Founded in 1966, our clinical program offers three in-house clinics in Indian Law, Veterans Advocacy, and Land Use & Natural Resources, and over 30 external clinics. Under the supervision of faculty and experienced attorneys, third-year students practice law in a variety of settings, from criminal defense and prosecutors’ offices to environmental nonprofits and government agencies. They prosecute civil rights claims; handle complex transactions; serve as law clerks to members of the judiciary, legislature, and corporate counsel; analyze and advocate policy - making real differences in real people’s lives.
Today, just as when we were founded, we believe that all law students must be trained to practice law before they graduate and to recognize the importance of public service and access to justice. Clinical training remains at the heart of our educational philosophy.
Our clinics and field placements are the capstone of our integrated skills curriculum. They are the culmination of our Lawyering Fundamentals program in the first year and transactional and trial practice simulation courses in the second year. Our school is proud of its close relationship with Montana’s bench and bar, and we are grateful to them for co-supervising our students—and future lawyers.
In-House Clinics
Contact our Indian Law Clinic:
Kekek Stark kekek.stark@umontana.edu 406-243-4315
Deb DuMontier deb.dumontier@mso.umt.edu
Contact our Veterans Advocacy Clinic:
Unavailable until Academic Year 2026-27
Contact our Land-Use & Natural Resources Clinic:
Sandi Zellmer sandi.zellmer@mso.umt.edu
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ACLU of Montana
Work focuses solely on constitutional issues and the defense of individual freedoms.ASUM Legal Services
Represent 91´ÎÔª students in civil and minor criminal defense matters.Disability Rights Montana
Advocates and attorneys devote their time pushing against systemic ableism in areas of greatest impact, including rural communities and institutions.Federal Defenders of Montana
Represent indigent criminal defendants in federal court.Gallatin County Attorney’s Office
Judicial Field Placements - Federal Court
Work with a U.S. District Court Judge or Magistrate Judge on cases pending in federal court in Missoula.Judicial Field Placements - Fourth Judicial District Court
Work with Fourth Judicial District Court and Justice Court Judges on cases pending in district court and justice court in Missoula.Missoula City Attorney's Office
Prosecute traffic and other misdemeanor offenses in the Missoula Municipal Court.Missoula County Attorney's Office
Work on felony cases and Dependent and Neglect Proceedings, assist with land-use litigation, appear in court, communicate and negotiate with opposing counsel and pro se defendants, work with county departments, interview witnesses, perform legal research, draft motions.Montana Department of Agriculture
Montana Department of Revenue – Helena
Montana Domestic Violence Field Placement
Provide direct holistic civil legal representation to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.Montana Innocence Project
Work with this nonprofit organization dedicated to identifying and advancing credible claims of innocence made by Montana inmates.Montana Legal Services Association
Represent low-income clients in family, public benefits, administrative law, and low-income taxpayer matters.Montana Legal Services Association-Consumer Protection
Represent low-income clients on issues related to consumer law.Montana Supreme Court (Justice McKinnon)
Office of the Governor - Helena
Office of State Public Defender
Work with court-appointed attorneys on a variety of cases.Ravalli County Attorney's Office
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
Work with in-house counsel on a variety of corporate matters in non-profit conservation organizations.U.S. Bankruptcy Court
Work on active court cases and receive instruction and guidance from the Judge and court staff.U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (Justice Johnstone)
91´ÎÔª Legal Counsel's Office
Work with the University's general counsel, advising the administration and assisting in administrative and judicial proceedings.91´ÎÔª Office of Tech Transfer
Work with the Office of Tech Transfer on intellectual property issues involving UM faculty or staff. -
Independent Field Placement
Allows a student to propose and secure approval for a clinical experience not currently offered as an in-house clinic or field placement. Completed Independent Field Placement applications, including
- student application
- supervising attorney application,
- and two letters of recommendation,
should be submitted to Diana Garrett via Canvas no later than February 15 to ensure ample time for review and approval. The deadline for approval is March 1 for the summer and next academic year. Late submissions will not be accepted.