Saint Louis Bar Foundation Marks 70 Years of Service and Community Impact

The Saint Louis Bar Foundation, the charitable arm of the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis (BAMSL), is celebrating its 70^th anniversary on May 23. The Foundation works to strengthen the St. Louis community through law-related education, charitable initiatives and programs that promote access to justice.

“For 70 years, the Saint Louis Bar Foundation has promoted the rule of law and expanded access to justice in our community,” said Morgan Murphy, Esq., president of the Saint Louis Bar Foundation. “The attorneys who founded the Bar Foundation sought to ensure that BAMSL’s charitable work would continue for generations.”

As part of that work impacting future generations, the Bar Foundation will be hosting the 2027 National High School Mock Trial Championship in St. Louis. This prestigious event will bring thousands of people from around the country as well as the nation’s top student competitors to the city. It will highlight excellence in legal education and place St. Louis at the center of a national conversation about the system of justice, civic engagement and the rule of law.

Each year, the Bar Foundation hosts the Missouri State High School Mock Trial Competition. The team from Maplewood Richmond Heights High School won the 2026 state championship. This event annually serves over 600 students from more than 50 schools throughout Missouri and is supported by about 400 attorneys who volunteer as coaches, judges, and evaluators. This past year saw a record 118 teams across the state participate.

Among the Bar Foundation’s many charitable activities throughout the year, Motion for Kids is one of the biggest events. A tradition dating back more than 30 years, Motion for Kids annually provides gifts for about 2,000 St. Louis area children in the foster care system or children whose lives have been impacted by the criminal justice system.

St. Louis Attorneys Against Hunger is an initiative of BAMSL in partnership with the Bar Foundation. It unites lawyers and other legal professionals with the St. Louis community to fight against homelessness and hunger in the St. Louis metropolitan area. The AAH committee has raised more than $500,000 for local charities since 2018. It also provides volunteer opportunities for food drives for BAMSL members, such as food packing days for Operation Food Search and the National 9/11 Day of Service.

“We remain committed to the Foundation’s legacy by investing in community education, broadening access to legal services, and strengthening the legal profession through our projects and grants,” said Murphy.

As funds permit, the Bar Foundation provides grants to nonprofit organizations in the St. Louis region. The grants support innovative projects that address unmet community needs related to the administration of justice, law-related public education, and the promotion of high standards within the legal profession and judiciary.

Additional Bar Foundation programs include the Women in the Legal Profession Scholarship and the Spirit of Justice celebration. The scholarship is awarded annually to a law student in an internship with a qualified, metropolitan area organization. The Spirit of Justice celebration honors legal and civic leaders who advance justice and public service.

The Saint Louis Bar Foundation is the charitable arm of the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis (BAMSL) and is a separate legal entity and a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The Saint Louis Bar Foundation promotes the Rule of Law and the administration of justice in both our society and within the legal profession. The Bar Foundation seeks to improve the administration of justice in our community through law-related education directed to citizens as well as through charitable undertakings. The Bar Foundation is committed to strengthening the legal profession by encouraging attorneys to practice with the highest level of professionalism and civility and to engage in meaningful community service.

Media Contact:
Gary Stevens
gstevens@bamsl.org

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