Academics

A Practice-Rich Environment

Courses and programs at the Alexander Blewett III School of Law at the University of Montana comprise a foundation of theory integrated with practical experience and are taught by faculty with years of practice-based experience. Students actively prepare as attorneys from the start, accomplishing more than sitting through three years of large class lectures.

Practical experiences include drafting contracts, creating corporations, counseling clients, negotiating transactions, preparing and probating wills, trying a case before a jury and arguing an appeal. The third-year clinic experience provides the opportunity to pull together the law, skills, and professional values acquired in the first two years and apply them to live clients with real legal problems.

Experiential Curriculum

Student on balconyOur required experiential curriculum begins with Lawyering Fundamentals in the first year. Composed of three simulation courses (Legal Research, Legal Analysis, and Legal Writing, Lawyering Fundamentals introduces students to the basics of practice: legal research and reasoning, predictive and persuasive writing, problem-solving, and pretrial advocacy.

In the second year, students take two more simulation courses: Business Transactions, where they transact a deal, and Pretrial Litigation, where they focus on preparing a civil case for trial.

Finally, in the third year, students take either an in-house clinic or a field placement in which they work with actual clients.

Our required curriculum is supplemented by competition teams and voluntary pro bono service offering further experiential opportunities.

Opportunities for Growth

Not every law student has the same legal education interests.  Blewett School of Law students have the opportunity to grow personal areas of interest through various certificate and program options.