2019 Men of the Year: Ben McBride

SBJ photo by Jessica Rosa

In His Words

Family: My wife and I have a daughter and one little dog. We enjoy lazy evenings together in our backyard and weekends at the lake. Our schedules keep us on our toes, but we have an incredible support system at home and at the office and couldn’t be more blessed.    
Words to live by: Find what your passionate about and then find a way to get paid doing it. You’ll never have to “work” again.  
Dream dinner guest: Bill Murray.
Advice to other men: Don’t hesitate to be a lion. 
Critical trait in employees: Reliable.

For Ben McBride, being an attorney is more than simply an occupation, it is a civic responsibility.

“With that responsibility comes the opportunity to lead my clients, my staff and my community,” he says. “I take great pride in leading my clients through their legal battles by using my legal knowledge and experience. I am also committed to leading my clients through the chapter in life that brought them to me in the first place by providing a personal and unique approach to their situation.”

McBride is managing attorney at Springfield-based McBride Law, founded in 2016, where his team provides criminal defense and immigration trial services on the state and federal levels.

“I represent individuals facing significant life obstacles, whether the obstacle is poverty, mental health, a substance abuse disorder or simply a bad decision,” he says. “I do my best to ensure that my clients leave my office in a better position in life than when we first met. I find that, with straight-forward guidance, I can help individuals and even entire families prevent or reverse the snowball effect life’s obstacles can create.”

McBride earned a bachelor’s in history and political science and a Juris Doctor from Oklahoma City University. When McBride moved to Springfield, he worked at Mann, Walter, Bishop & Sherman PC as associate attorney and law clerk. He then spent six years at the Greene County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, moving up the ranks to senior assistant prosecuting attorney, before becoming employed at Rooney McBride & Smith LLC.

Three years later in 2017, the attorney branched out on his own to form McBride Law.

He says it’s often the follow-up to cases that provides the most fulfillment.

“My proudest professional accomplishments come when I encounter past clients and can tell they are living their best life – successful, sober and happy – and they thank me for helping them get there,” McBride says.

McBride is board president for Court Appointed Special Advocates of Southwest Missouri, on the board for Lake Country Soccer Inc. and an adjunct professor at Evangel University. He previously has served on the board for Springfield Police Foundation and volunteers at Freedom City Church, Alternatives Counseling & Education and the U.S. Soccer Federation.

“I believe my authenticity, respect for others and ability to build relationships makes me a person of influence in this community. I learned early on to take pride in my Springfield upbringing and to always stay true to myself,” he says. “I treat everyone with respect and am committed to fostering good working relationships.”

In 2018, McBride assisted in CASA’s expansion of the organization into Christian County, making it the first branch to serve two counties.

“This historic progress provided a roadmap for the expansion of other CASA organizations,” McBride says, “and allows our organization to serve more children who are in foster care in Springfield and the surrounding community.”