Montana Lawyer August/September 2025

A New Vision for Justice: State Bar of Montana Charts Path Forward with 2025–2027 Strategic Plan JOHN J. MUDD

Four Priorities for the Future Given the urgent challenges facing many Montana com munities, access to justice takes a prominent place among the Bar’s four strategic goals — led by a new community jus tice worker initiative. Modeled on Alaska’s groundbreaking work, this concept allows trained non-lawyers to assist clients in specific, limited circumstances under attorney supervision. Now being explored in several other states, it offers a promis ing way to address some of Montana’s most pressing legal needs. In June, the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to back the Montana Legal Services Association’s development of a pilot program. The first steps toward implementation are expected to begin this fall. The State Bar’s Trustees also voted to prioritize continued public communication and outreach, building on programs like the nationally recognized Citizens’ Law School, now en tering its fourth year, as well as the Bar’s High School Mock Trial program, which engages students in learning about the legal system. A revitalized Law Day is also under consider ation as another way to connect with the public. As with any volunteer-driven organization, the State Bar recognizes that attorney engagement and education are cen tral to fulfilling its mission. It will continue investing in new ways for members to engage, such as community software launched last year for section and committee members, and planned revisions to the Bar’s website this fall. Those efforts align with a final priority of ensuring operational continuity, preparing the State Bar for the road ahead. Looking Ahead For rural Montanans, families struggling with legal prob lems, and young lawyers building their careers, the stakes are high. The Task Force warned that without innovation, the gap will widen; the Bar’s new Strategic Plan offers a counter point — a roadmap toward solutions. “We know the challenges,” said State Bar Executive Director John Mudd. “Now we have a plan to meet them — with creativity, with advocacy, and with a commitment to serving both attorneys in Montana and the public.” As the plan carries the Bar through 2027, its impact will be measured not only in programs launched or goals met, but Tease hopes in the trust Montanans place in their legal sys tem. “We all understand the challenges and public scrutiny our profession faces, but I am confident we are ready to meet this moment.”

The State Bar of Montana enters its second fifty years at a time when the state’s population is outpacing the growth of the legal profession, deepening gaps in access to justice. Across Montana, rural communities face severe lawyer shortages. National surveys reveal a sharp decline in public trust in institutions, including the justice system, and the gap between legal needs and available services is widening. Against this backdrop, the State Bar of Montana has unveiled its 2025–2027 Strategic Plan — a roadmap devel oped by its elected officers and trustees that sets new goals, a refreshed mission, and a vision for the future of justice in Montana. At the center of the plan is a simple but ambitious vision: “A trusted and independent legal system that safeguards individual liberties, ensures access to justice, and serves as a pillar of democracy for this and future generations.” The vision is rooted in the Montana Supreme Court’s 1974 unification order, the State Bar’s Constitution, and the Rules of Professional Conduct, with a nod to the 1972 Montana Constitution. “The State Bar and its attorneys may represent just one voice in shaping the vision for Montana’s legal system, but it is unquestionably a vital one — fully embraced by our elected leadership representing all corners of Montana and the pro fession,” said Toni Tease, State Bar President. The plan is anchored by six core values: professional ism, service, community, trust, advocacy, and innovation. Together, these values honor the profession’s traditions while responding to the evolving needs of Montana’s communities. A Profession Under Strain The Bar’s strategic planning effort follows the work of the Task Force on the Future of the Legal Profession, which found sobering statistics. In nearly one-third of Montana’s counties, fewer than 10 resident attorneys serve the entire population. In some counties there are none at all. In parts of eastern Montana, accessing legal help can mean driving 100 miles or more just to sit down with a lawyer. The Task Force also found that 70% of low-income Montanans face at least one civil legal problem each year, yet most go without representation. While legal aid organizations serve thousands annually, they lack the resources to keep pace with growing demand. “The access-to-justice gap is real and growing,” notes Task Force co-chair and Past President of the State Bar Stuart Segrest. “Without new approaches, too many Montanans will be left to face their most serious legal issues alone.”

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2025

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