University of Montana - School of Law

The Alexander Blewett III School of Law at the University of Montana takes a thorough, hands-on approach to legal education, enrolling 80 students each year and molding them into practice-ready lawyers through a “balance of academic and practical approaches.” The school acts as the academic legal center in Montana, emphasizing areas of law significant to the Rocky Mountain West. This is done through specialty programs such as Environmental Law and Natural Resources, Indian Law, and Conflict Resolution. The school also focuses on providing professional services to the state, tribal governments, and local communities through legal clinics (such as the Land Use & Natural Resources Clinic and the Veterans Advocacy Clinic) and field placements with organizations like the ACLU and governmental offices and agencies. As one student shares, “We have access to meet and speak with attorneys as well as state and federal judges all the time.” While all first-year students complete a foundation in Lawyering Fundamentals before moving on to simulation courses in their second year, these clinical programs and placements are considered capstones of a University of Montana law education, and every third-year student must participate in order to graduate.

Here, “facilities are … equipped with smart technology,” and “the school generally runs very smoothly.” That's thanks in part to “small classroom sizes [which] make it very personable.” Additionally, the “ease of access to the professors and staff is outstanding,” as they are “readily available to walk people through questions, give career advice, and [offer] tips about staying sane through finals.” They “provide an atmosphere that mirrors extended family.” Faculty members “almost all come from a career of practice, and it shows in their teaching,” with them regularly “providing an academic background for issues, and then almost always tempering that lesson with an overview of how that impacts the practical application of the law.” As an added bonus, many of the teachers “have fantastic connections with firms/organizations outside of the academic community that greatly [help] students in finding jobs.” One pleased attendee notes that “the lawyers in this state love the school,” so “if you want to work in Montana, this is the school to go to.” To that end, the Career Services department “constantly communicates with students regarding opportunities and assists with application materials to best position students for success.” As this is the only law school in Montana, “the opportunities for students are endless,” and “first year law students regularly get paid internships for the summer, and second year students often clerk.”

“Social events are common” among this group of “kind, caring, and extremely brilliant” students. These events often include Friday fundraisers for local community groups and charities. That's because it's a “small town, small school” deal here. That also means students “get to know each other pretty well, including across classes.” In fact, there are “weekly group meetings among first year law students and upperclassmen to ensure first-year matriculation is maximized for … law school success.” Overall, students “have well balanced lives and enjoy the great music and amazing trails in Missoula.” One assures, “There are hiking trails for miles just a block away from the law school building.” While there are “lots of outdoor recreational opportunities, [there's] not a ton of nightlife.” Also of note is the wide political bent, but students are sure to “have lively, spirited, and above all, respectful conversations about politics.” That respect extends to any type of student, including those with families: The university “is extremely welcoming to families,” and “you can take your kids to class, there are family rooms for nursing or taking care of your child, and above all else, all of us students are so willing to help the other students with children out.”