The annual Mississippi Bar Convention held in Sandestin this July, was a time of recognition for many MC Law alums who are making an impact in their communities and beyond.
Mary Largent Purvis (’01), Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Assistant Professor at MC Law was welcomed as a new member of the Mississippi Bar Foundation. Alongside her were fellow MC Law alums (as pictured) Sean Tindell ('01) (Department of Public Safety), Adam Kilgore ('00) (MPB Radio Personality), Charlie Swayze III ('06) (Whittington Brock & Swayzee), Judge Debra Gibbs ('98) (Hinds County Circuit Court), Mary Largent Purvis (’01) (MC Law) and Michael Bentley ('07) (Bradley).
The Foundation's members have come to represent the highest level of professionalism and competence for a Mississippi lawyer. Through its Fellows program, the Foundation has recognized outstanding members of the Bar. It is considered the Foundation's highest honor, with only 10% of Mississippi lawyers eligible for membership. Fellows are selected for membership based not only on their excellence in the field but also on their dedication and service to the public and profession.
The week was filled with other award ceremonies, and MC Law alums were among a host of those being awarded.
Nathan Evans (’15), received the Chief Justice Award, which recognizes individuals whose actions significantly impact the law, the administration of justice, and the people of the State of Mississippi. Chief Justice Randolph selected Evans, who leads the MEC division at the Mississippi Supreme Court, in recognition of his leadership in implementing the MEC system statewide. The MEC system is a comprehensive, internet‐based document filing and case management system that allows courts to maintain electronic case files and offer electronic filing. Courts can make all case information immediately available electronically through the Internet. The design of CM/ECF provides for low‐cost user access to the system. Read more about that HERE.
The Susie Blue Buchanan Award (Women in the Profession) was presented to Judge Cynthia Brewer (’85).
This award is given by the Women in the Profession Section of the Mississippi Bar to someone who has achieved professional excellence in her field and advanced opportunities for women within a practice area or segment of the profession. It is presented each year at the Price-Prather Luncheon and is named for the first female lawyer licensed to practice before the Mississippi Supreme Court. It honors an outstanding woman in the profession who has achieved professional excellence and has actively paved the way to success for other women lawyers. Judge Brewer is currently serving as the senior chancellor of the 11th Chancery Court, hearing cases in Madison and Leake counties. Read more about Judge Brewer and her award HERE.
Angel Myers McIlrath (’04) is District Attorney for the 19th Circuit Court District, serving the citizens of Jackson, George and Greene Counties. She is the first woman elected to serve in this role. She received this year’s Distinguished Service Award, granted to a lawyer or lay person for outstanding achievement in or a significant contribution to the legal community beyond his or her normal job duties. The recipient must be cited for specific actions which occurred no longer than three (3) years immediately prior to the date of the award. After losing her daughter Sophia to brain cancer in 2018, Angel founded the SoSo Strong Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation to honor Sophia’s life, to support other pediatric brain cancer families and to find a cure for this disease. Since its inception, the Foundation has raised one million dollars to be invested in pediatric brain cancer research and patient services. Learn more about Angel and her work HERE.
Each year, the Young Lawyers Division of The Mississippi Bar selects Mississippi’s Outstanding Young Lawyer of the year based on his or her contributions to both the Bar and community, state and country. This year’s recipient was Christina Nunez (’20), someone who exemplifies the degree of ethical, moral and professional standards that serve as a standard of the lawyer's place in society. Christina is currently an attorney in the Jackson office of Balch & Bingham, LLC. You can read more about Christina HERE.
