The University of Montana Trial Team will host a regional trial competition next year. It has been several years since the law school has hosted a trial competition. Since 2010, the UM Trial Team has participated in the TYLA (Texas Young Lawyers Association) National Trial Competition, which is also co-sponsored by the American College of Trial Lawyers. Montana is part of Region 12, which also includes Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Oklahoma.

The competition will be held Thursday, February 16, 2017, through Sunday, February 19, 2017, at the Missoula County courthouse. It is anticipated that approximately 20 teams from more than ten schools will participate. The Missoula County and City judges have graciously donated their courtrooms for the competition. The Hon. Karen Townsend, District Court Judge, has volunteered to coordinate the competition along with our own Tim Dailey, who also serves as a coach for the UM Trial Team.

This event requires volunteer participation from our community. Several judges and lawyers from our state bar will volunteer to be scoring judges at the competition. The event coordinators will recruit students and members of the community to volunteer as witnesses and bailiffs for the competition. If any of our clients are interested in volunteering, please contact Lynn Maul (maul@bigskylawyers.com).

The UM Law School prides itself on teaching trial advocacy and hosting this event is quite significant in that regard. The UM Trial Team selects two second-year students and two third-year students to compete. Thus, the students covet these limited spots on the team. The UM Trial Team is also near and dear to Milodragovich, Dale & Steinbrenner, P.C. Several of our past and current attorneys are alumni of the UM Trial Team, including Liesel Shoquist, Dylan McFarland, and Tim Dailey. Our firm has and will continue to assist the UM Trial Team in any way we can.

At Milodragovich, Dale & Steinbrenner, P.C., we take our civic responsibility to be involved in our community quite seriously. Like many programs of this nature, the UM Trial Team’s continued success is dependent on fund-raising, volunteer participation, and community involvement. Our firm will continue to support this program as well as the many other charitable organizations that do so much for our community. If you have any questions about the UM Trial Team or upcoming competition, please do not hesitate to contact Tim Dailey (tdailey@bigskylawyers.com).