Principles

1. The primary purpose of Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) in Montana is to improve the competence of attorneys.

2. To better serve the public, the MCLE program functions in the interest of consumer protection, assisting Montana attorneys to keep abreast of changes in both the law and the practice of law to better serve the public.

3. Regulatory authority for MCLE rests with the Montana Supreme Court. In light of the authority of the Court provided in Article VII, Section 2 of the Montana Constitution permitting the Court to make rules governing admission to the bar and the conduct of its members, the Court oversees the continuing legal education system.

4. The MCLE program should be a means of inculcating principles of ethics and professional conduct, as well as providing knowledge and training in substantive areas of the law.

5. Based on the belief that interaction with fellow attorneys contributes to the learning process and advances the goal of civility in the practice of law, a significant portion of the MCLE requirement should be satisfied by in-person activities or by other methods that allow for interaction among the participants and the instructor by electronic means.

Joseph P. Mazurek Justice Building Website: courts.mt.gov/library 215 North Sanders Street Email: [email protected] PO Box 203004 Phone: 406-444-3660 Helena, MT 59620-3004 Fax: 406-444-3603

6. Because the profession’s obligation to the public is paramount, all active attorneys must comply with MCLE, subject to the need to accommodate special circumstances.

7. The MCLE program should be administered for the Court by the State Bar in a cost effective manner, with the aim being neither to generate revenue nor produce financial losses.

8. The Commission should conduct an on-going evaluation of the effectiveness of MCLE, particularly in terms of whether it helps attorneys meet their obligations to the public.