Phyllis Norman Elected President of Association of Women Lawyers Chapter - 2012-01-01

Langdon & Emison attorney Phyllis Norman has been elected president of the Greater Kansas City chapter of the Association of Women Lawyers.  Her year-long term will begin January 1, during which time she plans to increase the organization’s commitment to CLE programming, pro bono legal services, and its Step-Up program for women in western Missouri domestic shelters.

Phyllis’ presidency was endorsed during the December 13 annual meeting for AWL.  At that evening reception, she also was honored with the AWL “President’s Award,” which goes each year to the single individual who has made the biggest impact on the chapter during the previous year.  Phyllis was particularly honored for her work with AWL fundraising efforts, their pro bono services initiatives, and programs like Step-Up, which provides an “amnesty day” for women who live in shelters in western Missouri.  During Step-Up, licensed members of the bar from all stripes volunteer time to counsel women on issues pertaining to legal needs, employment, and general life enhancement.

“The law firm of Langdon & Emison couldn’t be happier with Phyllis’ dedication  to the women’s bar and this organization,” said J. Kent Emison, who last month received the Lifetime Achievement Award from UMKC School of Law, which is also Phyllis’ alma mater.  “This year of serving as president will be a great continuation of that commitment, and I believe will help further the interests of women lawyers in this part of the state, as well as those who might otherwise not be able to afford legal services and  other crucial needs that the group strives to meet.”

Phyllis' practice focuses on product liability litigation, specifically in the areas of class action suits and mass tort litigation. She has litigated cases at both the trial court and appellate court levels, in Federal and State Court, and before the National Association of Securities Dealers and the American Arbitration Association. Phyllis is regularly a contributor to other nonprofit organizations dedicated to the legal profession, such as the Missouri Bar and the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association.  She currently is serving a 2-year term as the District 4 representative of the Missouri Bar Young Lawyers Section.  This summer, the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association named her its "Young Lawyer of the Year," and Missouri Lawyers Weekly selected her as one of the top women attorneys under the age of 40 as part of its annual Women’s Justice Awards. 

In addition to her AWL leadership, Phyllis maintains active memberships in the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys, the American Association for Justice, the Attorneys Information Exchange Group (AIEG), the Kansas Bar Association, and the Florida Bar Association. She also is a volunteer for the Volunteer Attorneys Project, Read Across America, and Habitat for Humanity.  Phyllis attended Oklahoma State University, where she received a degree in environmental science and went on to law school at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

“Phyllis is a great member of our team and is truly committed to her service to the profession,” said Bob Langdon, who at the beginning of this year was named one of two “Legal Champions” by Missouri Lawyers Weekly as part of its Lawyer of the Year program.  “To receive the President’s Award in December and start off January as the head of such a prestigious group of committed lawyers is a great illustration of Phyllis’ leadership and how important it is to be involved at a high level in bar association and community service work.”