Michael Gardner

Age: 27

Employer: Osburn, Hine, Kuntz, Yates and Murphy

Position: Attorney

Education: University of Missouri School of Law, 2004

Community Involvement: Clerk for Missouri Supreme Court, 2004-05.

An up and coming lawyer was nominated for 30 Under 30 by Ted Yates of the firm Osburn, Hine, Kuntz, Yates and Murphy.

Michael Gardner spent a year as a law clerk for the Missouri Supreme Court before he came to the local firm to practice civil court law. He worked directly with Justice Stephen Limbaugh, Jr., a Cape Girardeau native.

"It was an excellent experience," Gardner said. "It was quite an opportunity coming straight out of law school to be able to see the court sytem work from the inside."

Gardner said the experience helps him to know what judges look for when they're making a legal decision.

Gardner enjoys all aspects of the law, especially research and writing.

"I enjoy when a client comes in with a problem and we try to solve the problem for him the best way we can," he said. "It's a rewarding part of the job to be able to help people with civil disputes."