Legal Community to Distribute Gifts, Food, Books and Crafts on Saturday (Dec. 4) to 1,600 Local Children in Foster Care or Impacted by the Justice System

BAMSL Bar Center will close at 12 p.m. on Wednesday, November 24, 2021, for the Thanksgiving holiday and reopen at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, November 29.

If you are a renter having trouble paying your rent or a landlord who has lost rental income due to challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, help may be available. Through funding from the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program, there are a wide variety of state and local programs that offer assistance—including financial assistance—to those who are struggling to make ends meet.

I was thrilled when Bob Tomaso offered me the opportunity to write this month's President's column in celebration of women lawyers. While not knowing then exactly how best to express my gratitude to all our amazing women leaders, as I sit here in the shade at my daughter's softball game, I feel like I can sense their leadership and strength.

Darryl is in the County's juvenile detention center for questioning. There is an attempt to reach his parents. A deputy juvenile officer is present with the watered-down Miranda form used for investigations, and after his rights are read to him, he initials each one. One of those rights is the right to counsel. He waives that right.

It has been a trying time for those in the legal profession. With so many attorneys working from home for many months, new challenges and new opportunities both have come into play. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the Law Library Association of St. Louis has been here. Even when we were physically closed to the public, we have offered services remotely to attorneys and members of the public.

The theme of all of our activities for the past year and a half has been adaptability, and our plans for the annual BAMSL Motion for Kids holiday party are no exception. Prior to 2020, Motion for Kids was a massive holiday party attended by thousands of children in the foster care system or affected by the criminal justice system. The children, with their families and caregivers, attended the party to participate in a variety of games and crafts, visits with Santa, be treated to live entertainment, and refreshments. The children left with a gift specifically selected for them by a sponsor from the St. Louis legal community.

Good is always on the horizon and one can always find positivity and beauty in everything, even in the worst of times. That is the message from — and life motto of — internationally renowned artist Preston Jackson, who has created what will become the Freedom Suits Memorial Statue at the St. Louis Civil Courts building.

We recently had our firm picnic where both adults and children in attendance could participate in a wide variety of activities and games, including kickball, washers, cornhole, a hula hoop contest, and an obstacle course relay. Prizes were given out to the winner of each event. In many areas of life, success is perceived by wins and losses. This is true for the activities that we participated in during the firm picnic and in the practice of law. In a law practice, success might be measured by having the judge rule in favor of your client at trial or an associate billing the firm mandatory number of hours.

BAMSL's Well-Being Committee is challenging all members to get some outside time enjoying the wonderful fall weather and explore some of St. Louis' beauty during the month of October. Get out and explore your neighborhood park or do a destination walk/hike/run. Take a picture of your hiking buddy (two- or four-legged), or a captivating nature shot. Send it to the Well-Being Committee at dbarnett@bamsl.org and it will be posted on BAMSL's social media pages each week. Let's get outside and improve our physical well-being.