Tanna Campbell (BS Business Information Technology-Marketing/Management, 2021) says she came to Montana Technological University from Big Timber to play college golf with her sister Taryn, then a senior, and one course changed her career path forever.
“I took computer science for one semester and then realized it wasn’t for me,” Campbell said. “I changed my major to business informatics with a marketing option and I really enjoyed it. Montana Tech’s business department was very welcoming and I really enjoyed my time there.”
Campbell earned her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Montana-Alexander Blewett III School of Law in May 2024.
“Montana Tech is the reason I decided to go to law school. While I was taking Critical Thinking with Rita Spear at Montana Tech, we did a mock trial where Rita brought in lawyers and judges to help us prepare,” Campbell said. “I decided then that this was what I wanted to do as a career and started talking to Rita and John Garic about the steps I needed to take to go to law school and become a lawyer. They helped me get everything I needed for law school and I couldn’t be more grateful.”
Campbell lives in Idaho Falls, Idaho, and is studying for the bar exam in the summer of 2024.
“After graduating, I took the LSAT and went straight into law school at the University of Montana in the fall of 2021,” Campbell said. “During my first summer of law school, I interned at Racine Olson, a law firm in Pocatello, Idaho. During my second summer, I interned at Hopkins Roden, a law firm in Idaho Falls. After three years of law school, I am studying to take the bar exam in July 2024 and work for Nelson Hall Perry Tucker, a law firm in Idaho Falls.”
For Campbell, the bar exam is the biggest challenge so far.
“I haven’t overcome it yet,” Campbell said. “I hope that if I put a lot of time into studying, I can do it on the first try. The most important thing to keep in mind with challenges is that everyone fails, but that doesn’t have to stop you from trying again. There will always be a new challenge, and I think the most important thing is to have the motivation and confidence to know that you will get there.”
She advises prospective students.
“Anyone who wants to go to law school should think about it. Your age and experience don’t matter, there are so many different types of people who go to law school,” Campbell said. “Whether you’re a traditional or non-traditional student, or whether you have family members who are lawyers or not, it doesn’t matter. Everyone starts from the same place and anyone who is willing to put in the time and energy can be a great law student and lawyer.”
