The Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association (SMBA) will be recognized with a Community & Educational Outreach Award from the National Association of Bar Executives and NexisLexis this August during the American Bar Association’s Annual Meeting in San Francisco, California. The annual awards honor state and local bars for innovative projects that serve as national models for ingenuity and public outreach.
2015 marked the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta, the historic English legal document that ensured equality under the law for all and that continues to influence the American legal system. In celebration, SMBA created a “Happy Birthday Magna Carta” project, which quickly garnered national attention.
Over the course of seven months, SMBA teamed up with community partners to offer a variety of Magna Carta-focused activities at seven venues across the city, including a “Magna Carta: Enduring Legacy 1215-2015” exhibit that was toured by 2,256 individuals. SMBA also hosted poster, essay, video and social media contests related to the theme.
In a press release from SMBA, Springfield attorney Mark McQueary who is past president of the local bar and Magna Carta project chair, said that it was thrilling to see the project receive national recognition.
“It is a great honor, and particularly gratifying because we share our success with our remarkable, creative and supportive community partners, MSU, the Moxie Cinema, the Public Library District, Springfield Public Schools and the Springfield Art Museum.”
Click here to learn more about the Springfield Metropolitan Bar. For more information regarding Magna Carta, check out its historical timeline at MissouriLawyersHelp.org.
Photos courtesy of the Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association.
