Thomas Mickes

Thomas A. Mickes has dedicated more than 35 years to practicing law, currently serving as a managing member and chairperson of Mickes Goldman O’Toole’s School Law practice group. He is widely recognized as a leading education law attorney in the United States. Thomas represents over 300 school districts, private schools, charter schools, and higher education institutions in a range of school-related legal matters. He also acts as lead counsel for Mickes Goldman O’Toole in representing a self-insured pool of 470 school districts, dealing with litigation involving employment, civil rights, and constitutional claims.

For the past five years, Thomas has been acknowledged by Missouri and Kansas attorneys as the top education attorney, a distinction highlighted by Super Lawyers. This recognition is echoed annually by St. Louis Magazine and Kansas City Magazine. Notably, he is the only attorney in Missouri to receive such national acclaim.

Thomas is a founder and two-term president of the Missouri Council of School Attorneys and has served on the Board of Directors for the National Council of School Attorneys. He provides counsel to the Missouri Association of Rural Education (MARE) and the Cooperating School Districts of the St. Louis area. An experienced speaker, Thomas frequently addresses audiences both nationally and within Missouri on school law and constitutional issues.

With a Ph.D. in educational administration, Thomas has an extensive background as a teacher, principal, superintendent, and school board member. He contributes articles on school law to MARE and the Missouri Association of School Business Officials. Additionally, he has served as an adjunct professor in the doctoral program at St. Louis University and continues to teach at Maryville University.