Happy family

Find a legal form in minutes

Browse US Legal Forms’ largest database of 85k state and industry-specific legal forms.

Montana Admission Laws

Montana admission laws are stated in Chapter 61 of Title 37 under Montana Code Annotated, Rules of Admission to the Bar of Montana, and Amended Rules for Continuing Legal Education.  Montana Supreme Court is the admitting body.

Applicant should hold a juris doctorate degree or equivalent degree from a law school approved by American Bar Association.  Recognized exams are Multistate Bar Examination, Multistate Essay Examination, Multistate Performance test, and essay exam.  Applicant should also pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination with a scale score of 80.  Each attorney should dedicate 15 hours yearly for Continuing Legal Education(“CLE”).  Attorneys from other states can appear pro hac in a case or proceeding, if the attorney has a Montana attorney as an associate on record. 

MT St. Bar Adm. Rule IV

“IV. PRO HAC VICE
   A.  Upon written application, an attorney who is not admitted to practice law in the state courts in Montana and who is at the time admitted and authorized to practice law in the highest court of another state may appear pro hac vice in any action or proceeding, if an attorney admitted to practice in the courts of Montana is associated as attorney of record.

B.  An attorney may not appear pro hac vice under this section if the attorney is a resident of Montana, is regularly employed in Montana, or is regularly engaged in the practice of law or in substantial business or professional activities in Montana, unless the attorney has an application for admission pending with the Bar Admissions Administrator of the State Bar of Montana.

C.  Except upon a showing of good cause, no attorney or firm may appear pro hac vice in more than two actions or proceedings in any state court or administrative agency (agency) in Montana. Upon an attorney or firm’s second appearance pro hac vice, no further pro hac vice appearances are permitted except upon a showing of good cause. Findings of good cause to exceed the two-appearance limit are not to be routinely granted. For purposes of this rule “good cause” includes, by way of example only, a showing that the attorney or firm seeking to appear pro hac vice possesses experience or expertise not commonly available in the membership of the State Bar of Montana or where the attorney or firm is acting as counsel in a multi-state class action purposes of this rule, only those appearances made after the date of the adoption of these rules shall be considered.”

MT CLE Rule 6

“Rule 6. Credit Hours and Accreditation Standards.
   A.  Credit Hours. The Commission shall designate the number of credit hours to be earned by participation in or teaching of approved continuing legal education activities.
Credit shall be earned on the basis of one (1) credit hour for each sixty (60) minutes actually spent by a member in attendance at an approved activity or in preparation for and teaching of an approved activity. Credit will not be earned for time spent in introductory remarks, coffee and luncheon breaks, or business meetings. Further, credit will not be earned for speeches presented at, or attendance at, luncheons or banquets. Repetition of an activity does not qualify for credit.”


Inside Montana Admission Laws