Directory
University of Montana School of Law
University of Montana School of Law
Law School Pro Bono Programs
Contact Information
Kelsi Steele
Director of Access to Justice Programs
Email
Category Type
Public Service Graduation Requirement
Description of Programs
The mission of The University of Montana School of Law's required clinical program is to provide for third-year students faculty-supervised, experience-based learning by representing clients in clinics serving the public interest. The clinical program engages student in applying, enhancing, and integrating substantive and skills components of legal education, improves their ability to identify and resolve ethical and professionalism issues and assesses student performance and the law school's competency-based curriculum. Most students enroll in their first of second choice of clinic. There are also some pro bono opportunities. The local legal services office recruits student to assist in it pro se family law clinic. Students also provide tax assistance through VITA program, in conjunction with the School of Business.
Location of Programs
Some clinics are available in the School of Law building, others are available other places on campus and in the Missoula community.
Staffing/Management/Oversight
The clinical faculty provide the oversight of the program.
Funding
The clinics are on hard money. The law school provides some administrative assistance for faculty pro bono work.
Student Run Pro Bono Groups/Specialized Law Education Projects
Family Law Advice Clinic – Montana Legal Services organizes and runs this non-credit opportunity for students to assist the legal services attorney in helping families.
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) – Students with an interest in tax law arrange income tax preparation assistance for low income and elderly individuals during tax season.
Faculty and Administrative Pro Bono
The faculty policy provides that all faculty shall perform service and that pro bono representation is one form of service.
Awards/Recognition
There is a faculty award that is given to a student for community service.
Community Service
The Women's Law Caucus volunteers at a local shelter. The law school community participates in a University –side "Adopt a Family or Agency" every year, selecting a family or agency, collecting money, buying gifts, and giving the gifts to the family/agency. Other student organizations donate money to charities and have other activities such as food, book, and clothing drives. The Women's Caucus holds a Silent Auction event annually and donates the money to a local women's organization.
Law School Public Interest Programs
Contact Information
Kelsi Steele
Director of Access to Justice Programs
Email
Certificate/Curriculum Programs
None listed
Public Interest Centers
None listed
Public Interest Clinics
ACLU
ASUM Legal Services
Child Support Enforcement Clinic
County and City Attorneys Offices
Criminal Defense Clinic
DNRC Forestry & Trust Land Mgt. Div.
Federal Defenders
Indian Law Clinic
Innocence Project
Judicial
Montana Legal Services
National Wildlife Federation
Prosecution
Public Defender
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
U.S. Attorney's Office
U.S. Department of Agriculture
University Legal Counsel
Externships/Internships
UM offers extensive clinical offerings, including placements in outside legal organizations.
Classes with a Public Service Component
Cause lawyering
Public Interest Journals
None listed
PI Career Support Center
UM's Career Services Office helps students focus their career goals and obtain summer and permanent employment. Throughout the year, the office sponsors workshops on preparing resumes and application materials, conducting job interview and applying for positions with law firms, judges, public agencies and other employers. Also, each year the School of Law provides grants to two students to attend the Equal Justice Works Career Fair and Conference. Faculty also offer advice to students on an individual basis regarding public interest internships and employment.
Loan Repayment Assistance Programs (LRAP)
None listed
Post-Graduate Fellowships/Awards
Law School Funded:
None listed
Graduate Student Funded:
None listed
Other Funding Sources:
None listed
Term Time Fellowships/Scholarships
Law School Funded:
None listed
Graduate Student Funded:
None listed
Other Funding Sources:
None listed
Summer Fellowships
Law School Funded:
None listed
Graduate Student Funded:
None listed
Other Funding Sources:
None listed
Extracurricular and Co-Curricular Programs
None listed
Student Public Interest Groups
American Association for Justice
ACLU – UM Law Student Chapter
American Constitution Society
Christian Legal Society
Environmental Law Group
Federalist Society
International Law Student Association
Military Law Society
Montana Law Review
Montana Public Interest Law Group
Native American Law Student Assocation
Phi Delta Phi
Public Lands and Resources Law Review
Rural Advocacy League
Student Animal Legal Defense Fund
Student Bar Association
Women's Law Caucus
August 6, 2018