MJF’s mission is to achieve equal access to justice for all Montanans through effective funding and leadership.

History

The Montana Justice Foundation, established in 1979 as the Montana Law Foundation, is a non-profit organization operating as the charitable arm of Montana's legal community. The foundation's first grant of $85,000, generated from voluntary IOLTA revenues, was awarded to Montana Legal Services Association. Over the years, we continued to provide grants and promote pro-bono services, operating as part of the Montana State Bar until 1997. That year, the board of directors made the foundation an independent organization with a new name, the Montana Justice Foundation. Today, the foundation remains dedicated to achieving access to justice for all and has distributed more than $8 million to Montana's legal aid community through IOLTA revenue and individual funding.

Board of Directors

  • Kyle Nelson, President

    Goetz, Geddes & Gardner, PC

    Bozeman

  • Carlo Canty, Vice President

    State of MT Commissioner of Securities & Insurance

    Helena

  • Robert Minto, Treasurer

    ALPS Corporation- Retired

    Missoula

  • Hon. David Rice, Secretary

    Retired

    Missoula

  • Bill Bronson

    Cascade County Law Clinic

    Great Falls

  • Ashley Burleson

    Crowley Fleck PLLP

    Bozeman

  • John Heenan

    Heenan & Cook, PLLC

    Billings

  • Katherine Huso

    Matovich, Keller & Huso, P.C.

    Billings

  • Ryan Jones

    First Interstate Bank

    Missoula

  • Molly Kelly

    Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation

    Helena

  • Mike Lamb

    Lamb Law Office

    Helena

  • Don Murray

    Hash, O'Brien, Biby & Murray, PLLP

    Kalispell

  • Michele Robinson

    Butte

  • Maggie Weamer

    Tarlow, Stonecipher, Weamer & Kelly, PLLC

    Bozeman

  • Tara Rice

    Parsons Behle & Latimer

    Helena

Meet the Team

Alissa Chambers
Executive Director

Alissa Chambers joined the Montana Justice Foundation as the new Executive Director in September 2022. Before joining the Montana Justice Foundation, Alissa was a partner at Crowley Fleck, where she was a commercial attorney focusing on merger and acquisition transactions and private securities. Alissa also worked with Crowley’s in-house pro bono attorneys to expand Crowley’s pro bono efforts across the firm, providing support, encouragement, and mentorship to pro bono attorneys.  
Alissa has been passionate about pro bono work and access to justice issues since she became a lawyer in 2011. She is thrilled to join this organization and work to bring equal access to justice for all Montanans. Alissa can be reached at achambers@mtjustice.org.

Rebecca Schupp Watson
Chief Administrative Officer

Becky joined the Montana Justice Foundation in 2023. She graduated from St. Catherine University, receiving her Bachelor of Arts in Family, Consumer and Nutritional Sciences.  Becky comes to MJF with over 9 years of administrative and project management experience.  Becky is passionate about bringing a voice to the voiceless and is excited to use that passion to further the goals of the Montana Justice Foundation.