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Section History
The State Bar of Montana formed a Paralegal Section in 1998. The Section Bylaws were approved by the State Bar membership at their annual meeting in September 1998 and approved by the State Bar Trustees in December 1998.
This vote follows a national trend, started in 1981, when Texas first made paralegals associate members of their Bar and created a separate section for them. At least 24 state bars now allow paralegals to participate at some level.
Paralegals can also join both the American Bar Association and the American Trial Lawyers Association.
Upon application to the State Bar, Section membership will be granted to those who meet one or more of the following criteria:
- an attorney and member of the State Bar of Montana;
- any person who meets the definition of Paralegal as defined in Mont. Code Ann. §25-10-301, et.seq. (2009, effective October 1, 2009 as amended)
- those who have graduated from an ABA approved paralegal program;
- those who have an associate or bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies from a college or university;
- a Certified Legal Assistant (current status as CP or ACP being maintained with National Association of Legal Assistants, Inc.)
- a paralegal education from an ABA-approved paralegal program or an institution approved by the Section Council.
- those people who have been a practicing paralegal for more than one year who qualify to be paralegals by experience or other training can also join the Section if an attorney licensed to practice in Montana attests to his or her qualifications as a paralegal.
Paralegals joining the Section will have to sign a statement that they will be bound by the Rules of Professional Conduct; they will also have to affirm that they do not provide legal services directly to the public. To continue membership after the first year, Section members will have to accrue 10 approved CLE credits annually.
Upcoming Seminars & Items of
Interest
Upcoming Seminars of Interest:
None at this time.
Other Items of Interest:
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Current Officers
Chair
Barbara A. Bessey, CP
P.O. Box 200513
Helena, MT 59620-0513
Phone: (406) 841-2013
Fax: (406) 841-2313
bbessey [at] mt [dot] gov
Vice-Chair
Barbara R. Hartzell, CP
Worden Thane P.C.
P.O. Box 4747
Missoula, MT 59806
Phone: (406) 721-3400
Secretary/Treasurer
Stacy L. Clayton
P.O. Box 1105
Bozeman, MT 59771-1105
Phone: (406) 587-4445
Fax: (406) 587-9465
State Bar Liason
LaCinda (Cindy) Hanenburg, CLAS
P.O. Box 4747
Missoula, MT 59806-4747
Phone: (406) 721-3400
Fax: (406) 721-6985
Professional Development Officer
Annette R. Brown, ACP
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
P.O. Box 8249
Missoula, MT 59807-8249
Phone: (406) 523-3468
Fax: (406) 523-0211
Member At Large
Jeri L. Hoffman, ACP
P.O. Box 1185
Helena, MT 59624-1185
Phone: (406) 443-2211
Fax: (406) 449-8443
MALA Representative
Kaili J. Busby
Milodragovich, Dale, Steinbrenner & Nygren, P.C.
P.O. Box 4947
Missoula, MT 59806-4947
Phone: (406) 728-1455
Fax: (406) 549-7077
Education Committee
Joan Rhodda
Pam Trang
Pat Vaile
Board of Trustee Liaison
Shane A. Vannatta
Worden Thane P.C.
P.O. Box 4747
Missoula, MT 59806
Phone: (406) 721-3400
Web Page Coordinator
Jill Diveley
jdiveley [at] montanabar [dot] org
Links of Interest
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We welcome: 
