Blewett School of Law Recognized as Top 10 Law School for Native American Enrollment
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The Alexander Blewett III School of Law ranks fifth in the nation in Native American student enrollment, according to a recent study on Law School Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity published by Enjuris. With 4.7% of its total law student population identifying as Native American or Alaskan Native, the School of Law tops much larger universities such as Arizona and Arizona State. A total of 53 American Bar Association - accredited law schools in the U.S. reported enrolling 0% of students who identified themselves in this group. Home to the first and oldest Indian law clinic in the nation, the School of Law honors the importance of its location on aboriginal tribal lands and has fostered a long legacy of positive working relationships with tribal governments and tribal courts. “While we still have much work to do to meet our goals for Native student enrollment and success,” Dean Paul Kirgis said, “it is gratifying to see the recognition of our efforts to date.” Enjuris provides resources for journalists and researchers looking for in-depth information about injuries and accidents, as well as a wide range of legal topics. Read the Report |
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68th Annual Montana Tax Institute
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The 68th Annual Montana Tax Institute will be fully online and interactive this year, with a program featuring distinguished faculty of national tax practitioners and scholars addressing a broad range of current tax topics. Registrants earn “live” CLE credit by attending the program as scheduled. This year, the online format allows us to bring to you two additional “on-demand” presentations. Application has been made for a total of 15 CLE credits, 13 "live" credits and two "other" credits. Registration is open. The fee for this year's Montana Tax Institute is $295. Register now |
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Stacey Gordon Sterling Accepts New Role with Animal Legal Defense Fund
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As anyone who ever played with her foster puppies at the law school knows, Stacey Gordon Sterling is a devoted animal lover. Gordon Sterling rejoined the law school soon after her graduation in 2000, and was a full-time faculty member from 2001-2020. She took over as director of the Jameson Law Library in 2011. An unstinting advocate of the public role of the law library, she taught generations of law students legal research, while also developing her own passion for animal law. In recent years, Gordon Sterling became more involved in animal law and animal rights. Last winter she took the lead in the creation of a new Animal Law Section to the State Bar. The State Bar of Montana Board of Trustees approved the new section at its December meeting, and Gordon Sterling stepped up to serve as chair in its first year. |
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“We wanted to bring together Montana attorneys who work on animal law issues from a variety of perspectives to discuss the legal issues that concern the treatment of all animals, the protections afforded to animals, the rights and responsibilities of persons who have an interest in animals, and human beings’ relationship and coexistence with all animals,” Gordon Sterling said. This spring, Gordon Sterling decided to make her commitment to animal rights and animal law her professional focus, accepting a new role with the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) as the animal law program director in May. As a member of ALDF's senior leadership team, she primarily works in law schools, developing their education programs and collaborations around animal rights. “It’s more than just leaving one job for a new one,” Gordon Sterling said. “I left a 25-year career as a librarian and over 20 years in the law school. That’s a lot of students and colleagues. A lot of books, interesting research, citation questions, and games of ‘stump the librarian’ with requests for esoteric legal documents. And a lot of years of really dedicated, talented, creative people working together to provide our unique brand of place-based, student-focused, practice-centered legal education.” “I feel very lucky that I got to take both the legal education I received at the law school and the experience I gained there in a new direction I am very passionate about, and that I get to stay in Missoula,” she said. One of the law school’s pioneers in online education, Gordon Sterling pushed for the creation of a state-of-the-art collaborative study room in the Jameson Law Library, where students could work together on legal research and writing projects. In recognition of her long service, the Blewett School of Law community decided to name that room in Gordon Sterling’s honor so that future generations of law students will continue to feel her impact. |
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Law School Welcomes New Faculty Member
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Kekek Stark joined the Alexander Blewett III School of Law faculty this summer as an assistant professor. He taught Mastering American Indian Law for the Summer Indian Law Program and will teach Tribal Courts and Tribal Law this fall. Stark is a former president of the Minnesota American Indian Bar Association, a Bush Foundation Leadership Fellow and alumnus of Hamline University School of Law. A Turtle Mountain Ojibwe, member of the Bizhiw (Lynx) Clan and accomplished practitioner of Indigenous law, Stark has firsthand experience in training students how to work productively with Indigenous principles and procedures. He has built institutions grounded in Anishinaabe law and helped students and communities forge better relations between Indigenous and non-Indigenous institutions and peoples. |
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New Director of Admissions Joins Law School
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This summer Alicia Miles joined the Blewett School of Law as director of admissions. Miles served in the United States Navy Reserve prior to completing her Juris Doctorate at Valparaiso Law School. She brings national experience to the admissions role, having served as an admissions counselor at Seton Hall University School of Law and then as associate director of admissions at Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law prior to joining UM. She has been active in the Pipeline to Practice Foundation as a special adviser to the executive board and in the Law School Admissions Council as a minority network facilitator. |
Updates from the Baucus Institutes's Department of Public Administration and Policy
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Second Annual Public Service Academy Meets Statewide Need for Training
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When the COVID-19 pandemic was still new to the U.S., the Department of Public Administration and Policy decided to pivot the Public Service Academy to online delivery. This early response and planning meant that instead of being canceled, the Academy sold out for the second year in a row. Trainings this year included the “Punching Thru a Pandemic” course taught by Rob Gannon, the general manager of King County (Washington State) Transit and graduate of UM’s M.P.A. program. Other sessions include “Exploring Revenue Options: Moving Beyond Doing Less with Less” and “How Elected and Non-Elected Officials Can Effectively Work Together.” Thanks to the Baucus Institute, a new addition this year was the Baucus Innovation Challenge, and participants submitted short video pitches of their public and nonprofit sector organization’s innovation. The winner, based on votes from all participants, will receive $500 to re-invest in their organization’s innovative work. Two “live” sessions with groups of the trainers happened on Aug. 5 and 6, the original dates of the academy, but participants have six months to complete all of the online courses, offered through the Moodle platform. All proceeds from the Public Service Academy will go to scholarships for students in the Department’s Master of Public Administration program. |
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Alexander Blewett III School of Law University of Montana - 32 Campus Drive Missoula, MT 59812 406-243-4311 | www.umt.edu/law |
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