Who is ready to finally get the chance to head to the Lake of the Ozarks for a fun-filled BAMSL Bench & Bar Conference? Given what we have seen so far as we return to in-person events, I think that BAMSL members are excited and ready to get out and network and socialize with their colleagues.

Though most of us are now settled into this new virtual office format, the path was difficult for young lawyers in a different way. As the online presence of firms solidified, other concerns began to creep into the minds of legal professionals stemming from the pandemic.

Last spring, it was COVID time. We were all trying to figure out what the heck happened. We had heard about pandemics. We had read about Ebola, Zika, H1N1 (swine flu), and SARS, but in the United States, they were more words than realities. Now all of a sudden we were trying to figure out what to do. Should we wear masks to the grocery store and/or anytime we ventured outside? How many times can someone wash their hands, and why are people buying so much toilet paper?

Believe it or not, reading is a great way to reduce stress. I'm not talking about reading long briefs or Supreme Court judgments, but instead, I'm talking about reading for pleasure. Reading increases vocabulary, empathy and creativity. And, according to a study by the University of Sussex, reading six minutes a day can reduce stress levels by 68%, can decrease blood pressure and lower your heart rate; all of which improve your overall health and well-being.

One year in, there is no mistaking the fact that working mothers have been hit the hardest during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dubbed the "shecession," millions of women have left the workforce. Those of us lucky enough to still be employed full-time have been juggling unimaginable stresses, including in many cases, caring for our children while simultaneously working.

We asked judges from our region to share their experiences of keeping the judicial system functioning during the pandemic, and asked them to explain how they are proceeding now that the country works to return to some semblance of normalcy.

Over the course of the last 15 months, two incredible attorneys have dedicated countless hours to help our community with the most fundamental need: food.

{Public} When I think of continuous learning, I think of learning that goes beyond the classroom or traditional formal education. The brain is our body's most powerful "muscle," and using it in ways that go beyond how we would normally use it allows the brain to go through a form of cross-training.

{Members Only} June marks Pride month: a time when we commemorate the 1969 Stonewall uprisings led by Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, and other activists who created an inflection point in favor of LGBTQ+ equality.

{Members Only} I loved being a juvenile court judge. There were times I could truly make a difference in the life of a child. At other times, I felt frustrated by the bureaucracy and weary of hearing all the barriers children and families had to deal with to be reunited.