DNRC Forestry and Trust Land Management Divisions

Field Placement
Academic Year/Summer

Faculty Supervisor

Professor Sandi Zellmer

Supervising Attorney

Mark Phares, Ada Montague

Prerequisite

Professional Responsibility, Introduction to Environmental Law

Recommended 

It is strongly recommended that students in this placement take Introduction to Environmental Law, Public Lands, and/or Administrative Law.

Areas of Emphasis

Public land law; environmental and natural resources law; administrative law transactional law; legal research and writing; transactional drafting; regulatory drafting; legislative research; litigation support; potential courtroom work.

Sample Projects

  • Research litigation issues involving ownership of state lands
  • Analyze legal issues surrounding fire response on public lands
  • Review contracts
  • Assist with discovery requests and motions

General Information

The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation Forestry and Trust Land Management Division (“DNRC”) conducts a wide array of legal services, including prosecuting and defending lawsuits, conducting administrative hearings, drafting contracts and rights-of-way, and providing day-to-day legal advice to agency personnel. Students in the DNRC field placement conduct and/or assist with many of these legal services, including a host of legal research and drafting projects.