TheNational Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges announced that the Alexander Blewett III School of Law at the University of Montana is now an organizational member of the nation’s oldest and largest judicial membership and education organization.
The NCJFCJ helps improve the lives of the families and children in the justice system through judicial education. The NCJFCJ produces a broad collection of research, trainings, and publications, and hosts two national conferences for judges, court professionals and other related agencies annually. The NCJFCJ’s research division, the National Center for Juvenile Justice (NCJJ), conducts national research and provides objective information used by professionals and decision-makers in the juvenile and family justice system to increase effectiveness.
Students and faculty of the Alexander Blewett III School of Law will now have access to the NCJFCJ’s vast educational resources along with opportunities for networking and professional growth. Students will have the opportunity to tap NCJFCJ guest lecturers, publications, and research that can supplement coursework in juvenile justice, family law, and criminal law. Similarly, law school faculty can benefit from the research materials and the opportunity to collaborate with judges and court professionals to enhance their curriculums.
“This collaboration will open up exciting new avenues for students, faculty members, and others who are seeking more involvement in juvenile justice and family law,” said Judge John W. Parker of Great Falls, Montana who is an NCJFCJ board director and Alexander Blewett III School of Law alumnus. “Through this partnership, a new generation of attorneys will have the chance to learn more about juvenile and family court issues than ever before. These cases are critically important for children and families suffering from trauma, abuse, family violence or other challenging situations in their lives. This partnership will enhance and fortify the law school’s stellar curriculum in a way that will benefit people throughout Montana and across the United States.”
The two organizations are united in their aim to enhance the judiciary by offering cutting-edge resources, research, and ongoing education for individuals committed to serving children and families within juvenile and family law.
For more than a century, the Alexander Blewett III School of Law has been a leader in legal education, with a commitment to practical training that began with its first class of students in 1911.
Since 1937, the NCJFCJ has served as the leader in providing continuing education opportunities, research, technical assistance, and policy development in the field of juvenile and family law. The NCJFCJ is a nonprofit organization with nearly 2,000 members nationwide and internationally. In its 86-year history, the NCJFCJ has expanded its membership from judicial officers to attorneys, law enforcement, social workers, court administrators, organizations and law students and schools. The NCJFCJ’s mission is to provide judges, courts, and related agencies involved with juvenile, family, and domestic violence cases with the knowledge and skills to improve the lives of the families and children who seek justice.
“The strength of the NCJFCJ’s legacy is its members,” said Joey Orduña Hastings, CEO, NCJFCJ. “The core knowledge of the courts begins with well-educated students who are passionate to improve the lives of the children and families they will serve. The NCJFCJ is excited to welcome the University of Montana as an organizational member and we look forward to sharing membership benefits and resources with a school that prepares the next generation of individuals to make a meaningful difference in our justice system.”