University of Montana Legal Counsel's Office - Blackstone Launchpad
Field Placement
Academic Year/Summer
Faculty Supervisor
Supervising Attorney
Lucy France (UMLC) and (Launchpad)
Prerequisites
Professional Responsibility, Business Organizations
Areas of Emphasis
Students work with Launchpad participants to develop client counseling skills in the areas of business formation, licensing, intellectual property, and other legal issues faced by the entrepreneur. In addition, students work with the UM Legal Counsel and Technology Transfer clinics at the intersection of Higher Education Law and substantive areas of law, with an emphasis on contract law, intellectual property law, transactional law, employment law, in addition to other areas of law. The clinic develops research, and drafting skills, interpersonal skills, client counseling, and the ability to identify/resolve ethical issues.
Sample Projects
- Counsel participants on entrepreneurial issues
- Create template contracts and other documents regarding entrepreneurial activities
- Research on federal and state regulatory matters
- Evaluate likely and potential impact on UM of proposed activities
- Analyze contracts
- Draft UM policies
- Provide legal analysis and support to University administrators and committees
General Information
The University of Montana Legal Counsel’s Office (UMLC) does general legal work involving the University of Montana’s campuses in Missoula, Butte, Dillon, and Helena. This work may include assisting with legal representation of the University in litigation and administrative agency proceedings; researching topics relating to current higher education issues; drafting legislation; developing University policies; handling grant administration, and federal and state compliance issues; patent-related matters; dealing with a variety of equal opportunity, and diversity issues, employment and student issues, and working with University administrators and committees. The UMLC also provides legal support for the Montana Board of Regents and Commissioner of Higher Education.