Athena M. Dickson

Partner

Athena Dickson joined the firm as an associate in 2003 and currently practices in the areas of Personal Injury and Employment Discrimination. She is licensed to practice in Missouri and Kansas state courts as well as federal courts in the District of Kansas and the Western District of Missouri. “Taking the time to listen to a person’s needs” is the foundation of Ms. Dickson’s personal philosophy in practicing law. Ms. Dickson recognizes that litigation can be intimidating for her clients, and she makes every effort to help make it easier and less stressful.

Ms. Dickson is deeply engaged in the legal community and currently serves as President of The Missouri Bar. She also serves as Vice President of the Association for Women Lawyers Foundation Board and as a member of the board of The Bar Plan Mutual Insurance Company. Athena is committed to mentoring and encouraging the next generation of lawyers and actively supports pipeline programs, serving on the Lawyers Encouraging Academic Performance (LEAP) Board and the Student Law Academy (SLA) Committee. She is also a current board member of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Foundation (KCMBF).

Athena remains actively involved with her alma mater, UMKC School of Law, where she serves as Vice President of Special Projects Funding for the UMKC Law Foundation. From 2014 to 2019, she served as a mentor in the Association for Women Lawyers Foundation’s Denise Hennings Connections Program and continues to serve on its advisory committee. Her prior leadership roles include serving as President of the Association for Women Lawyers of Greater Kansas City in 2014 and President of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association (KCMBA) in 2020.

Recognitions & Awards

  • Women’s Justice Awards “Mentor” (2024)
  • KCMBA’s “Distinguished Counselor Award” (2024)
  • Super Lawyer’s “Top 50 Women Lawyers for Missouri and Kansas” (2023)
  • The Missouri Bar “President’s Award” (2021)
  • Missouri Lawyers Media “Legal Champion” (2021)
  • KCMBA’s “Finest Hour Award” (2020)
  • Women’s Justice Awards “Litigation Practitioner” (2020)
  • Missouri Lawyers Media’s Up and Coming Lawyer “Mentor Honoree” (2019)
  • Association for Women Lawyer’s (AWL) “Woman of the Year” (2015)
  • Kansas City Business Journal “Best of the Bar” (2009-2019)
  • University of Kansas City’s School of Law “Decade Award” (2013)
  • Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association’s “President’s Award” (2013)
  • Missouri Lawyers Weekly “Up and Coming Lawyer” (2012)
  • Super Lawyer “Rising Stars” (2010-2012)

Education

  • 2003 University of Missouri-Kansas City, J.D.
  • 2000 Missouri Western University, B.S.

For information on how to apply to be an SLA Scholar, click here.