Laura O’Sullivan

Managing Attorney

Retired Missouri Public Defender
Former Director of Wrongful Convictions Clinic at UMKC Law School
Past President of Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Faculty of Trial Lawyers College, National Criminal Defense College, and National College for DUI Defense
More than 110 felony jury trials, including violent crimes such as murder, assault, robbery, rape, child molestation
More than 20 murder trials, including acquittals and dismissals prior to trial

Laura O’Sullivan started law school with a goal to be a tax attorney. With undergraduate degrees in accounting and business administration, this just made practical sense. After her first year, she landed an internship with a boutique firm. The practice areas included criminal defense. She worked for this firm throughout law school and as an associate. This experience strengthened Laura’s drive to help people in times of crisis, her need to speak for those that have been silenced, and her desire to fight for what is right in the courtroom.

Laura spent decades fighting for these rights on behalf of indigent people. In 2023, she retired from the Missouri State Public Defender System and joined Kim’s practice. Kim and Laura have known each other for decades, worked together in the past, and knew that they share the same goals of connecting with clients, and zealously representing them to obtain the best possible outcome.

Laura is known for her courtroom skills, her dogged fight for her clients, and her professionalism throughout. These skills have resulted in acquittals in trials included murder in the first degree charges, sexual assault charges, drug related charges and many more.

Telling the client’s story is a cornerstone of her approach. She teaches these storytelling skills to attorneys throughout the country. She credits learning these skills by her training with Trial Lawyers College (TLC), her ongoing work as faculty of TLC. Laura attended the TLC program in 1998. She now serves as faculty of TLC and is honored to serve on the Board of Directors of the Trial Lawyers College.

As the Managing Attorney of the Missouri DWI & Criminal Law Center at the Benjamin Law Firm, LLC, Laura works with the attorneys, case managers, and law clerks to provide excellent representation for our clients. She is proud to lead this talented team.

In addition to her litigation work, Laura teaches trial skills throughout the country. She first honed her teaching skills at MSPD serving as a presenter and faculty lead culminating in her role as Training Director. At UMKC, Laura taught students and led a Wrongful Convictions clinic. She is on the faculty of TLC, and the National Criminal Defense College. She currently serves as President of the Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Additionally, the Missouri Supreme Court appointed her to serve on the Criminal Justice Task Force. She chairs the Private Probation Subcommittee. Finally, she works as the Chair of the Lawyer 2 Lawyer Committee.

Laura is a proud graduate of University of Kansas with a degree in accounting and business administration. She was a member of the Delta Sigma Pi business fraternity serving in several roles of this organization. After undergraduate studies, she headed back to her hometown to attend law school at Saint Louis University. Laura claims status as a bi-coastal Missourian. She has worked in both St. Louis and Kansas City. With love for both, she claims Kansas City as her home. Laura is the proud aunt of many amazing nieces and nephews. She can now claim great aunt status of so many more.