Clinic (ELC) will begin offering Name Image and Likeness (NIL) contract review services to all student-athletes at Mizzou and across the state of Missouri. The ELC already offers legal services for entrepreneurs and new business owners free of charge — and that same service will now be available for student-athletes. “In addition to reviewing their NIL contracts and helping the student-athlete navigate the complexities of the legal terms and conditions — convert the contract language from ‘lawyer words’ to more common explanations in layman’s terms — we can assist them in protecting…