Parker S. Kline of Oxford is the recipient of the 2021 Distinguished Service Award, which will be presented during The Mississippi Bar's 2021 Annual Business Session held on July 16, 2021. Each year, The Mississippi Bar honors certain individuals whose work and contributions advance the purposes of the Bar and demonstrate the legal profession's commitment to serve the public and the profession. Kline is receiving the Distinguished Service Award in honor of her outstanding achievements and significant contributions to the legal community.

Kline graduated summa cum laude from Mississippi State University. She received her Juris Doctorate magna cum laude from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 2006. Kline was an inaugural member of The Mississippi Bar Leadership Forum in 2011. She is also active in The Mississippi Bar, having served on various committees.

Kline's service to the profession spans her fifteen‐year legal career, but her recent service as Chair of the Mississippi Bar's Professionalism Committee and the accomplishments of the committee under her leadership have set her apart.

As Chair of the Bar's Professionalism Committee, Kline led efforts to revamp the facilitator and student materials of the James O. Dukes Law School Professionalism Program. The Dukes Professionalism Program brings lawyers and judges to participate with entering law students at the Mississippi College School of Law and the University of Mississippi School of Law in discussions of professionalism and civility during law school orientation.

Additionally, she led efforts to improve the quality of life of lawyers in Mississippi by promoting health and wellness in the legal profession.  During her time as Committee Chair, the Professionalism Committee studied the National Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being Report, “The Path to Lawyer Well-Being: Practical Recommendations for Positive Change.” From the Professionalism Committee’s recommendation, the Board of Commissioners adopted a Wellness Pledge in 2020, signifying The Mississippi Bar’s dedication to supporting and promoting the health and well-being of lawyers as the first state Bar in the country to make this commitment. Under her leadership, the Professionalism Committee also began efforts to provide health and wellness resources that were heavily utilized by our members throughout the pandemic