Bringing Access and Affordability to the Law

SEELEY LAKE – After more than 20 years working in mental health and special education services, Elliott Dugger knew he needed to get his law degree in order to fully advocate for justice for his clients. Dugger graduated from the University of Montana Law School in May 2017. With his practice, Dugger Law Firm PLLC in Seeley Lake, he plans to provide affordable legal access in rural Missoula and surrounding counties. His personal mission is to bring dignity to his clients and put them in a better place than they would have been without utilizing his legal counseling service.

Dugger grew up in Georgia. For more than two decades there, Dugger worked in private mental health facilities providing educational services, counseling and case management. He also taught special education and was an administrator with expertise in behavioral, emotional disorders.

After 20 years in those fields, Dugger spent a couple years doing special education advocacy helping students and parents when they weren't getting adequate services inside the school system. While he was an expert and could serve as a good witness, he quickly saw the limitations without pursuing a law degree.

"If you are an advocate long enough, you realize there are some walls that you can't climb over unless you have that golden ticket, the keys to the kingdom some law professors say, because you can actually get some respect in a court of law," said Dugger. "For the life-long advocate, the capstone is becoming an attorney. I just thought it made sense to do that."

Dugger said becoming an attorney would not only allow him to pick and choose education cases where he could take it that step further, but he could also help others seek justice.

"It deepens the scope for a career I've already had and broadens the scope for the desire to be an advocate," said Dugger.

Dugger fell in love with Montana in the early 2000s during his summer travels. He convinced his wife to move to Montana. Attending the University of Montana Law School only made sense if he wanted to practice in Montana. He started in the fall of 2014 and graduated May 2017. He passed the bar in July.

Dugger had two main goals. His first was to study Native American law because of his interest in minority advocacy. He achieved this goal earning his certificate in American Indian Law and completed his internship for law school in the public defender's office in the Salish Kootenai Tribal Court. Dugger is currently waiting for his order that will make him a member of their bar so he can practice as a professional attorney in their court.

Dugger's second goal is to provide access to justice in a rural setting. He is setting out to achieve this goal through his practice in Seeley Lake.

While he has a home in Potomac, he chose to locate his practice in Seeley Lake because it is central in the county. He is willing to travel to his clients in Missoula and surrounding counties.

"If you want me to come to your north pasture just tell me where it is," said Dugger. "That is the kind of access people out in the rural part of the state need. If you want to see me in the office, fine, I've got one. But you don't have to go all the way to Missoula."

Dugger Law Firm, PLLC is a general practice. It offers will and estate planning, and can establish family trusts. He will also consider any other case, including criminal cases, except water court because it is such a specialty.

Dugger is committed to bringing dignity to his clients, no matter what the circumstances.

"A client deserves justice. They deserve that fairness that comes with justice if you can get it for them," said Dugger. "[Even if they are going to plead guilty] they still deserve a fair shot at justice and an attorney can help them get a just punishment for that. If they are not guilty, they deserve a zealous defense."

Dugger believes his strong investigative skills are one of his strengths as an attorney. Because of his experience, his counseling services are also a strength that can help his clients move forward, even when there may not be anything he can legally do to help them. His life maturity also helps him focus his clients on what they can control, regardless of what has happened to them.

The community is invited to Dugger Law Firm's Open House Dec. 9 from 2-5 p.m. in the north end of the Bison and Bear Center. Meet Dugger and enjoy refreshments.

Dugger Law Firm Office hours will be flexible including Saturdays and by appointment. For more information visit duggerlawfirm.com (will be up shortly). To contact Dugger call his office 406-244-6745 or cell 406-370-0358 or email elliottdugger@gmail.com.

 

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