Total Credits: 1.0 MCLE, 1.0 Ethics, 1.0 Kansas Ethics
Sponsored by the Standing Committee on Well-being in the Profession
The Illinois Supreme Court, because of concerns about bullying in the legal profession, requested that a study be conducted to determine what impact bullying by attorneys had upon lawyers who were victims of bullying. As a result, in October of 2024, the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism published a report on this topic written by Stephanie A. Scharf & Roberta D. Liebenberg. In addition, Erika N.L. Harold, Executive Director of the Commission, published a letter to discuss her opinions about the findings made by the authors in their report. Because of the work done by the authors, the report concluded that bullying by attorneys in their legal practice is systemic and creates a substantial number of negative problems for those attempting to practice law. This program will discuss some details from the Report and what should be done to prevent bullying by lawyers and judges of lawyers.
Learning objectives:
Speakers: Lawrence J. Altman, Overland Park, KS; Stacy Parmer, Missouri Lawyers' Assistance Program Director, Jefferson City, MO
Opinions and positions stated by presenters of MoBarCLE programs are those of the presenters and not necessarily those of The Missouri Bar. This program is intended as information for lawyers in Missouri, in conjunction with other research they deem necessary, in the exercise of their independent judgment.
| Bullying in the Legal Profession (814.7 KB) | Available after Purchase | ||
| MOLAP Information 3-31-25 (750 KB) | Available after Purchase | ||
| Important Information for Attorneys Seeking Kansas Credit (102.8 KB) | Available after Purchase | ||
Lawrence J. Altman is an adjunct professor at Avila University in Kansas City, Missouri. Until he retired in January of 2016, Mr. Altman was the Special Education Lead Attorney and Compliance Officer for Kansas City Public Schools and the Title IX Coordinator for the Kansas City School District. Prior to that position, he was a practicing attorney in St. Louis County for 34 years. In addition to membership in the Missouri Bar, he is a member of the Kansas City Bar Association and the National School Board Association’s Counsel of School Attorneys. What’s more, he is a distinguished member of the American Law Society. In April of 2019, Mr. Altman was recognized as a Pinnacle Top Professor of 2019 for his work as Adjunct Professor with Avila University. Also, on February 6, 2023, Mr. Altman has been appointed as a member of the Advisory Board of Project Innovation for Mental Health Enhancement (PRIME) a project funded by the United States Department of Education. In addition, on May 24, 2024, Avila University, located in Kansas City, Missouri, awarded Mr. Altman its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Ambassador Award for 2024. What’s more, on June 24, 2025, Mr. Altman was informed by the Missouri Bar Foundation that he was awarded the W. Oliver Rasch Award for the article he wrote and published in the Journal of the Missouri Bar entitled, “US Supreme Court’s June 23, 2023 ruling concludes Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 is constitutional”.
Stacy Parmer is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Marital and Family Therapist and Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor. She received her master’s degree in education from Stephen’s College. She has more than 16 years of supervisory, counseling, and administrative experience working within the mental health and substance use field. Her career history includes delivering and managing staff assigned to provide individual and group therapy, developing and implementing a comprehensive dialectical behavioral therapy program, streamlining admission assessments and enrollment processes, and directing case management operations. She is the Director of the Missouri Lawyers’ Assistance Program.
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