Attorneys and Staff

Abby's primary work experience is in sales and retail. During her time as a student she volunteered for the Crow Allottees Association, a Montana non-profit corporation. The opportunity to contribute her time to an important cause regarding the land rights of Indigenous people was gratifying and very enlightening. Her desire to serve others became greater due to that experience as a volunteer, so she is grateful to be a apart of an organization like MLSA that is devoted to helping others. Abby joined our team in 2022 and received her education from Little Big Horn College. She enjoys hiking, yoga, and any activity that helps keep her balanced spiritually, mentally, physically, and emotionally.

Alexandra House joined MLSA as a Domestic Violence Attorney in 2020. She received her J.D. from Tulane University School of Law where she also received a certificate in International and Comparative Law. While at Tulane, Alexandra worked with the Criminal Justice Clinic where she advocated for clients at various stages of the justice system. She also interned with the Innocence Project, the Bozeman Office of the Public Defender, and Hogan Lovells in Paris. She received her undergraduate degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. In her free time she enjoys riding ATV's or cross-country skiing, depending on the season.

Amy Hall is MLSA's supervising attorney for the housing practice group. She also has experience representing domestic violence survivors. She received her J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law. Before coming to MLSA, Ms. Hall worked at Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Inc., primarily in housing and farmworker law. Ms. Hall was recognized by the Montana Justice Foundation as one of its 2014 Champions of Justice, awarded for her extraordinary efforts on behalf of equal justice.

Annie Yerkich has worked in the legal profession for 10+ years. She was a legal assistant to Mark A. Vucurovich, Attorney at Law for the past 8 years, where they held the contract for all the DN- youth in need of care cases representing CFS. Prior to this role, she worked for Daniel Sweeney, Attorney at law for 5 years working on family and civil law matters. She loves working in the legal field and helping people. She has a Bachelor's degree from Montana State University in Studio Art and Design, with a minor in printmaking.

Anzhela graduated from Petro Mohyla Black Sea National University in Mykolaiv, Ukraine with a Bachelor's in International Relations in June 2023. She received a second Bachelor's degree at Carroll College, also in International Relations in December 2024. She started working when she was 18 as a recruiter for medical personnel, and then later moved into the IT field. After coming to the US, she later joined WorldMontana as an intern, where she still helps as a volunteer to this day.

Autumn joined MLSA in March 2026 as a Community Justice Worker. Before coming to MLSA, Autumn most recently worked as a PACT Team Care Coordinator at Bridgemont Health and Wellness and a Crisis Response Unit Care Coordinator at Rimrock Foundation, where they coordinated crisis response services with fire departments, EMTs, and mobile crisis units. They are currently pursuing their Bachelor's of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Law from Post University. They love to read, spend time with family, travel and doing advocacy and outreach LGBTQ community.

Beth Hayes received her J.D. from the University of Montana School of Law in 2009. Ms. Hayes has previously worked with the Foreclosure Assistance Program, as a Triage Staff Attorney, and as an Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps Fellow at MLSA. She also currently serves as the Vice President of the Western Montana Bar Association, and plays trumpet in the Missoula City Band and Missoula Community Concert Band.

William joined MLSA in October 2023 as our Agricultural Worker & Housing Attorney. Bill received a B.A. in Art and Speech from Wabash College in Indiana and his J.D. from Willamette University in Oregon. He has spent the last 12 years in private practice focused on complex litigation. Bill loves spending time with his family, hiking, traveling and using his forge to do amateur blacksmithing.

Brittany received an Associate of Arts from the Helena College of Technology and has over 5 years experience as an Administrative Specialist. Brittany's professional experience includes coordination of services for clients, Intake processes and general administrative duties. She loves traveling and spending time with family.

Cecilia Yager joined MLSA in 2020. She earned her Business/Accounting associates degree from Helena College of Technology in 2014. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and her 2 chiweenies, Frank and May.

Daniel Webster joined MLSA in 2022 after receiving his J.D. and certificate in American Indian Law from University of Montana School of Law. Daniel was a Margery Hunter Brown Indian Law Clinic student. Daniel also has a B.A. in Psychology from University of Montana. During law school, from 2020-2021, Daniel served as a Housing Justice intern with MLSA and he worked at MLSA as a Consumer Law Intern. Prior to going to law school, Daniel worked as a case manager for adults with disabling mental illnesses. Additionally, he worked 7 seasons at the U.S. Forest Service in Libby and Kalispell on the timber crew, occasionally working on wildfires. Daniel loves playing and watching basketball and he enjoys spending time with friends and his dog, Beau, in Montana's beautiful outdoors, preferably near water.

Ed Higgins received his J.D. from the University of Montana School of Law in 2000. After earning his law degree, he served as Judicial Staff Attorney to the Honorable John W. Larson. Mr. Higgins has been with MLSA since 2001 and has previously served as a Managing Attorney and Staff Attorney. Mr. Higgins serves as a member of the Board of Directors at the Community Dispute Resolution Center of Missoula. Additionally, he is the Vice Chair of the Western Montana Bar Association Pro Bono Committee, a member of the Missoula County Foster Care Review Board, and a member of the Montana Supreme Court Access to Justice Commission's Committee on Self Represented Litigants. Mr. Higgins also sits on an advisory committee for the Missoula Housing Authority’s Housing Self Sufficiency programs. In 2016, Mr. Higgins received the George L. Bousliman Professionalism Award from the Montana State Bar. The Bousliman award recognizes lawyers who have established a reputation for professionalism and have demonstrated extraordinary professionalism by contributing time and resources to public service, public education, charitable or pro bono activities, and encouraging respect for the law and our legal system by making the legal system more accessible and responsive.

Ellie joined MLSA in 2020 as the Crime Victim Navigator and has served as MLSA's Pro Bono Coordinator since 2021. In addition, Ellie is a Board Member for the Helena Area Community Foundation, and mentor with the Girls Leadership Program through the Red Ants Pants Foundation.

Elise joined MLSA in 2025. Before law school, Elise worked as a climbing instructor, ski instructor, and a brewer at two kombucha breweries. During law school, she interned at a Missoula plaintiff's civil litigation firm, the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education in Helena, an insurance defense firm, and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation in their transactional clinic. Elise graduated from Wake Forest University with honors with a degree in English and a minor in Economics and went on to graduate from the University of Montana School of Law in 2024. As a student, Elise served as a staff writer for the Montana Law Review and as President of the law school's LGBTQ+ advocacy group. In her free time you'll find Elise splitting her hobbies between indoor hobbies of reading and crocheting and outdoor hobbies of camping, skiing, and biking.

Emma O’Neil joined MLSA in 2015. She graduated from Lewis & Clark College in Portland, OR with a B.A. in History and has previously worked at the Lewis and Clark Library. A Helena native, Emma enjoys spending time outdoors and traveling.

Ericka is a recent graduate of the University of Montana's Alexander Blewett III School of Law, where she focused on Tribal and India Law. Her legal education began with the Pre-Law Summer Institute (PLSI) in Albuquerque, NM--a program dedicated to preparing Native American students for the rigors of law school. She participated in UM's nationally recognized Indian Law Program in which she attended the summer Indian Law courses and earned the Indian Law Certificate. Her practical experience includes a summer internship and clinic placement with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Defenders Office in Pablo, MT. During law school, Ericka proudly served as both Vice President and President of the Montana Chapter of the Native American Law Students Association (NALSA). For her leadership and advocacy, she was honored with the Deans Community Building Award for her work with NALSA and the Emmett C. Angland Memorial Award for the dedication and commitment to the needs of low-income people. Ericka enjoys spending time with her daughter and family, doing beadwork, sewing, and other crafts.

Frances moved from Chicago to Montana to do a season of trail work in the Bitterroot-Selway Wilderness in 2022. She later worked as a case manager for the Rapid Re-Housing Program at the YWCA of Missoula before joining MLSA in early 2024. Other experience includes two stints of political and environmental research in Missoula and DC, an internship at a nurse's union in New York during the height of COVID, and field organizing in Iowa, Utah, and Wyoming in 2020. Frances has a Graduate Certificate in Labor Studies from the City University of New York and a BA in Philosophy from the University of Vermont. She loves to swim in cold water and watch reality TV.

Gabi graduated from Houghton College in upstate New York in 2019, with Bachelors degrees in English and Intercultural Studies and a minor in Philosophy of Religion. A love of hiking and wild places pulled them west to Montana, where they spent 5 years working in the seasonal hospitality industry in Babb and Big Sky. The time they spent in the care of certain elders while employed on the Blackfeet Nation reservation had an indelible impact on their personal and professional growth. Gabi is thrilled to begin a new chapter at MLSA, and looks forward to giving back to the Montana communities she now calls home.

Gina Zobenica first joined MLSA in 2017 as a Justice for Montanans AmeriCorps member. After completing two AmeriCorps terms, Gina rejoined MLSA in 2020 as an Intake Specialist and in 2023 she shifted into a legal assistant role for our Montana Health Justice and Medical Legal partnerships. Gina has a BA in History with a Minor from the University of Montana and received her JD from the University of Montana School of Law in 2016. In her free time, Gina enjoys DIY projects, painting, and walks around town.

Hannah worked at St. Peter's Health as an administrative assistant before joining MLSA. She was enjoying being a stay at home mom before she thought it was time to find a job where she could be a positive role model for her daughter and show her what it means to work somewhere helping people and making a difference. Hannah graduated Carroll College in 2022 with a BA in Environmental Science and enjoys hiking, fishing and exploring all over Montana.

Harley Ternes is the Community Justice Worker DV Team Lead after running the JFM AmeriCorps program for four years. Harley joined MLSA in March 2020 and received a Bachelors of Arts in Political Science from Western Washington University in 2014. She is a JFM AmeriCorps alumni and returned to MLSA after spending four years in program management at rural and urban domestic violence and sexual assault victim advocacy organizations in Washington state. In her spare time Harley enjoys knitting, sewing and camping.

Hayden joined MLSA in 2024 following a twenty year career in the hospitality industry starting as a barista/baker and ending as a chef/proprietor. In addition to raising a herd of dairy goats, Hayden spent the last five years working as an advocate for victim/survivors of interpersonal violence and a violence prevention educator. As the proud caretaker of two tireless dogs she spends her free time doing a lot of hiking regardless of the weather.

Heather Olson joined MLSA in 2020. Before joining MLSA, they spent two summers providing free estate planning services to tribal communities during law school; their first summer they spent with the Blackfeet Nation in Montana and the second summer they spent with the Nez Perce Tribe in Idaho. They were also a legal intern for the University of Idaho's Immigration Law Clinic where they helped provide free immigration assistance to low income individuals. They received their undergraduate degree from Montana State University in Anthropology and Sociology and received their JD from the University of Idaho College of Law with an emphasis in Native American Law. Heather is admitted in the Chippewa Cree, Blackfeet, Confederation of Salish and Kootenai Tribes, Fort Peck, Northern Cheyenne, and Fort Belknap Tribal Courts.

Henry received his J.D. from the University of Montana Law School in 2022. He previously was a Law Clerk for Judge Sidney Thomas in Billings, MT. and was an attorney within the Office of the General Counsel in the United States Department of Agriculture in Missoula. He loves to be outside in the mountains and in his veggie garden.

Before joining MLSA, Hilary was Executive Director of the Abbie Shelter, a domestic and sexual violence nonprofit in Flathead County for 10 years. Before Abbie Shelter, she worked in outdoor education in San Diego County, and supporting folks with developmental disabilities in northern New Mexico. Hilary is currently serving on the board of directors for a number of organizations, including the Montana Nonprofit Association, Housing Whitefish, and Glacier Jewish Community. Hilary is an enthusiastic skier, loves to jog (or do anything) in the woods, teaches a dance fitness class (called Oula), and chases her two daughters around. Most of all, she loves to talk to Montanans about how they want to support the important work of MLSA.

Jacob joined MLSA in 2023. Jacob graduated with an Associate of Arts degree from MSU Northern in 2020 and is currently completing a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management at Regent University. In 2016, Jacob was elected to the Montana House of Representatives, where he served for four years. In 2019, he started working for Big Sky 55+, a social welfare organization that advocates for the interests of older Montanans. In his free time, Jacob loves to spend time outside. His favorite activities include skiing, backpacking, fishing, and hunting. Jacob also enjoys watching baseball and is a St. Louis Cardinals fan.

Jain received her J.D. from the University of Montana School of Law in 2011. Prior to joining MLSA in 2019, Jain operated her own family law practice in Missoula. Jain embraces the opportunity her position grants her to travel all over that great state of Montana. In her free time Jain enjoys music, fishing, travel, and DIY hands-on projects.

Jamie earned his J.D. from the University of Montana in 1996. He served as a Law Clerk for Justice William E. Hunt of the Montana Supreme Court from 1996-1997. After working as an Associate at Thueson and Lamb, Partner at Lamb and Carey, Shareholder at Church Harris Johnson and Williams, Jamie was in private practice for plaintiffs in personal injury and general civil litigation since 2022. He is currently a member and past board member ( and President) of the Montana Trial Lawyers Association. He loves to fish, is a licensed guide; hunt (waterfowl, upland birds, big game), and play hockey.

Jami initially joined MLSA in 2021 assisting pro bono. She has since worked on numerous MLSA projects and initiatives including disaster assistance, medical legal partnerships, communications, and youth and agricultural worker outreach. She spent the last year in New Mexico and is back at MLSA assisting with project management.

Jill joined the Billings office as a Staff Attorney with the Medical Legal Partnership in January 2024 having previously served with our AmeriCorps Justice for Montanans Project from 2019-2021. Jill graduated from the Washington University in St. Louis School of Law in 2000 and joined the Florida Bar that year. She maintains her license to practice in Florida and Montana. Jill has worked in a variety of legal fields ranging from foreign affairs legislative aide to a U.S. Senator, to legal liaison with an American Bar Association project in Uzbekistan, to county assistant public defender. She also holds a PhD in Political Science (comparative and judicial politics) from Louisiana State University where she taught international law.

Jodi joined MLSA in May 2023 as our Montana Eviction Intervention Program Compliance Specialist. She graduated from North Dakota State University with a BS Sociology. Jodi is a top-performing compliance specialist and advocacy management professional offering 20 plus years of leadership experience with a proven ability to plan, market, and execute events and projects; identify problems and develop solutions; develop, and manage budgets; utilize traditional, and digital marketing for community outreach; and inspire action. Jodi enjoys sports, gardening, and has a fantastic record collection. She has a pit bull-boxer cross, named Blue and a cat named Charlie Chaplin.

Katie joined MLSA in March 2026 as a Domestic Violence Legal Assistant in Billings. Before coming to MLSA, Katie has worked in a wide range of fields, gaining experience in nearly every area of human activity as possible: a teacher, a small business owner, a flight attendant for a major airline, an administrative assistant, and more. Katie currently holds a B.A. in Italian Studies from UC San Diego. Katie loves to cook, hang out with their goofy animals, garden, hike, and watch horror movies. They also play ukulele and likes to sing when they play.

Krista Partridge joined MLSA in 2012. She graduated from the University of Montana with a B.A. in Political Science. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and gardening.

Lukas joined MLSA in 2023. As an undergraduate, Lukas worked at a political tracking company and for the university as a writer. Since 2021, he has worked as a legal assistant and paralegal in New York and Helena, primarily with civil defense. Lukas received his Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Northeastern University in 2021 and he loves to fly fish in the summer and ski in the winter during the non-working hours.

Madiera joined MLSA team in 2024 after working as a technical consultant in gender-based violence prevention and response within HIV programs at the United States Agency for International Development. Her work at USAID focused on strategic communications, especially within outreach, advocacy, training, and campaign development for global health programs that helped advance gender equality and eliminate gender-based violence. She holds a BA in Religion and Culture, BA in Communication from Virginia Tech and Master's of Science in Development Studies from London School of Economics and Political Science. Madiera is an avid 'crafter' who loves to cross-stitch, knit and read. In her spare time she loves to cook, get outside, and spend time with family.

Maria joined MLSA early 2025 and before that she worked in the customer service industry - everything from airline agent, art gallery sales, ESL teacher, and a self-employed artist. Recently, Maria worked as a Outreach Worker/Crisis Counselor and Disaster Case Manager for Montana's historic Presidential declared flood of 2022 and this is the work she will continue here at MLSA. Along with a CELTA Certification (an ESL accredited teaching program), Maria also has a BSW (Bachelor of Social Work) from Western New England University in Massachusetts. She is an avid hiker, fly-fisher, and cross-country skier who thoroughly enjoys exploring Montana's prairies and back country. Maria loves reading historical fiction books and creating small works of art in her studio. Travel is also a passion, both domestic and international.

Melissa Magnuson first joined MLSA in 2016 as a Crime Victim Navigator. She then worked at the Friendship Center in Helena doing case management and advocacy with domestic violence survivors. Melissa now serves as MLSA's Grants Manager. She received her BA in Criminal Justice from Metropolitan State University in St Paul, MN in 2011. She is a Minnesota native and in her free time, Melissa enjoys camping with my family, hiking, and spending time outdoors exploring the beautiful state of Montana.

Miranda joined MLSA in 2026. Before working at MLSA, Miranda taught climbing and helped with research data analysis and logging at Carroll College, where she graduated with a BA in Political Science. She enjoys rock climbing, trail running, peak bagging and anything to do outside.

Monique is the Supervising Attorney of MLSA's statewide Domestic Violence Practice Group. She joined the Billings office in June 2020 after having previously worked in the area of insurance defense and bad faith litigation at a private firm for a little over twelve years. Monique graduated from the University of Montana School of Law in 2007 and joined the Montana Bar that year. She later took the Wyoming Bar and maintains her license to practice in both Montana and Wyoming. Monique has previously served as a Trustee for the Montana Bar Association and focuses her present work in the area of domestic violence. Monique is also admitted in Northern Cheyenne Tribal Court.

Paige joined the MLSA team in January of 2025. She previously served with Justice for Montanans as an AmeriCorps Member in 2020-2021. She also served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Dominican Republic focusing on Spanish literacy with primary school children. Paige holds a degree from UCLA in Human Biology & Society with a minor in Spanish, as well as a Master of Arts in Bioethics & Science Policy from Duke University. In her free time, she enjoys skiing, running, reading, and spending time with friends and family.

Before joining MLSA in 2026, Patrick served as the Deputy State Public Defender with the Office of the Colorado State Public Defender from 2024-2026. He also served as a Justice For Montanans AmeriCorps Member with MLSA from 2020-2021. Patrick received his J.D. from the Chicago-Kent College of Law in 2024. He enjoys hiking, trail running, and fly fishing.

Rhonda Crouse joined MLSA as an Administrative Assistant in May of 2022. Originally from Canada, Rhonda brings decades of experience to our team. She enjoys golf, crocheting, baking, cooking, and has a black belt in Taekwondo.

Rob was a Justice for Montanans AmeriCorps Member before attending law school at the University of Montana. As a student he volunteered with the MLSA Housing Justice project. As an attorney he worked for several years at a private firm primarily practicing Social Security Disability law, but he also volunteered with MLSA's Montana Eviction Intervention Project and Family Law Clinics. Rob received his bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse and he loves trail running, downhill skiing, and is learning how to cross country ski.

Rylee joined MLSA in 2021 as an Administrative Assistant and she moved into the Pro Bono Assistant role mid-2022. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with Minor in Public Health from University of Montana and she is currently working on a Masters in Public Administration. Rylee enjoys hiking, camping, exploring with her husband, Casey, and dog, Theo, during the summers and traveling to warmer climates during the winter.

In the past, Sarah has worked for a national technical assistance organization, providing communications and administrative support for gender-based violence work. She is a place-based writer, an editor for two environmental publications, and author of the essay collection Aligning the Glacier's Ghost. She also was a wilderness ranger for the US Forest Service in the Rattlesnake, Welcome Creek, and Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness areas in Montana. They love hiking, camping, backpacking, reading, writing, and crocheting.

Sinéad joined MLSA as the Veterans Affairs Intake Navigator after serving one term as a Justice for Montanans AmeriCorps member at the front desk of MLSA's Missoula office. She graduated from Wellesley College in 2024 with a B.A. in Political Science. Outside of work, she loves to travel as much as possible, read, take and teach dance classes, and tend to her garden.

Shay joined MLSA in 2024 and before that has a diverse set of career skills and experience in years of social work and case management, loss prevention, and retail management. She has a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from Kaplan University. Shay is actively involved in her community and a great deal of her time outside of work is spent volunteering. Shay is passionate about working with LGBTQIA teens and also with our unhoused community members. Shay started Wander Woman; a grass roots outreach to feed and clothe those in need in Billings. Shay is excited to be working with MLSA and helping even more people in need in our community. She enjoys spending time in nature, and being home with her family and dogs.

Prior to receiving her J.D. in Arizona, Tabitha received a Bachelors in Human Services with a Associates Degree in Chemical Dependency Rehabilitation from Montana State University-Billings. Tabitha became a licensed attorney in Arizona in 2014. She spent a majority of her career in public service at the Legal Defender's Office in Arizona working in criminal defense and at the juvenile court representing parents. Tabitha also spent time as a guardian ad litem, criminal defense attorney, and represented parents in juvenile proceedings in the Salt River Tribal Community Court. She also advised clients at Community Legal Services in family law and housing issues prior to moving back to Montana. She is admitted in the Salt River Tribal Community Court and the Gila River Tribal Community Court. Tabitha loves any travel adventure she can sign up for both in the United States and outside of the country, especially if live music is included. She has also published five children's books with her brother specifically related to developing more of an understanding of autism spectrum disorder and alternative communication. She also enjoys spending time with her family outdoors and any time in nature.

Valerie Falls Down joined MLSA in July 2021 as a Tribal Advocacy Coordinator for the Tribal Advocacy Incubator Project. Valerie has been appointed to the Montana Supreme Court – Access to Justice Commission to develop, coordinate and implement initiatives to expand access to and enhance the quality of justice in civil legal matters. Valerie currently holds a license to practice in the Crow Tribal Court. Her prior work experience includes fifteen years working within the Crow Tribal community in different capacities as an Addiction Counselor, Youth Empowerment Coordinator and Domestic Violence Director and Victim Advocate. She has also worked for the Little Big Horn College serving as an Adjunct Instructor in the areas of Legal, Ethical, Professional Issues in Counseling and Multi-Cultural Counseling. Valerie has experience as a five year Board Member for difference organizations including the Native Women’s Society of the Great Plains, Native Woman’s Coalition, Montana Missing Indigenous Persons Task Force and the Montana Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team. Through her work and board member experience she has assisted in the areas of strategic planning, policy development, program management, forming and linking collaborative networks as well as strengthening and fostering community partnerships.

Wednesday received her J.D. from the University of Toledo, College of Law in 2000. After earning her law degree, she spent five years in private practice assisting clients in the areas of guardianship, probate, mental health hearings, criminal defense and ERISA fringe benefits. Ms. Szollosi then served for thirteen years as an Assistant Attorney General in the Ohio Attorney General’s Office bringing civil enforcement cases on behalf of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. She has represented clients before administrative bodies, state and federal courts. Since 2021, Ms. Szollosi has served as a staff attorney with MLSA in the practice areas of disaster, housing and family law. She holds licenses to practice in Ohio and Montana. Contributions to pro bono and legal services is a valued part of her work.