About Us

ASUM Legal Services began in 1975. It is comprised of three attorneys (Annie Hamilton, Thomas W. Trigg, and Teresa Thompson), one legal secretary (Ellen Flanery), and 6-7 third year law school interns. The attorneys represent students of the University of Montana and supervise the work of University of Montana law students who represent clients under Montana's student practice rule.

Annie Hamilton

Annie Hamilton graduated from the University of Montana law school in 1988. 1n 1992 she began work at ASUM Legal Services and became the second director in 1997. In her free time, Hamilton enjoys knitting quilts, weaving baskets, and saving baby birds.

Thomas W. Trigg

Born in Lincoln, Illinois, Trigg received his law degree with honors from Harvard Law School in 1978. For six years, he worked as a trial attorney in the United States Department of Justice, fighting fraud and abuse in Federal programs. Trigg recovered over $4 million in civil fraud cases and prevented the wrongful payment of an additional $7 million. In addition to his legal education, Trigg received bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Chicago and completed all the coursework for a Ph.D. in history. He concentrated in European and American social history.

Trigg has worked at ASUM Legal Services for over five years. He also maintains a private law practice in downtown Missoula. There, he handles disputed cases ranging from custody to probate to bankruptcy. He provides representation to individuals, small businesses, and bankruptcy trustees in routine and complex bankruptcy cases and to spouses and parents in uncontested divorce and custody matters. Trigg is a member of the Western Montana Bar Association. He has been admitted by examination to the bars of Montana, Illinois, and the District of Columbia.

Trigg is the father of two children and has been actively involved in their education. For four years, he served as president of Clark Fork School in Missoula, Montana. He plays euphonium in the Missoula Community Concert Band, Missoula City Band, the Missoula Tuba Ensemble, and TubaChristmas.

Teresa Thompson

Teresa (Terry) Thompson, originally from Forsyth, Montana, graduated from the University of Montana with a BA in Fine Art in 1971. Before returning to the University in 1983 to earn her law degree, Thompson taught grade and high school art and English and was a Peace Corps volunteer to Guatemala. She graduated, with honors, from the University of Montana School of Law in 1986 and has practiced law in Missoula since then. Thompson has been married to Gene Thompson since 1971: they have two adult daughters, Hannah and Ruthie.