Best Law Schools in Montana: Discovering the law school that best serves you and provides you with the essential legal training is the first approach toward a rewarding profession.
The Treasure State is abundant in natural resources, outdoor recreation, and breathtaking scenery. However, it falls short when it comes to studying the law, so there are not many law schools in Montana.
There is only one American Bar Association-accredited law school in the state. Don’t be discouraged by the scarcity of law schools in Montana, you will also come across the best law schools in states close to Montana from this article.
On the plus side, the University of Montana School of Law is a fantastic institution. It’s also one of the more economical options in Missoula.
Have you wished to attend law schools in Montana but are unaware of their existence? If so, this material is specifically for you! This article will provide you with all of the information you need to choose the best law school in Montana. Endeavor to read thoroughly!
Are There Law Schools in Montana?
Choosing an American Bar Association (ABA) approved law school in Montana couldn’t be easier. The University of Montana School of Law is the only accredited law school in the state.
However, before deciding to study law there you’ll want some basic information about the school to compare to possibilities in nearby states, or beyond.
Law school prepares you for research since it requires you to create cases and defend against them based on earlier events. This ability may be of great value to research departments in a range of industrial industries.
Read Also: 5 Best Law Schools in Tennesse | Cost, Requirements, How to Apply
How Long is Law School in Montana?
Law schools in Montana take three years for a full-time program and four years or more for a JD joint-degree program.
How Much Does Law School Cost in Montana?
Law schools in different countries charge different tuition fees. They may be highly expensive due to their level of training and work experience.
Full-time tuition for law schools in Montana is $16,041 (in-state) and $38,897 (out-of-state) (out-of-state).
Read Also: 16 Best Law Schools in Pennsylvania |Cost, Requirements, How to Apply
What Are the Requirements for Getting into a Law School in Montana 2024?
The requirements for your admission into law schools in Montana are as follow:
Baccalaureate Degree
Before admission, candidates must hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally approved college or university.
Official Transcripts
Arrange for official transcripts from all institutions of higher education to be sent to the LSAC.
Moral Character
Applicants must be of good moral character and must maintain that character to continue enrollment.
Admission Test
Candidates must enroll for and take the LSAT or GRE (GRE).
CAS
To ensure a complete application, register for LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service (CAS) and follow the instructions.
Application Fee
Fill out the online application and pay the $60 cost via LSAC.
Personal Statement
Applicants must submit one personal statement with their internet application. The personal statement should include facts about yourself that you believe are relevant to their review of your file.
They want to know what attributes you would offer to the legal profession, the law school classroom, and the community. You may want to express your interest in or motivation for going to law school, or you may want to relate an important experience in your life. A normal personal statement is two to three pages long.
Personal Resume
Please include your most recent résumé.
Two Letters of Reference
Ideally, one general reference letter and one academic reference letter should be included. You may send up to four letters.
Applicants of law schools in Montana who graduated with an undergraduate degree more than a decade ago may substitute letters from employers or supervisors who can evaluate the applicant’s abilities and intellectual promise for law school. Reference letters must be submitted to the LSAC and processed by the Credential Assembly Service (CAS).
Read Also: 15 Best Law Schools in New York | Cost, Requirements, How to Apply
What are Law Schools in Montana Ranked For?
The law schools in Montana are characterized by their one-of-a-kind blend of people and settings. Montana’s natural beauty makes for an unforgettable location for a university, witan h unrivaled opportunity to unwind from the rigors of legal study. But maybe, more importantly, this institution promotes a lively community.
The students join a history of mutual respect and support that they carry through their academic and professional careers, whether they come from the broad plains of eastern Montana, the mountains straddling the continental divide, one of our seven tribal reservations, or beyond our borders.
This legal school is more than just a place to acquire a diploma. The students form friendships that will last a lifetime.
What are The Best Law Schools in Montana 2024?
The School of Law in Montana is excellent. Located in Missoula, it’s also one of the more affordable choices in the country.
Below is the Law school in Montana:
- University of Montana Law School
#1. University of Montana Law School
The institution has been named one of the top legal education values in the country by National Jurist, and it has an excellent bar pass rate. In addition, the school provides a variety of specialization degrees in fields such as environmental law, natural resources law, Indian law, and dispute resolution.
However, if you plan to practice law in Montana, there are several compelling reasons to attend the state’s sole law school. Other states’ law schools are unlikely to spend much time on the specifics of Montana law. This may have an impact on your capacity to pass the bar test as well as your comfort with state legal problems in the future as compared to Montana law school grads.
Attending a state law school will make it easier to gain experience and relationships in Montana’s legal community before graduating. If you are studying elsewhere, internships, networking events, and other ties to the Montana legal market will be considerably more difficult to come by.
The application fee for the full-time program at the University of Montana’s Alexander Blewett III School of Law is $60. Its full-time tuition is $16,041 (in-state) and $38,897 (out-of-state) (out-of-state). The faculty-to-student ratio is 10.4:1.
Best Law Schools Close to Montana in 2024
There are not many law schools in Montana, however, these are the best law schools you can find around the state:
#2. University of North Dakota School of Law
The law school is in Grand Forks, North Dakota, near the state’s eastern border with Minnesota.
The University of North Dakota School of Law is one of the smallest American Bar Association-accredited law schools.
The law school curriculum contains nothing surprising. Contracts Law, Property Law, Tort Law, Civil Procedure, Lawyering Skills, Professional Foundations, Criminal Law, and Constitutional Law are the necessary courses for the first year.
A law student will be expected to complete an “Intensive Writing Experience” and an “Experiential Learning Requirement” in their second and third years of school, in addition to the obligatory first-year courses.
The application fee for the full-time program at the University of North Dakota’s School of Law is $35. Its full-time tuition is $16,725 (in-state) and $31,735 (out-of-state) (out-of-state). The faculty-to-student ratio is 9.6:1.
#3. University of South Dakota Law School
Vermillion is home to the University of South Dakota School of Law (USD Law). Vermillion is a small town on the Missouri River in the state’s southeast corner.
The university offers nine dual degree programs as well as eleven specialty course tracks. It is a recommendable addition to your choice of law schools in Montana.
According to the U.S. World & News Report’s ranking of law schools, USD has a graduate employment rate of 52% in 2016 and is a third-tier school.
Because of its low tuition and good employment rates, the school touts itself as a wonderful deal. The objective of the school is to provide a varied range of educational and social opportunities for law students to build skills for lifelong contributions to a global society.
The application fee for the full-time program at the Knudson School of Law at the University of South Dakota (Knudson) is $35. The application fee for the part-time program at the Knudson School of Law at the University of South Dakota (Knudson) is $35. Full-time tuition is $16,794 (in-state); full-time tuition is $36,334 (out-of-state); part-time tuition is $10,544 (in-state); and part-time tuition is $20,964 (out-of-state) (out-of-state). The faculty-to-student ratio is 9.7:1.
#4. University of Idaho College of Law
UI Law has two offices, one in Boise and one in Moscow (Idaho, not Russia). All students begin their legal education in Moscow and can complete their law degree in either Boise or Moscow.
With an average student body of 300, UI Law is one of the country’s smaller law schools. The faculty-to-student ratio is something the institution takes pleasure in. The institution is one of the more cheap law schools in the country, with tuition that is below the national average.
According to U.S. News college rankings, UI Law is on the threshold between the second and third tiers. The American Bar Association recognizes the school as an accredited institution.
The application fee for the full-time program at the University of Idaho’s College of Law is $50. Its full-time tuition is $23,296 (in-state) and $42,532 (out-of-state) (out-of-state). There is an 8:1 student-faculty ratio.
#5. University of Wyoming College of Law
The University of Wyoming College of Law is located in Laramie, Wyoming, in the state’s southeast corner. It is a third-tier American Bar Association-certified law school that first opened its doors in 1920.
Contracts, Property, Torts, Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Legal Research and Writing, Criminal Law, Appellate Advocacy, and Introduction to Law are all covered in the first-year program. Students must study Evidence and Professional Responsibility in their second year.
Third-year students select electives and seminar courses in the field of law that interest them. The pathway is a program at the school that assists students in selecting courses, clinics, and externships that will help them achieve their legal education goals.
The application fee for the full-time program at the University of Wyoming’s College of Law is $50. Its full-time tuition is $16,838 (in-state) and $34,238 (out-of-state) (out-of-state). There is an 8:1 student-faculty ratio.
#6. University of Oregon Law School
The sole state-funded law school is the University of Oregon School of Law. It is situated in Eugene, Oregon’s second-largest city. Despite having the highest-ranked legal program in the state, it also has the lowest post-graduation employment figures.
Students interested in the public interest aspect of environmental law will be drawn to the University of Oregon. The school offers specialization and an LLM, as well as an annual Public Interest Environmental Law Conference and student, alumni, and other organizations, focused on environmental issues and advocacy.
Since you have a limited choice of law schools in Montana, the University of Oregon won’t be a bad decision for you!
The application fee for the full-time program at the University of Oregon’s School of Law is $0. Its full-time tuition is $42,024 (in-state) and $52,284 (out-of-state) (out-of-state). There is an 8:1 student-faculty ratio.
#7. Lewis and Clark College Law School
The Lewis & Clark College Northwestern School of Law is a flexible institution in Portland, Oregon. Law students can pursue their degrees on a full- or part-time basis, take classes during the day or evening, and specialize in fields such as global law, Indian law, and others. The institution has a high law school ranking in environmental law among specialty programs.
Students can gain hands-on experience through clinical options such as the Animal Law Clinic and the International Environmental Law Project, as well as externships and clerkships.
The Center for Animal Law Studies, the National Crime Victim Law Institute, and the Natural Resources Law Institute are all run by Northwestern Law School and provide research and training opportunities for law students.
The application fee for the full-time program at the Northwestern School of Law at Lewis & Clark College (Northwestern) is $50. The application fee for the part-time program at the Northwestern School of Law at Lewis & Clark College (Northwestern) is $50. Tuition is $51,902 for full-time students and $38,936 for part-time students. The faculty-to-student ratio is 7.1:1.
#8. Willamette University Law School
Willamette University College of Law is located in Salem, Oregon, the state capital. It is the state’s lowest-ranked accredited law school.
Willamette’s post-graduation job figures, on the other hand, are frequently as good as or better than their competitors. In addition, the school’s long-standing Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) program is well-regarded.
Willamette University College of Law’s full-time program application cost is zero dollars. Willamette University College of Law’s part-time program application cost is zero dollars. Its full-time tuition is $47,520. The faculty-to-student ratio is 8.7:1.
#9. Austin’s University of Texas
The University of Texas-Austin is one of the country’s best law schools. They have a bar clearance percentage of around 95%. This percentage is higher than in law schools in Montana and many states in the US.
The University of Texas-Austin School of Law has a competitive curriculum as well. Only a tiny percentage of applicants are accepted by the university. You should prioritize your GPA and SAT scores. You should also do some independent research to identify what is needed for the application and submit it before the annual deadline.
The full-time program at the University of Texas—School of Law in Austin has a $70 application fee. Its full-time tuition is $36,429 for in-state students and $54,096 for out-of-state students (out-of-state). The student-to-faculty ratio is 5.8:1.
#10. University of Houston Law School
The University of Houston Law Center is a Texas university recognized for its intellectual property, healthcare, and part-time law programs.
Among the legal centers and institutes run by the school is the Center for Consumer Law, the Institute for Intellectual Property and Information Law, and the Environment, Energy, and Natural Resource Center.
Students can obtain practical legal experience by attending clinics at the school that teaches immigration law, criminal defense, and other topics. Students can get a dual or concurrent degree, such as a J.D./M.B.A. through the C.T. Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston, or a J.D./M.D. via the Baylor College of Medicine
The full-time program of the Law Center at the University of Houston Law Center has no application cost. The application fee for the University of Houston Law Center’s part-time program at the Law Center is $0. Full-time tuition in-state is $34,930; full-time tuition out-of-state is $49,748; part-time tuition in-state is $23,990; and part-time tuition out-of-state is $34,028. (out-of-state). The student-to-faculty ratio is 6.2:1.
#11. University of Cincinnati College of Law
The University of Cincinnati College of Law is one of the country’s oldest continuously operating law schools; older than law schools in Montana and several states in the US.
Because of the school’s proximity to Cincinnati, there are various internship and post-graduation work opportunities available. All Montana law schools have access to internship and graduate career opportunities.
The University of Cincinnati is ranked 88th among the top law schools (tie). Schools are graded depending on how well they perform on several widely accepted quality metrics.
Applications to full-time programs at the University of Cincinnati College of Law cost $35. Full-time tuition in-state is $24,010; full-time tuition out-of-state is $29,010. (out-of-state). The student-to-instructor ratio is 6.8:1.
#12. Yale University Law School
According to the 2023 US News ranking, this is the greatest law school in the United States. The law school ranks higher than law schools in Montana and every other state law school in the US.
Traditional grades no longer exist at an Ivy League law school. Students at Yale Law School do not receive any grades during their first term; instead, they are rated simply by honors, pass, low pass, credit, or failure. Class sizes are often less than 20 students.
There are no concentrations at Yale, although students can tailor their course selections to their interests. Yale offers joint degrees in collaboration with other professional and graduate schools, including the highly regarded School of Management.
Students can also take classes at these institutions without pursuing a second major. Ambitious students can complete an accelerated, combined J.D./MBA in three years, the same time it takes to complete a standard J.D.
With over 20 legal clinics on campus, students can get hands-on legal experience as early as their first year. Students represent genuine clients in domestic abuse cases, eviction hearings, and other matters. Aside from clinical experience, students can put their legal knowledge to the test in workshops and on-campus institutes.
The application fee for the full-time program at Yale Law School is $85. Its full-time tuition is $69,433. The faculty-to-student ratio is 4.7:1.
#13. University of Chicago Law School
The small and diverse student body at UChicago Law is profoundly committed to studying the law, forming lifelong friendships and professional partnerships, and improving the world.
Law, government, public interest, academia, and business alumni from UChicago lead and innovate. As a result, UChicago’s goal is to produce well-rounded, critical, and socially concerned thinkers and doers rather than attorneys. The marketplace of ideas, participatory learning, and interdisciplinary research are three foundations that serve as the framework for UChicago’s educational purpose.
The application fee for the full-time program at the University of Chicago Law School is $90. Its full-time tuition is $72,081. The faculty-to-student ratio is 5.5:1.
#14. Columbia University Law School
The advantages of a Columbia Law School education are numerous: great instruction from world-class faculty, access to a broad and progressive curriculum, hands-on legal experience, unparalleled professional prospects, and more, all set against the dynamic backdrop of New York City.
Students come from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences, which adds new and exciting elements to our community’s social and intellectual life. They are engaged global citizens, bold and curious thinkers, and unfailingly supportive peers who are committed to making a difference as leaders in the law and civic life.
Don’t miss Columbia university law school in your list of considerable law schools in Montana and around its neighborhood.
The application fee for the full-time program at Columbia Law School is $85. Its full-time tuition is $76,088. The faculty-to-student ratio is 5.4:1.
#15. Harvard University Law School
Opportunities to apply classroom skills begin early at Harvard Law School. First-year students can put their legal abilities to the test by assisting local musicians in understanding copyright rules or representing state prison inmates at disciplinary hearings, among other things, through the school’s Student Practice Organizations.
Older students can participate in HLS legal clinics, which are the most extensive of any institution in the world. Before graduating, all students must perform at least 40 hours of pro bono, or volunteer, work.
HLS’s grading processes are unique in that, instead of typical letter grades, students receive a distinction of honors, pass, poor pass, or fail. The HLS buildings are integrated into the university campus in Harvard Square, a focus of student life in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with restaurants, pubs, and stores.
For prospective students concerned about law school debt, HLS offers the Low Income Protection Plan, which assists graduates with low incomes in managing their student loans.
The application fee for the full-time program at Harvard Law School is $85. Its full-time tuition is $68,962. The faculty-to-student ratio is 7.1:1.
How To Apply for Law Schools in Montana 2024
According to the Law School Admission Council, you can apply to law schools in Montana and the US in general through the following steps:
- Create an Online account with LSAC
- Register for and study for the LSAT
- Look Into Law Schools.
- Meet Potential Law School Recruiters in Person.
- Enroll in the Credential Assembly Service (CAS)
- Request all necessary transcripts.
- Make sure it is complete and accurate.
- Request recommendation letters.
- Allow law schools to find you.
- The Candidate Referral Service (CRS) connects you with law schools you might not have considered otherwise. Some colleges may be looking for people who are similar to you.
- Apply online
You can use your LSAC.org account to apply to as many US law schools as you choose.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can help your community while in Montana law school by taking advantage of their nationally known programs in American Indian law and environmental and natural resources law, as well as their substantial pro bono program and wide range of clinical options.
The highest level of law degree is DOCTOR OF JURIDICIAL SCIENCE.
There is only one law school in Montana
Ans: A score of 160 or more is considered good. It can provide you with numerous respected law schools in the United States.
For a high grade, 3 months of preparation is normally recommended.
Conclusion
We hope you have exhausted the content of this article and gathered the necessary information to begin your move to law schools in Montana.
The best law schools close to Montana have been listed in this article and will afford you broad options for law school in the United States.
It is crucial to move quickly to prepare the necessary materials to be suitably eligible for admission to law schools in Montana.