Diversity & Inclusion 2023: Jolie L. Justus

Chief Legal Officer & General Counsel, University Health, Kansas City

Dedicating her career to improving the lives of Missouri’s most marginalized and underrepresented communities, Jolie Justus is chief legal officer and general counsel for University Health, Kansas City’s essential academic medical center and only safety net hospital. Previously, she was with Shook, Hardy & Bacon as a litigator and full-time director of the firm’s nationally recognized pro bono services program. Her JD is from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Justus also spent 12 years in public office — four years as a KC councilperson and eight years as a Missouri state senator (including two years as Senate Minority Leader). During her tenure, she earned a reputation for working across ideological lines to get things done, including passage of criminal justice reform and foster care reform legislation.

How do you give back to your community?

My volunteer time is focused on education and delivery of free legal services. I serve on the boards of Legal Aid of Western Missouri; Missouri Public Education Foundation; and Operation Breakthrough, which provides a safe, loving and educational environment for children in poverty and empowers their families through advocacy, emergency aid and education. As a healthcare lawyer, recovering politician, and openly gay woman, I often talk to students and civic organizations about the importance of Diversity & Inclusion and pushing for systemic change in our profession and our community.

Who has most inspired you in your work for Diversity & Inclusion?

Dana Tippin Cutler, past president of The Missouri Bar. She is a trailblazer. Her hard work and leadership have inspired me to stay in the fight. It’s not easy being “the first” or “the only” in any setting. Dana has managed to balance successfully her leadership roles with all the other responsibilities of a lawyer, wife/mom/daughter, community volunteer and friend. She has inspired hundreds of women and lawyers of color to push themselves personally and to work for real change in the culture of our profession. I cannot thank her enough for leading by example and showing us how to do this work with grace, style and a whole lot of fun.