Annual Conference

Information

The State Bar of Montana's 2022 Annual Meeting will be held September 21-24 at the Delta Colonial Hotel, 2301 Colonial Drive in Helena.

Room Block: We have reserved a block of rooms with a per-night cost beginning at $129. CLICK HERE to book a room. Block ends August 30.

Cost: In-Person Attendee $175 Remote Attendee $125

Credits: 11.0, including 3.0 Ethics (pending approval)

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21

2:00pm - 5:00pm: State Bar Board of Trustees Meeting

5:00pm to 9:00pm: First Judicial District Bar Welcome Reception. All Annual Meeting attendees welcome. Reception will be at the Montana Club, Second Floor, 24 W. Sixth Ave., Helena.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22

8:30am-11:30am: Bar Leadership Training (by invitation only)

8:30am-11:30am: New Lawyers' Workshop (by invitation only to lawyers in their first three years of practice)

ANNUAL MEETING CLE PROGRAMMING BEGINS

Noon-1:00pm: Kickoff Luncheon CLE
The Ghost of Meagher – Ireland, Montana and their Constitutions. Perspectives on Constitutional Order. Dr. Seán Ó Conaill, School of Law, University College Cork, Cork Ireland.

1:00pm - 4:30pm: Panel Discussions

• 1:00pm - 2:00pm: Ethics for Government-Employed Lawyers. Pamela Bucy, Chief Disciplinary Counsel, Montana Office of Disciplinary Counsel.
• 2:30pm - 3:30pm: Mental Well-being in Law: Scope, Evidence and Thoughts to Improve
• 3:30pm - 4:30pm: Lies and Technology: Ethical Considerations for Civil and Criminal Practitioners. Professor Andrew King-Ries, Professor Anna Conley Asst. Dean Katy Stack, Blewett School of Law at the University of Montana.

5:00pm - 6:00pm: 50 Year Pin Ceremony and Reception

5:00pm - 6:00pm: President's Reception and Art for Justice Silent Auction

6:00pm - 8:00pm: Awards Banquet

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23

7:30 a.m.: Breakfast hosted by the Alexander Blewett III School of Law

-- Distinguished Service Awards

8:00 - 8:30am: State Bar of Montana Annual Business Meeting and Conference for Members

8:45am - 9:00am: Law School Update. Speaker: Acting Dean Elaine Gagliardi.

9:00 a.m. - 9:30am: Oral Argument Introduction (Speaker TBA)

9:30am - 10:45am: Oral Argument

• Charles Daniel Smith, Plaintiff and Appellant, v. Charter Communications, Inc., Defendant and Appellee (Wrongful Discharge From Employment Act suit)

10:45am - 11:30am: Sponsor Break

11:30am - 12:45pm: Friday Luncheon Keynote Discussion. Speakers: Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen; U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich, District of Montana; moderated by Mark Parker of Parker, Heitz & Cosgrove in Billings.

1:00pm - 4:00pm: Breakout Specialty CLE Tracks

• Family Law Section and Indian Law Section (Includes 1.0 Ethics CLE credit)
• Paralegal Section: Help, Hope and Access to Justice (open to all Annual Meeting attendees)
• Public Law Section: Part 1 -- MAPA Hot Topics and Practice Tips by FWP Chief Legal Counsel Sarah Clerget, OPI Chief Legal Counsel Robert Stutz, and DOC Deputy Chief Legal Counsel Andres Haladay. Part 2 -- Montana Supreme Court Update by Jim Reavis, Montana Office of the Public Defender, Billins; Part 3 -- U.S. Supreme Court Update by Montana Solicitor General David Dewhirst.

4:00pm - 4:30pm: Paralegal Section Annual Meeting and Election of Officers

4:30pm - 6:30pm: Paralegal Section Reception

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24

8:00am - 9:00am: Saturday Morning Ethics CLE

Dealing with Problem Clients: Practical and Ethical Considerations: Presented by Jessica L. Beckwith, Partner & firm-wide Assistant General Counsel at Lewis Brisbois in Los Angeles and Phoenix; moderated by John Mudd, Executive Director & General Counsel, State Bar of Montana.