NIMROD CHAPEL, JR.

President, Missouri State Conference

Nimrod “Rod” Chapel, Jr., is a Missouri trial lawyer and former Commissioner of the Administrative Hearing Commission who has dedicated his professional and private life to helping people stand up for their rights.



As a person who entered the workforce early in life, Rod knows the value of an honest day's work. He served the State of Missouri at numerous levels after working in a variety of construction and food service positions for more than a decade. Before he became a lawyer, Rod externed as a summer clerk at the Missouri Supreme Court. He later clerked full time and served as a JEA (Chief of Staff) to then Missouri Supreme Court Chief Justice Duane Benton. Most recently, Rod served as a Commissioner on the Administrative Hearing Commission, and led the Commission as Managing Commissioner and as Presiding Commissioner for years.

Rod has served as the 12th Director of the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations where he lead the only department in the state that exclusively protects workers, provides a safety net for those who want to work and addresses wrongs such as discrimination, sexual harassment, and other unsafe working conditions.  Rod also served as General Counsel/Director of Legal Services for the Missouri Department of Revenue.

Rod’s service to the state and his communities is predicated upon his work as a trial lawyer. Rod won his first trial before he entered law school. Later, Rod founded The Chapel Law Group, LLC, to create a vehicle for the protection of workers and their families through not only the court system, but also administrative and legislative avenues and venues. Chapel’s advocacy has protected the rights of workers in Missouri, impacted multi-million dollar settlements, and helped to make Missouri a safer place to live and work for everyone. Rod has worked in Kansas City and around the state as a trial lawyer with legends such as Sly James, John Garner, Greg Leyh and many other talented lawyers who nurtured his desire and ability. He worked on litigation such as the state’s case against tobacco companies that resulted one of the largest settlements in the state’s history. He also participated in the litigation against Robert Courtney.

In addition to his role as President of the Missouri NAACP, Rod is active in his community and believes strongly in community service. Currently, he serves as President of the Jefferson City  NAACP, as a member of The Board of Governors for The Missouri Bar, and as a member of a number of other boards including the Missouri Kid’s First, YMCA, Crimestoppers, Boy Scouts of America, St. Mary’s Hospital in Jefferson City, United Way and Rotary.

He is married to Denise Chapel and has 2 young sons.