Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Access To Justice topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Montana Bar Fairies outline volunteer legal support to Law and Justice Committee
Summary
The volunteer group Montana Bar Fairies described services they provide to residents, prompting committee questions about scope, oversight and coordination with formal legal services systems.
Beth McBride, President and Co‑Founder of Montana Bar Fairies, presented the organization’s activities and described how volunteers assist with document delivery and community support. Beth McBride explained service scope and answered questions from committee members about boundaries between volunteer assistance and licensed legal advice.
Public commenters, including Carli Seymour, supplemented the presentation with direct experiences and asked about opportunities to coordinate with courts and legal aid providers. Members asked about oversight, liability, and ways to ensure that volunteer services do not cross into unauthorized practice of law.
The committee requested that staff compile information about statutory limits and oversight mechanisms for volunteer legal help and that Montana Bar Fairies provide supplemental materials (see Exhibit 1).
