Court administrator to pursue career in medical profession

After more than 20 years in the legal profession, 16th Circuit Court Administrator Jaci Mairs decided it was time to take a different direction in life.

Mairs will leave her position as court administrator at the end of this week to head back to school with the hopes of pursuing a new career in the medical field.

"It was time for a change," Mairs said. "I wanted less paperwork and more direct work with people."

Mairs said she was interested in the sciences when she was in high school, and she's considered switching over to the medical field for some time, so it isn't a new idea for her.

"I've always been a jack-of-all-trades," she said. "I just wanted to give back."

Mairs will begin her studies at the University of Missouri-Kansas City this fall, taking courses such as Microbiology and Quantitative Analysis. Where that takes her next, she's not quite sure. She said she's considered being a nurse practitioner, but nothing has been decided yet.

In the meantime, Mairs plans to maintain her license to practice law, and said she may work part-time, or maybe even come back to the legal arena to practice in health care law. She's also considered work in third- world countries, which would add to the volunteer work Mairs has already done there.

In 2001, Mairs traveled to the Republic of Georgia to help with that country's judicial system. Her role primarily consisted with the enforcement of civil judgments. She also just returned from a stay in Peru.

"There is a large need for health care in third-world countries," Mairs said.

She said her family is very excited and supportive about her new venture. Her oldest daughter attends the University of Missouri-Columbia, and her younger daughter will begin her college education soon, so all three of them will be in school at the same time. Mairs said she expects her studies will take her three or four years to complete.

Leaving her position isn't going to be easy. After serving as court administrator since 1995, and before that serving as the assistant court administrator and the court's legal counsel, Mairs has made a lot of memories in the Downtown courthouse.

"I'm going to miss being around the court," Mairs said. "It's been a big part of my life."

Mairs said she has a strong belief in the U.S. court system, that she has felt Kansas City has a good bench and bar, and she is going to miss the people she has worked with.

"I started here pretty young," Mairs said. "I didn't plan to stay long, but it has been a good fit."

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