UM’s new School of Law to open by next summer

University of Montana law students and faculty no longer need to leave campus, cross a river and set up school at Missoula Children’s Theatre on Adams Street to have classes this semester.

Due to renovations and expansion of the School of Law that started in January, roadblocks left the school with nowhere to go for much of the spring and summer semesters.

Rubble from the steam tunnel construction also blocked entrances to the school, and few classes could be conducted there.

Some last minute scrambling allowed for the school to rent out several classrooms at the Missoula Children’s Theatre for several weeks last spring.

“We didn’t realize how disruptive the debris from the steam tunneling construction would be, and by the time the semester began it was too late to relocate on campus,” School of Law Dean Edwin Eck said.

The Missoula Children’s Theatre facility was once a middle school with the addition of the theater room 10 years ago. There are about eight classrooms in the facility rented by the law school.

“MCT were great landlords, but it was quite a walk,” Eck said.

Being more prepared this fall allows all law school classes to be held on the main campus either in the Chemistry, Liberal Arts, Skaggs, Don Anderson Hall, Gallagher Business or Jeanette Rankin Hall buildings.

Peggy Tonon, director of UM Student Affairs, said even though it’s only the first week of classes and a little too early to conclude, feedback from students has been positive.

“I get the impression that being on campus serves a couple of purposes, such as helping us be more exposed to the broader UM campus,” Tonon said. “Students seem to be enjoying the classrooms, and even though some rooms don’t have Internet access, it’s been nothing we can’t work through.”

Since the renovation is being done in stages, there is only limited access to the school, Eck said.

“By the end of next January, we hope to have access to additional classrooms and offices,” he said.

Eck said the new building will include bigger and more classrooms with improved sight lines and acoustics. There will also be more study space, including informal study rooms for the students.

A new clinical wing, courtroom and law room top the list of additions, and a second elevator would provide access for those with disabilities.

Many of these improvements are a necessity for the continued accreditation of the school.

“Our accreditation agency has noted the inadequacies of the old building,” Eck wrote on the UM School of Law Web site. 

The law school is slotted to be complete by next summer, allowing all classes to take place in the newly renovated school. 

kelsey.bernius@umontana.edu