Beth Hayes, Attorney at Missoula Legal Services Association

Montana Legal Services Association (MLSA) regularly has ABIII law students assist its attorneys in our consumer protection advocacy on behalf of low-income Montanans. I enjoy helping students make the connections from the academic study of consumer law to the real world. It’s one thing to study the statutory language of the FDCPA and related case decisions. It’s completely different to talk to a client experiencing fear and distress due to the abusive debt collection practices of debt collectors.

One of the best parts of working with students is how it constantly brings me back to the foundation of why I wanted to help consumers fight back against powerful corporations. Introducing law students to the secondary debt-buying market highlights the inherent unfairness of its existence, and having that experience regularly provides me the opportunity to improve my own representation of Montana consumers.  Having ABIII students helping MLSA’s Consumer Protection Practice Group increases our capacity to assist Montana consumers. Being able to introduce many students to the power lawyers have to truly improve the lives of Montana consumers is an added bonus.

Most of the ABIII law students that pass through the doors of MLSA (real or virtual) will not go on to careers in legal aid. But having a solid experience in assisting MLSA clients builds the foundation and willingness for these soon-to-be lawyers to take on corporations abusing consumers regardless of where their careers take them.