The summer of 1936 was one of the hottest on record in Kansas City, with 53 days of 100 degree plus temperatures and a record high of 113 degrees. To this day, this remains the hottest day on record for Kansas City. Fortunately for the lawyers of Kansas City, the Jackson County Courthouse had been completed in 1934 with a specialized cooling system, a rarity for the time. 

 

Ninety years later, we still struggle with hot summers, though not quite as hot as 1936, and we still use the same courthouse, though with updated air conditioning systems.  Though much has changed in the past 90 years, our history is still with us.  Also in 1936, a new group was taking shape in Kansas City, one that is still with us today.  The Lawyers Association of Kansas City, or LAKC, was formed on December 18, 1935 with 189 lawyers agreeing to promote the welfare of the public in the bar, to advance the science of jurisprudence, to support the administration of justice, and to support the Supreme Court.  The LAKC set about in that first year, 1936, by taking strong positions on pressing bar issues, including the formation of a robust section for junior lawyers to allow them to develop their leadership skills and have a place for their own activities. 

 

Today, LAKC continues to promote exceptional jurisprudence, transform lawyers into balanced professionals, and develop leaders to serve our community.  As in the first year, we continue to have a strong young lawyers section, YLS, that provides a valuable training ground for those new to the practice.

 

As in 1936, there is a great need for voluntary bar associations, particularly those that promote the ideal of lawyers as servants of the public.  LAKC continues to provide a home for lawyers with an interest in public service – whether that’s supporting the homeless youth of Kansas City, providing learning opportunities for high school students interested in mock trial, or providing scholarships to pre-law students.  Even with all of the opportunities for lawyers to network and connect in other ways, LAKC still provides a valuable association for lawyers. 

 

None of this would be possible without the involvement and support of the lawyers and law firms in Kansas City and surrounding areas.  Whether you are a current active member or someone who used to be active, I would encourage you to engage with LAKC in our 90^th anniversary year.  Help judge a mock trial competition.  Attend a YLS service project or networking event.  Send your summer law clerks on our annual court crawl and support the judicial reception afterward.  Attend the IP symposium or our Opening Day CLE, returning this year for the first time since 2019. 

 

Just as in 1936, there is a need for lawyers who view their avocation, whether in private practice, government, or otherwise, as an important calling meant to serve, support, and uplift the local community.  Please join me in celebrating the 90^th anniversary of the Lawyers Association of Kansas City.    

 

Phillip Raine
2025-26 President

We Need Volunteers!

The Lawyers Association of Kansas City YLS is hosting the Missouri High School Mock Trial Regional Competition January 27 and 29 (preliminary rounds) and February 24 and 26 (regional rounds). We anticipate the rounds will be held at the Eastern Jackson County Courthouse in Independence, MO; however, due to security procedures, the location is subject to change.

This is a great event and it's really inspiring to see how hard the high school students prepare for the mock trial and their enthusiasm for the law.

We are seeking volunteers to serve as presiding and scoring judges on each night of the competition.  Judges are asked to arrive to the courthouse by 5:30 p.m. We will have a short orientation, then proceed with rounds. Rounds start at approximately 6:00 p.m. and last approximately 2-2.5 hours.  We will provide food and drink during orientation.

Presiding judges will preside over the trial, ruling on objections and keeping the trial flowing smoothly.  Presiding judges do not score individual segments of the trial but do give an overall verdict at the end of the trial.  Presiding judges must have a law degree, and some litigation experience is helpful for ruling on objections.
 
Scoring judges will evaluate each segment of the trial (opening, direct #1, cross #1, etc) on its own merits resulting in an overall score for the trial that reflects the team that was technically better without regard to the team that would have won the verdict. Scoring judges will not be asked to rule on objections or maintain courtroom order but will instead observe the trial from the jury box. Scoring judges must have a bachelor’s degree but do not have to have any formal legal training or a law degree.

Sign up to volunteer at: 

2026 Kansas City High School Mock Trial Judges

On December 18, 1935, in the midst of the rough-and-tumble days of the 1930s, 189 lawyers gathered at the Hotel Kansas Citian to form what would become the Lawyers Association of Kansas City. From that first meeting—led by President Henry A. Bundschu, Vice President John B. Gage, Treasurer Edgar Shook, and Secretary Frank H. Terrell—LAKC was built on a shared commitment to the profession and the community it serves.

Ninety years later, our values remain the same.

Fittingly, as we commemorate this milestone, our Young Lawyers Section just completed its holiday service project, delivering boxes of gifts to patients at Children’s Mercy Hospital Kansas City. It’s a reminder that while much has changed since 1935, service has always been at the heart of who we are.

As we look ahead to an exciting year, LAKC remains committed to promoting exceptional jurisprudence, transforming lawyers into balanced professionals, and developing leaders who serve our community with purpose and integrity.

Here’s to 90 years—and to the work still ahead.

 

The Lawyers Association of Kansas City Board of Directors and Young Lawyers Section Board of Directors present their slates of officers and board candidates for voting. Young Lawyers Section (YLS) members (36 years of age or under or less than 5 years of practice) may vote for YLS members. Voting will close at 5pm on September 2nd. Thank you for your vote!

Vote online until 5pm on September 2nd at https://forms.gle/jjrS9xG2RJDoKpG89

The senior board and Young Lawyers Section boards are accepting applications and nominations to their respective 2025-26 boards. 

The Lawyers Association of Kansas City (LAKC) was founded in 1935 to promote and advance the following objectives that are just as relevant today: the welfare of the public in the greater Kansas City Community; the administration of justice; the science of jurisprudence; and the cordial and professional relations among the members of the greater Kansas City Bar.

The Young Lawyers Section of LAKC is comprised of members under 35 or who have graduated from law school within the past five years and maintain “service of public interest by advancing the role of the legal profession in serving the public” as a value. 

To indicate your interest in serving on the YLS board, complete the form at https://forms.gle/pwabcjdMTHmrSCow9.

The deadline has been extended to June 10th. The annual meeting and election virtual meeting date will be announced shortly.

Members with an interest in serving on the LAKC Board of Directors should send an email indicating their interest to info@lakc.net.

We Need Volunteers for the Missouri High School State Mock Trial Competition! Please use this link to sign up!

The Missouri High School Mock Trial Competition is March 28, 29, and 30. We will hold the rounds at the Eastern Jackson County Courthouse in Independence, MO. This is a great event and it's really inspiring to see how hard the high school students prepare for the mock trial and their enthusiasm for the law. Additionally, volunteers will be able to attend a free CLE on April 3^rd by registering here: Mock Trial FREE CLE: Advice for Success (in the Legal Profession and in Life) - Calendar

 We are using Tabroom to organize the volunteers for this competition. You MUST register here: https://momocktrial.tabroom.com. We are seeking volunteers to serve as presiding and scoring judges on each round of the competition. We will have a short orientation, then proceed with rounds. Rounds last approximately 2-2.5 hours.  We will provide food and drink during orientation.

 

Please complete the sign up at this link.

Madeline Mann, a member of LAKC-YLS, a 3L at UMKC School of Law, and a current Douglass Fellow with the Human Trafficking Institute (HTI) has organized and will be presenting at a CLE hosted at UMKC School of Law on March 7th, 2025.

The CLE is approved for 7.1 hours in Missouri. Approval for Kansas and Nebraska CLE credit is pending. A copy of the agenda is provided at the link below and additional information may be found here: https://calendar.umkc.edu/law/event/44802-a-multidisciplinary-approach-to-human-trafficking-mar-

CLE Final Agenda.pdf

For more information and to participate, visit 2024 Skippy & Skivvies (operationbreakthrough.org).

The Lawyers Association of Kansas City-Young Lawyers Section presents the following officers for election to the 2024-25 YLS Board of Directors:

Jordan May, President Sierra Faler, President-Elect Tori​​​​ Matternas, Secretary Bryce Slaughter, Treasurer Paige Hawkins, Public Service Officer

Members in good standing may vote for the slate of officers at the following link from June 13 - June 19 at 5:00pm:

https://forms.gle/tDFkZdPfT2D1oBsNA 

The senior board and Young Lawyers Section boards are accepting applications and nominations to their respective 2024-25 boards. 

The Lawyers Association of Kansas City (LAKC) was founded in 1935 to promote and advance the following objectives that are just as relevant today: the welfare of the public in the greater Kansas City Community; the administration of justice; the science of jurisprudence; and the cordial and professional relations among the members of the greater Kansas City Bar.

The Young Lawyers Section of LAKC is comprised of members under 35 or who have graduated from law school within the past five years and maintain “service of public interest by advancing the role of the legal profession in serving the public” as a value. 

To indicate your interest in serving on the YLS board, complete the form at https://forms.gle/JKDcb7djyBL1VFvR6.

The deadline has been extended to June 10th. The annual meeting and election virtual meeting date will be announced shortly.

Members with an interest in serving on the LAKC Board of Directors should send an email indicating their interest to info@lakc.net.