University of Montana School of Law

The University of Montana School of Law offers an alternative to big, urban law schools where students and faculty are often physically proximate. It is the first and only law school in the state of Montana and each year, the school enrolls approximately 84 students from across the country.^[1]. The Law school was ranked as the #6 best value school in 2009 by National Jurist magazine with a a bar passage rate for School graduates at 95%, and a 95.7% employment rate.^[2].

History

The Law School at the University of Montana was established as department in 1911 as the first law school in Montana. It originally covered three academic years and gave special attention to the practice of court work, procedure, mining and irrigation law in addition to the practice of law in Montana and the Western states in general. It was admitted to membership in the Association of American Law Schools in 1914 and by the American Bar Association (ABA) since 1923.^[3]

Studies

Given Montana’s landscape and culture, many students enroll in the natural resource and environmental law courses where Montana offers a certificate program in Environmental and Natural Resource Law, natural resource clinics, and opportunities to participate on the Public Land and Resources Law Review.

The School of Law also offers concentrations in the areas of Trial Advocacy and Dispute Resolution, Indian Law, and Business and Tax Law. As Montana is home to seven Indian reservations the School of Law’s Indian law courses, Indian Law Clinic, and Native American Law Student Association provide opportunities for students to learn about and participate in the administration of justice for Montana’s Native Americans.

The School of Law offers three joint-degree programs. Students can combine their law degrees with a Master of Science in Environmental Studies, a Master of Business Administration, or a Master of Public Administration. These programs can lead to completion of the joint degree in as little as four years.^[4]

Library

The William J. Jameson Law Library is over Template:Convert and hold's 100,000+ print volumes that are enhanced by a multi-format audio-visual collection, extensive microform titles, and several electronic research services and databases.^[5]

New Building

The Law School recently (2008) underwent a 14.8 million dollar renovation and addition. The addition includes classrooms with better acoustics, current technology, audio-visual equipment, and disability access as well as additional small and mid-sized classrooms.

More space is also provided for the school’s clinical program, including its land use, Indian law, criminal defense and mediation clinics. This space includes client interview rooms, student workrooms and office space. The renovated building also contains an expanded law library with current technology to serve the needs of students, faculty, the judiciary, lawyers and the public.^[6]

External links