Montana Tech alum Ryan McCarthy to clerk for Honorable Brian Morris
Ryan McCarthy (B.S. Business and Information Technology- Accounting option, ’23) has a big summer ahead of him. In May he graduated from the Alexander Blewett III School of Law at the University of Montana, followed by the bar exam in July 2026, and then a clerkship with the Chief Judge for the Federal District of Montana, Honorable Brian Morris.
“My entire summer will consist of studying,” McCarthy said.
It will mark the beginning of a career McCarthy, a 2019 Butte High graduate, has been dreaming of for forever.
“I always knew I wanted to be a lawyer, but I was less certain about where to study or what to pursue during undergrad,” McCarthy said. “I got accepted to Montana Tech and knew that it would be a good choice. The combination of affordability and reputation made it the clear choice. To this day, it remains the best educational decision I've ever made.”
McCarthy received top-tier instruction at Montana Tech.
“In some of my accounting courses, I had fewer than 10 classmates,” McCarthy said. “My fellow law students are often surprised when I describe it. The accessibility I had with my professors is something most students never experience. When I needed extra help, getting it was simple. Professors Tim Kober, Todd Tregidga, and Rita Spear also deserve credit. They were great professors and even better people. I will always credit them for the roles they played in my success.”
Affordability also was a major factor.
“A large problem many young students face today is somehow affording higher education,” McCarthy said. “The presence of student loan debt is growing at a rapid pace. Montana Tech provides affordable tuition and opportunities to earn all kinds of scholarships.”
Combine it altogether, and McCarthy was well-positioned to take on law school and an internship he’s held since January 2024 with Missoula firm Worden Thane P.C.
“Montana Tech has played a huge role in my success,” he said. “I consider myself fortunate to having graduated from there. Additionally, I want to become a business/tax attorney once I am done clerking. I learned the accounting side of tax from Professor Tim Kober, and I use it almost every day at my legal internship. It is fair to say that I will use my education from Tech for the rest of my career.”
Another class that had a lasting impact on McCarthy was Critical Thinking with Rita Spear.
“I was able to participate in a mock trial for the class,” McCarthy said. “It really helped establish a foundation for critical thinking. Critical thinking is a skill that is refined through practicing. It was a great class to take before law school, and it taught me to look at problems in a variety of ways. It was my favorite class I took while I was at Montana Tech. Critical thinking is vital for business and the law. The class teaches students to approach problems from different perspectives, resulting in more thoughtful solutions.”
McCarthy’s journey hasn’t been without obstacles.
“I believe the biggest challenge I faced was having confidence in myself,” McCarthy said. “It is easy to second guess yourself that you are not smart enough to go to school, let alone law school. I overcame it by working hard and developing more confidence over time. It is not an easy task, but over time I gained more confidence as I kept going.”
His advice to students considering a career in law is simple and direct.
“Go for it,” McCarthy said. “If you want to do it, go do it. The law is interesting and the world needs more and more lawyers every day. Law school requires time and effort, but it is all manageable. Some weeks are worse than others, but in the end, I am very happy with decision to attend law school.”