The University of Montana School of Law

Placement Information

Where can I go with a law degree from UM?

A degree from UM Law equips you to take advantage of the world of opportunities awaiting today's law graduate. UM Law is distinguished by its many graduates accepting judicial clerkships. Each year, our graduates clerk for federal district court judges, justices of the Montana Supreme Court, state court judges, and often for judges of the federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. These judicial clerkships provide valuable experience for our graduates contemplating careers in teaching law or private practice.

A UM Law degree does not limit you to practice in Montana. Our curriculum is national in scope and our graduates are prepared to practice anywhere in the country. Every year, many of our graduates accept employment positions outside of Montana. Our integration of theory and practice emphasizes the skills essential to practice successfully, rather than the details of a particular state's law. Because our faculty have degrees from a variety of prestigious universities and many have practiced outside Montana, we remain a law school with a national vision.

Some of our graduates pursue employment outside the law firm/clerkship mold. Over the years, our graduates have been employed by state, local and national governments. Other graduates have been employed by Indian tribes—a growing market as tribes expand their functions as sovereign governments. Still others choose careers in public-interest law or public service. Many of our students also attend LL.M programs following graduation, most notably in the area of taxation.