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Joel Poole joined the Office of the General Counsel in February, 2017, and he primarily represents the University in general civil litigation and employment matters. 

Before joining the office, Poole served 8 years as Chief Counsel for the Litigation Division of the Missouri Attorney General’s Office. He headed a division of approximately 30 attorneys, defending the state and its various departments and employees in every type of litigation filed against the state, whether seeking monetary damages or injunctive relief, and whether in individual lawsuits or class actions. In 2013, Poole was honored by being chosen as the Mentor of the Year by the Missouri Lawyer’s Weekly. 

Prior to joining the Attorney General’s Office, Poole was in private practice beginning in 1985 with the Polsinelli, P.C. law firm (f/k/a Polsinelli White Vardeman & Shalton) in Kansas City, before opening its St. Louis Office in 1991. His practice was concentrated in products liability, toxic tort and commercial litigation. In 1999, he joined Holloran Stewart in St. Louis, continuing in toxic tort and commercial litigation. He has tried cases around the state and across the country, estimating he has tried approximately 50 jury trials during his career. He also taught Trial Advocacy at St. Louis University School of Law as adjunct from 2000 – 2008, and he has taught Pre-Trial Litigation as an adjunct at the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law. Poole is a 1984 graduate of the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, and a 1976 graduate of Central Missouri State University (n/k/a the University of Central Missouri).