The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri announced several initiatives today, all designed to provide better assistance and improved understanding of process to indigent and self-represented persons in civil cases. The initiatives include providing better compensation and improved training to attorneys appointed to cases involving self-represented indigent persons, as well as a new program to help self-represented indigent persons with initial case review and filing processes.

The Minorities in the Legal Profession (MILP) Section of the Bar Association of St. Louis (BAMSL) presents "Legislation & Diverse Communities: A Roundtable Review of Criminal Justice Reform, Public Safety and Economic Development." The program, which is a private event open only to members of the legal community, is scheduled for 11 a.m. — 2 p.m. on Friday, March 8 at the Missouri Athletic Club (405 Washington Ave., St. Louis, MO 63102). The sponsors are Sandberg Phoenix & von Gontard P.C. and HeplerBroom LLC.

The Bar Association of St. Louis (BAMSL) will induct four new members into its Gallery of Legal Pioneers Wall of Fame. On Feb. 26, the BAMSL Minorities in the Legal Profession (MILP) Section will honor the new BAMSL Legal Pioneers with an installation ceremony and reception from 5 to 7 p.m. at the BAMSL Bar Center (555 Washington Ave., Suite 100, St. Louis, MO 63101). Honorees include Wesley Bell, Dana Tippin Cutler, Hon. Robin Ransom Vannoy, and Hon. Gloria Clark Reno.

Rule 6.01(o) is designed to allow attorneys in good standing who practice only pro bono to have their annual bar dues waived, as long as they are practicing under the auspices of "an approved legal assistance organization."

The John C. Shepherd Professionalism Award will be presented at the 2019 Law Day event on Thurs., May 2. Nominations are due by 5 p.m. on March 1, 2019. To nominate a deserving young lawyer for the award, please visit: www.bamsl.org/ShepherdAward2019.

The Bar Association of St. Louis (BAMSL) is pleased to announce that former St. Louis Rams wide receiver Isaac Bruce is our special guest speaker for our annual Member Appreciation Reception on February 27, 2019. February is BAMSL Member Appreciation Month and in the tradition of the month of love, we show our love and appreciation for our members throughout the month with various activities and displays of gratitude.

Happy February! I would like to take a moment to say thank you for your continued membership in the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis (BAMSL). February is BAMSL Member Appreciation Month and we have some exciting news and events to share.

This is a pivotal moment in black history, which in reality is our common history. American history. We are a community, a region, and a nation divided by race. But we also are a community united by a shared belief in "equal justice under law."

The recent acknowledgment of injustice and the growing concern for black lives has gained enough salience to make achievable the reforms necessary in our justice system.

On Wednesday, January 30, 2019, The BAMSL delegation of John Simon, Colleen Vetter, Cynthia Garnholz, and Zoe Linza attended the State of the Judiciary address at the Missouri State Capitol. The delegation also visited with Missouri Supreme Court Chief Justice Zel Fischer, the Governor's General Counsel Chris Limbaugh, Missouri Rep. David Gregory, and Missouri Rep. Mary Elizabeth Coleman.

St. Louis Attorneys Against Hunger, an initiative of The Bar Association of St. Louis (BAMSL), distributed $75,000 in January to three organizations that help feed the hungry in the metropolitan region.