Awards
Each year, The Missouri Bar recognizes individuals who have helped improve the state's justice system. Many of these awards are presented at the bar's Annual Meeting. Some awards are given by other organizations but are also presented at the Annual Meeting.
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Missouri Bar awards
- Diversity Champion (nominations open from April 1 - June 16)
To recognize a lawyer who demonstrates a true commitment to an inclusive
legal profession which reflects the diverse constituencies that
Missouri lawyers serve, and achieves gains toward increasing the
retention, advancement, and promotion of lawyers across multiple
dimensions of diversity, and to encourage lawyers, legal employers, and
our broader communities to be inspired by their example. (2025 recipient - Jerina D. Phillips)
- Dorothy Kaiser Award (nominations open from April 22 - Sept. 19)
The Dorothy Kaiser Award will be presented in recognition in the field of chemical dependency, recovery, and continuing, compassionate care for lawyers or made pioneering contributions to the overall well-being of lawyers in Missouri. Presented by the Missouri Lawyers' Assistance Program (MOLAP). (2024 recipient - Hon. Courtney Wachal)
- E.A. Richter Award for Excellence in Citizenship Education (nominations open from Mar. 1 - May 1)
The Missouri Bar Advisory Committee for Citizenship Education established the Richter Award to recognize outstanding contributions by Missouri’s teachers, administrators and schools to citizenship education efforts in the state. (2024 recipient - Don Barzowski)
- James T. Britt Memorial Award (nominations open from April 22 - Sept. 19)
The James T. Britt Memorial Award will be presented to an individual who over the years has advanced the cause of relief and recovery for impaired lawyers or made pioneering contributions to the overall well-being of lawyers in Missouri. Presented by the Missouri Lawyers' Assistance Program (MOLAP). (2022 recipient - Brent Cantor)
- Legislative Awards
The Missouri Bar Legislative Awards recognizes Missouri legislators who have made significant contributions to legislation which affects the administration of justice and the integrity of the judiciary. (2022 recipients - Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer, former Rep. Wes Rogers, Rep. Rudy Veit, and Sen. Barbara Ann Washington)
- Michael R. Roser Excellence in Bankruptcy Award (nominations open from May 1 - July 1)
The Missouri Bar’s former Commercial Law Committee (now the Financial Services & Insolvency Law Committee) has established an annual award to honor the memory of Michael R. Roser. The Michael R. Roser Excellence in Bankruptcy Award will be presented to an individual who manifests the highest standard of excellence in bankruptcy practice, who has contributed distinctively to the development and appreciation of bankruptcy law and jurisprudence, and/or who has made an outstanding contribution in the field of bankruptcy administration or practice with a proven commitment to public service. (2024 recipient - Dan R. Nelson)
- President's Awards
The award is given by the president of The Missouri Bar to recognize meritorious service to the state bar. (2025 recipients - William R. Bay and Scott A. Robbins)
- Pro Bono Awards (nominations open from May 1 - June 15)
These Missouri Bar awards acknowledge lawyers or law firms for outstanding pro bono activities. One award recipient annually is a member of the Young Lawyers' Section. (2024 recipients - Rina K. Edge, Jennifer Kornblum, Paul T. Krispin Jr., Onalee Yousey, and the BCLP International Child Abduction Case Team | List of all past Pro Bono Award recipients)
- Roger P. Krumm Family Law Award (nominations open from May 1 - June 15)
The Family Law Section and The Missouri Bar present an annual award to honor a family law lawyer who has demonstrated an exceptional degree of competence, skill, integrity, commitment, and dedication toward the improvement and advancement of the practice of family law and the children and families involved in family law matters. (2025 recipient Michelle J. Spirn)
- Theodore M. McMillian Judicial Excellence Awards
The award recognizes jurists who, by virtue of their integrity, leadership and diligence in the pursuit of the efficient administration of justice, inspire other members of the judiciary to similar noble purpose. (2025 recipients - Hon. Tracey A. Mason-White, Hon. Lisa S. Van Amburg, and Hon. Cotton Walker)
- Dr. Warren H. Solomon Civic Virtue Award(nominations open from Mar. 1 - May 1)
The Dr. Warren H. Solomon Civic Virtue Award was established by The Missouri Bar Advisory Committee for Citizenship Education to recognize individuals who exemplify civic virtue and who have promoted civic virtue among Missouri’s teachers and students. (2024 recipient - Russ Sackreiter)
- Warren Welliver Award (nominations open from April 22 - Sept. 19)
This award recognizes the lawyer who best exemplified compassion and concern for impaired lawyers in Missouri during the past year. Presented by the Missouri Lawyers' Assistance Program (MOLAP). (2024 recipient - Commissioner William J. Gust)
Missouri Bar Foundation awards
- Hon. David J. Dixon Appellate Advocacy Awards (nominations open from Jan. 1 - Feb. 15)
The Hon. David J. Dixon Appellate Advocacy Award recognizes three young lawyers who are under the age of 40 selected from different regions of the state: St. Louis, Kansas City and all other counties.. The recipients are chosen based on their performance of outstanding appellate work. Those nominations are then sent to a selection committee of two appellate judges, a U.S. district judge and the chief justice of the Supreme Court, who makes recommendations to the Missouri Bar Foundation Trustees for final selection. (2025 recipients - Andrew J. Crane, Christine Lesicko, and Renee Suddy )
- Lon O. Hocker Awards (nominations open from Jan. 1 - Feb. 15)
The Lon O. Hocker Trial Lawyer Award is given to three trial lawyers who are under the age of 40 selected from different regions of the state: St. Louis, Kansas City and all other counties. The recipients are chosen based on their demonstrated balance between zealousness and honor, strength and courtesy, confidence and respect, as well as other professional qualities. (2025 recipients - Kaitlynn M. Donnelly, Bryan Mathews, and John P. Schlesinger)
- Purcell Professionalism Award (nominations open from Mar. 1 - May 22)
This award acknowledges outstanding professionalism by a Missouri lawyer, who has consistently demonstrated an exceptional degree of competency, integrity and civility in both their professional and civic activities. (2025 recipients - John W. Grimm and Anne Sallee Mason)
- Spurgeon Smithson Awards (nominations open from Mar. 1 - May 22)
The Spurgeon Smithson Awards honor Missourians who have shown outstanding service toward the increase and diffusion of justice. Each year, a judge, an academic and a lawyer are selected for recognition. (2025 recipients - Mary Fox, Barbara Glesner Fines, and Hon. Sherri B. Sullivan)
- W. Oliver Rasch Award
This award is given to a lawyer who has contributed and authored the best Journal of The Missouri Bar article of the year. (2025 recipient - Lawrence J. Altman)
Missouri Bar Young Lawyers' Section awards
Awards presented by other organizations