Springfield attorney Dee Wampler was named a Lawyer of the Year by Missouri Lawyers Weekly. A profile of Wampler and his work was published in the Jan. 10 issue of Missouri Lawyers Weekly. Neale & Newman LLP announced two new partners with the firm. Patrick J. Platter, an attorney practicing in the areas of work-related injury litigation and planning models for employers, land use law, administrative law and general trial practice, also has been named a partner with Neal & Newman LLP. Mark L. McQueary, an attorney practicing in the areas of corporation and business organization, banking law, commercial law, real estate law, probate and estate planning, is now a partner with the firm. McQueary earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania and his law degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He has practiced law in Springfield for 25 years. Deanna K. Scott joined the staff of Legal Services of Southern Missouri as director of litigation. Scott previously handled family law, probate, real estate and civil cases for Twibell, Johnson, Johnson, Scott & Garrison, a Springfield law firm. Jeremy J. Heslin joined the Springfield office of Brown & James PC, concentrating in the areas of premises and retail liability and transportation law. Carol J. Miller was promoted to distinguished professor at Southwest Missouri State University, where she teaches business and environmental law. Bryan Sanders, Ph.D., professor of legal studies and govern-ment at Evangel University, presented “Preparing Lawyers as Peacemakers,” at the 2005 Christian Pre-Law Conference, held Feb. 24–27 in Virginia Beach, Va. The conference was sponsored by Regent University School of Law. Sanders, who has directed Evangel’s legal studies program since 1990, holds a law degree from Oral Roberts University. John Gore competed in the American College of Trial Lawyers annual National Trial Competition regional in Omaha, Neb. He is a third-year law student at Creighton University School of Law and a member of its advanced trial team. Gore, a Kickapoo High School graduate, earned his undergraduate degree from Boston University and a Master of Arts in communications from Drury University. [[In-content Ad]]