The University of Montana School of Law

Why The University of Montana School of Law?

A Practical Approach to Legal Education

Our goal is to prepare competent practicing attorneys. We integrate theory with practical experience. Students draft contracts, create corporations, counsel clients, negotiate transactions, prepare and probate wills, try a case before a jury and argue an appeal. The third year clinic experience provides the opportunity to pull together the law and skills acquired in the first two years and apply it to live clients with real legal problems.

This hands-on approach to legal education is not only how we think lawyers ought to be trained, its what we know best.

Clinic Program

The mission of The University of Montana School of Law’s required clinic program is to provide third-year students faculty-supervised, experience-based learning by representing clients in clinics serving the public interest. Over twenty different clinics, include options in criminal law, environmental and natural resource law, American Indian law, bankruptcy law, family law, judicial practice, and much more. The clinic opportunities are organized by and provided through the law school so you are not required to seek clinic placement on your own.

Specialty Areas:

Concurrent Degree Options				Certificates & Concentrations
JD/Masters of Business Administration				Alternative Dispute Resolution Certificate/Concentration
JD/Masters of Public Administration				American Indian Law Certificate/Concentration
JD/Masters of Science in Environmental Studies				Environmental and Natural Resource Law Certificate/Concentration
				Trial Advocacy Concentration

Summer/Winter Programs

UM Students in China with Professor Fengru Li

Summer Indian Law Program – Students may enroll in several one or two credit Indian Law courses. Professors from around the country teach in the programs, offering students the opportunity to learn from the foremost experts in the nation.

Summer Study Abroad – China Program: Beijing / Chongquig / Yangtze River / Shanghai

Winter Study Abroad – Chile Program

Student Organizations

Nearly every student participates in one or more student activities such as our law reviews, competition teams, student government, or public service groups.

Over 20 student organizations ensure an opportunity for everyone to participate. Organizations include the Student Bar Association, Women’s Law Caucus, Environmental Law Group, Military Law Society, Native American Law Student Association, Phi Delta Phi Legal Fraternity, and many more.

Recreation

UM law students work hard, but they also find time to balance the academic rigors with the many outdoor recreational opportunities available in the wilderness and recreation areas surrounding Missoula. Whether fly fishing a blue-ribbon stream or rafting down a tranquil river; mountain biking, climbing or hiking; snowshoeing, cross-country skiing or downhill snowboarding; you can rejuvenate your body and mind in all four seasons.

Campus Recreation rents equipment to help you enjoy the Montana outdoors, including mountain bikes, camping equipment, climbing gear, skis, kayaks, and rafting gear. They also sponsor a variety of low-cost recreational trips.

In addition to exploration of the great outdoors, the University of Montana offers much in the way of fitness and recreation on campus. There is a recreation center offering cardio and weight machines, three multi-purpose courts, three group fitness classrooms, a squash court and seven racquetball/handball courts. The University owns a state-of-the-art climbing wall, a swimming pool and a golf course. Finally, there are a multitude of intramural programs including soccer, softball, flag football, basketball, dodgeball, volleyball, inner-tube water polo, tennis, golf, ultimate Frisbee and more. See Campus Recreation for more information.

Missoula Community

Missoula is ringed by snow-capped mountains, and two rivers, the Clark Fork and the Bitterroot, flow through town. It is a friendly town, full of active people who appreciate their natural surroundings and are dedicated to preserving them.

Missoula’s quaint downtown is only a few blocks from campus. Here you will find numerous buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places housing boutiques, art galleries, restaurants and coffee shops. Down by the river is Caras Park, where the town turns out to enjoy free music and entertainment. Here, you’ll also find A Carousel for Missoula, which opened in 1995 after over 100,000 hours of volunteer time finished hand carving 38 horses and assembling the carousel structure. It is truly a labor of love and fun for the whole family.

For a small city, Missoula is remarkably rich in cultural attractions including a local symphony, art galleries and museums, high-quality performing arts, numerous sporting activities and events, and a variety of restaurants and shops, without the hassles of big-city traffic and crime. Missoula is a great place to live, raise a family and receive your education.