Montana Lawyer August/September 2024

STATE BAR NEWS

STATE BAR OF MONTANA ANNOUNCES TASK FORCE ON FUTURE OF THE LEGAL PROFESSION The State Bar of Montana has announced the Members of the Task Force Steering Committee announced today include:

creation of a Task Force on the Future of the Legal Profession which will begin work immediately. The effort comes as the State Bar celebrates 50 years of the unified bar in Montana which was created by the Montana Supreme Court in 1974. “Over the past 50 years, the legal profession in Montana has undergone numerous changes,” said State Bar President Stuart Segrest of Helena. “While it is hard to predict what the next 50 years will bring, there are changes in the profession taking place around the country and we believe now is the time to see which, if any of them, may be right for Montana.” The Task Force Steering Committee announced today is comprised of lawyer leaders, judges, legal educators and others involved in the justice system. It will begin meeting in August, with a goal of wrap ping up its work in the summer of 2025. The Task Force will focus on three major areas where there have been a variety of national de velopments, including in Montana’s neighboring jurisdictions: (1) legal education and admission to the bar; (2) the delivery of legal services, including developments in alternative licensure and artificial intelligence; and (3) addressing the justice gap for Montana’s rural and Tribal communities. “We will be creating various subcommittees to carry out specific work and those will involve ad ditional members of the practicing bar and those involved in the delivery of legal services,” Segrest added. “Our plan is to conduct a survey of the bar as part of this effort, and to hold listening sessions with local bar organizations throughout the state.”

J. Stuart Segrest , President – State Bar of Montana Toni Tease , President-Elect – State Bar of Montana Hon. Yvonne Laird , President – Montana Judges Association Hon. Jessie Connolly , President – Montana Magistrates Association Hon. Kelly Mantooth, President – Montana Courts of Limited Jurisdiction Annie Goodwin , Chair – Commission on Character and Fitness Gary Bjelland , Chair – Board of Bar Examiners Casey Heitz , Chair – Commission on Continuing Legal Education Pam Bucy, Chief Disciplinary Counsel – Office of Disciplinary Counsel Greg Murphy , Past Chair, Montana Board of Bar Examiners, National Conference of Bar Examiners, Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admission to the Bar, American Bar Association Beth McLaughlin , Court Administrator – Montana Judicial Branch Dean Elaine Gagliardi – Blewett School of Law at the University of Montana Allison Paul , Executive Director – Montana Legal Services Association Peter Habein , Chair – Ethics Committee of the State Bar of Montana John Mudd , Executive Director & General Counsel – State Bar of Montana

James Reavis is available for attorney referrals for appeals to the Montana Supreme Court to handle your client’s criminal or civil case. Reavis has resolved over 130 appeals. He is a respected and well-known advocate before the Court. Reavis is available to attorneys for consultation, brief writing assistance, or taking a lead role in your client’s appellate strategy. Attorneys are invited to call 406-433-5511 or email james@nkbattorneys.com . APPELLATE ADVOCACY

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2024

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