Great Falls attorney says Montana Tech’s environmental engineering program provided a foundation for success

Caelan Brady (Environmental Engineering, 2019) loved being outside growing up. Hunting, fishing, and recreating in Montana’s outdoor paradise are still some of his favorite things to do. He also did well in math and science classes.

“When deciding what to do for college, I figured a natural  mixture of my interests was environmental engineering,” Brady said.

At the time of Brady’s high school graduation, Montana Tech had the only environmental engineering program in the state, so Brady packed his bags for Butte from his hometown of Great Falls.

“We had to take an environmental law class as part of the program,” Brady said. “It was very interesting to me. I was curious about these regulatory standards, typically set by the government, to keep people and the environment safe. That’s why environmental engineers have jobs.”

He said the engineering program prepared him for a future as an attorney.

“If I had to do it all over again, I would go to Montana Tech in a heartbeat,” Brady said.  “You just can’t beat it for almost any type of degree you want. The faculty-to-student ratio is great. You have open access to your professors. The school community is unmatched. There’s something for everyone there.”

Brady graduated from the University of Montana School of Law in 2022. He now works as an attorney at a firm in Great Falls. Brady says overcoming imposter syndrome has been his biggest challenge since his time at Montana Tech.

“Almost everyone seems to deal with imposter syndrome, where you never really feel like you are successful and you are always wondering if you’re really cut out for it,” Brady said. “There is a daily process of overcoming it by just putting your head down and doing the work, and quieting that voice in your head telling you you’re not good enough. You just have to do what needs to be done.”

He has advice for students considering law school.

“Follow your interests,” Brady said. “See where they take you. Don’t always have a set plan. Just coming to school, especially at a place like Tech will broaden your horizons. Once you find something you are passionate about, don’t be afraid to pursue it.”

While the process of applying to and going through law school is not easy, it is worth it, Brady said.

“The law school application process can be daunting but don’t let other people and the gravity of the task ahead of you keep you from pursuing it,” Brady said. “You never know where you will end up. If you don’t try to go for something that you are interested in, then you might miss out on a lot.”

Students with an interest in law at Montana Tech can contact Samm Cox at scox@mtech.edu for advising.