The University of Montana School of Law

The ABA Law Student Division's Client Counseling Competition promotes greater knowledge and interest among law students in the client counseling functions of law practice. The competition seeks to encourage students to develop interviewing, planning, and analytical skills in the lawyer-client relationship in the law office. Students work with mock clients to resolve legal issues prior to litigation.

The University of Montana School of Law sends one or two two-person teams to the annual regional competition; other law schools participating in Montana's region are located in Idaho, Washington, Oregon, British Columbia, and Alberta.

To be chosen, students meet with a series of mock clients, while evaluated by Missoula attorneys who generously volunteer their time each year to give the students constructive feedback. This intra-school competition, open to all law students in good academic standing, provides students with excellent training and a broad range of challenges during the selection process. Students on the team receive academic credit for their work.

The University of Montana team is coached by Professor Eduardo Capulong.

2008 Team

Regional competition in Spokane

Out of 12 competing teams, we were the only law school to advance both teams to the semi-final round, at which they were ranked first and second. However, both teams were edged out in the final round.

Professor Eduardo Capulong, Jori Frakie, Amanda Hill, Veronica Procter, Kevin Maki, Lindsey Pilecki

The University of Montana team, Jeremy Gersovitz and Tracey Morin, and coached by Professor Scott Burnham, was National Champion in 1989. Montana was Regional Champion in 2003, 1998, 1992, and 1991.