Alumni Attorneys and Judges Form Westminster Bar Association

For generations, Westminster College has provided a solid liberal arts foundation for countless students who have been accepted into law schools throughout the world. A new Westminster Bar Association (WBA) seeks to connect these graduates while providing support for current and prospective pre-law students.

The association began this summer through the efforts of a small group of attorneys and judges in Missouri, including current WBA President Judge Mark Pfeiffer, ’89 ΚΑ, who says the organization is in a class by itself.

“I’ve not heard of other colleges doing something like this, which surprises me but makes me proud that this sort of an organization is yet one more piece of evidence that Westminster College is unique in its approach to education,” Pfieffer reflects.

He adds that Drs. John Langton and Tobias Gibson, both well-respected pre-law professors, have been heavily involved in reaching out to alumni to form the fast-growing association. Through their efforts, the WBA currently is made up of nearly 100 attorneys and judges throughout the world.

“The College does a particularly good job of connecting its alumni base with those of similar educational paths,” Pfeiffer says of the help the WBA received from Langton and Gibson.

In addition to compiling a comprehensive Westminster attorney/judge directory, the WBA plans to bring law in action to Westminster this fall — a special session of the Missouri Court of Appeals will take place at 9:30 a.m. on Nov. 14 on campus. Pfeiffer and alumnus Judge Thomas N. Chapman, ’88 ΚΑ, will be two of the three judges to sit on the special session of the Court of Appeals.

In addition to the campus-based special session, the WBA plans to host other events in the future. Various activities are tentatively planned during Alumni Weekend 2020.

Ultimately, Pfieffer says certain WBA events are intentionally student-focused in order to show what can be accomplished with a Westminster degree. The association hopes to capture the interest of current and prospective students who may wonder where a liberal arts degree can lead them in the future.

“The liberal arts education at Westminster places a premium on writing and critical thinking,” Pfeiffer explains. “Both of which are absolutely essential to success in a law school curriculum.”

For more information on the Westminster Bar Association, please contact [email protected].