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In 2023, I was honored to receive the Distinguished Service Award from the State Bar of Montana for my work as a Trustee representing Area D, which includes multiple judicial districts across central Montana. During that tenure, I worked to preserve representation for our region by preventing the removal of a trustee seat that ensured central Montana lawyers had a voice in the governance of our bar.
That experience reinforced for me an important truth: self-regulation in the legal profession is a privilege, not a right. Unlike many fields where outside agencies provide oversight, lawyers are entrusted with governing ourselves—through our bar associations, our rules of professional conduct, and our shared commitment to fairness.
Self-governance reflects society’s trust that lawyers will hold ourselves accountable, maintain high ethical standards, and ensure the public has access to competent, independent representation. When the profession takes that responsibility seriously, it strengthens not only the legal system but also the democratic institutions it serves.
For the public, this responsibility has real consequences. Protecting access to justice and ensuring fair representation are cornerstones of a free and just society. If the profession fails to live up to its obligations, the alternative is heavier external regulation—where political interests, not principles, may determine how people are allowed to seek justice.
I view my time as a Trustee and the recognition I received not as a conclusion, but as a reminder. Lawyers must continually earn the privilege of self-regulation by demonstrating integrity, competence, and a commitment to justice. At Boland Aarab PLLP, that principle guides our work every day—whether in courtrooms across Montana or in standing up for clients who need their voices heard.