Montana State Legislature
SJ 31 - Interim Study of Attorney Regulation and the State Bar
SJ 31 - Interim Study of Attorney Regulation and the State Bar
Legislative Council assigned the Senate Joint Resolution No. 31 study to the Law & Justice Interim Committee. The study ranked fifth among the polled studies.
Final Report (Adopted September 2024) - Sara Hess, LSD
July 2023:
The committee adopted its work plan and selected a moderate level of study.
Meeting Materials: N/A
November 2023:
Staff provided an overview of the State Bar's role and structure, the admission process, and the various boards and commissions involved in attorney regulation in Montana. The committee heard a presentation from the State Bar of Montana, including Executive Director John Mudd, and lobbyist for the State Bar, Bruce Spencer.
Meeting Materials:
- SJ 31
- State Bar Role & Structure - Sara Hess, Research Analyst
- Becoming a Lawyer in Montana - Sara Hess
- Attorney Regulation: Players in Admission, Education, and Discipline
- Memo from State Bar of Montana - John Mudd, E.D. and Bruce Spencer
February 2024:
The committee heard from a panel of stakeholders concerning alternative pathways to bar admission, and staff presented alternative pathways utilized in other states.
Meeting materials:
- Purdue Global Online Law School and Access to Justice slides, Martin Pritikin, Purdue Global
- Alternative Pathways to Practice Law, Laura Sherley, LSD
- Nine Facts to Know about the American Bar Association and Accreditation on of Online Legal Education Programs
- Testimony- Steven Bahls, Council Member, Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of American Bar Association
- University of Montana Law School Exhibit - Elaine Gagliardi, Dean of the University of Montana School of Law
May 2024:
The committee reviewed a draft final report and did not request amendments or further action.
Meeting materials:
September 2024
The committee voted to adopt the final report with draft findings and recommendations.
Additional resources:
- National Association of IOLTA Programs - IOLTA Basics
- American Bar Association - Overview of IOLTA
- Montana Justice Foundation - IOLTA
- Rules of Admission to the State Bar of Montana
- Rules of Procedure of the Commission on Character and Fitness - 2016
- Montana Supreme Court website - Boards and Commissions
