Alex Butler grew up in Sioux Falls, South Dakota where he was a pretty good junior varsity athlete who spent too much time with his friends.  College was not in the cards, so after graduating he joined the United States Army where he served with the 75th Ranger Regiment for six years as an infantryman.  He deployed to Afghanistan six times and attended several military schools throughout his enlistment. After separating from active duty, he enlisted in the Montana National Guard and enrolled at the University of Montana.  At UM, he majored in philosophy and minored in economics.  Alex also served on ASUM as a senator and president and volunteered with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Montana all through undergrad and law school. He the the University of Montana Blewett School of Law where he focused on criminal law and constitutional law.  He also competed on the Moot Court team his 3L year.  After graduating law school in 2022, he served as a law clerk to the Honorable Sam E. Haddon, District of Montana.  He now works as an attorney with the Montana Department of Labor and Industry.  He is also commissioning in the United States Navy to become a JAG Officer. 

What originally inspired you/your family to choose the UM PLP?

My father is a big inspiration to me.  He is a criminal defense attorney in South Dakota and has dedicated his professional life to representing defendants in the most zealous, professional manner one can.  His dedication to serving others inspired me to attend law school and inspires me to this day.

Which aspect(s) of the UM Pre-Law Program contributed the most to your success in matriculating at the law school of your choice?

Applying for law school is a daunting task.  From the LSAT to letters of recommendation to deciding what school you wanted to attend, it is not easy task alone.  But having Soazig’s support throughout the whole process was invaluable.  She spent numerous hours providing helpful advice and reviewing my application.  I’m not sure why anyone would apply to law school without Soazig’s support.

Which aspect(s) of the PLP would you say contributed the most to your career success?

The best aspect of the PLP was all of the guest speakers.  It’s not often during undergraduate studies where you get to interact with practicing attorneys in Montana.  Along with meeting the Honorable Dana Christensen, we heard from other attorneys about their practice, work-life balance, and law school.  I still remember a speaker discussing “Big Law” life and how the firm would shuttle them to work every morning to work a full day and then drive them home late at night.  That anecdote has stayed with me and has shaped my career goals to this day.

What aspects of the campus culture at UM helped you successfully prepare for applying to law school?

The most important aspect of the campus culture at UM was public service.  I served as a senator and president of the Associated Students of the University of Montana for three years.  I learned serve and advocate for fellow students on an array of issues that may not have impacted me.  My most important role as an elected representative was listening and understanding students’ issues, discovering who needs to hear about the issue, and advocating on behalf of students—whether it is the whole student body or one person. Serving on ASUM was the most important, engaging, exciting, and fulfilling experience at UM. It helped me prepare for and succeed at law school in more way than I will ever know. 

Would you share a specific moment or experience that had a significant impact on your time in the Pre-Law Program at UM?

The most significant moment was attending a federal sentencing before the Honorable Dana Christensen.  It was the first time I had stepped into a courtroom, and it was impactful.  Seeing the criminal justice system unfold in front of us was incredible and still motivates me to practice criminal law.  It was impactful to see how our government addresses not only the offense, but the offender.  Both lawyers and Judge Christensen engaged in a thoughtful discussion about the best and most deserving sentence for a young man with a troubled past who committed a serious crime in Missoula.  Judge Christensen met with out class for a bit after the hearing which further motivated me to apply to law school.

Is there any advice you would offer prospective students considering joining the UM PLP community?

• If you are even remotely interested in law school, sign up for PLP—especially if you are unsure.
• Meet with and become familiar with the application process. Understand how best to prepare for the LSAT and application.
• Serve others: Volunteer, run for ASUM, student teach, etc. As a lawyer, you will serve others every day, so start learning how to serve.