Clay R. Leland
Attorney • Office of the Montana Secretary of State, Christi Jacobsen
Clay Leland is an attorney for the Montana Secretary of State, Christi Jacobsen, and is licensed to practice law in Federal and State courts. Clay previously worked as a Deputy County Attorney handling civil litigation in Ravalli County, Montana. He has served in legal positions at The White House in the Office of White House Counsel for President Donald Trump and at the United States Senate for U.S. Senator Ron Johnson on the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Clay graduated cum laude from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. He went on to earn his Juris Doctor from the University of Idaho College of Law, where he was a two-year member of the National Moot Court Team. Clay competed and received awards in Moot Court Competitions in Boise (University of Idaho), Las Vegas (UNLV - Hon. Lloyd D. George Regional Competition), and New York City (St. John’s University - Duberstein National Competition).
Clay was awarded Best Brief and Best Overall Advocate Runner-Up in the McNichols Moot Court Competition. He was also recognized for Outstanding Achievement at the 26th Annual Duberstein Bankruptcy National Moot Court Competition, which is widely seen as one of the Nation’s preeminent competitions where competitors argue leading bankruptcy issues that are likely to appear before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Clay served in leadership positions with The Federalist Society (Chapter President), the Trial Lawyers Association (Student Vice President), the American Bar Association (National Law Student Division Liaison), and the American Bankruptcy Institute (Member).
He is admitted to practice law in Montana, the District of Columbia, and in United States Federal Courts, including the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana.
- District of Columbia
- District of Columbia Bar
- Montana
- State Bar of Montana
- United States Federal District Court
- Attorney
- Montana Secretary of State, Christi Jacobsen
- - Current
- Attorney
- Ravalli County Attorney's Office
- -
- Civil Litigation & Civil Counsel for Ravalli County, Montana
- Law Clerk
- United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs
- -
- U.S. Senator Ron Johnson (WI)
- Legal Intern
- Office of White House Counsel, The White House
- -
- White House Counsel Pat Cipollone
- Legal Intern
- Eastern Washington University, Investigations & Athletics Departments
- -
- University of Idaho College of Law
- J.D. (2019) | Law
- Honors: Dean's List (Many Semesters); National Moot Court Team
- Activities: 26th and 27th Annual Duberstein Bankruptcy National Moot Court Competitions at St. John's University; Hon. Lloyd D. George West Regional Moot Court Competition at UNLV; McNichols Moot Court Competition at University of Idaho; Idaho Trial Lawyers Association - Student Vice President; The Federalist Society - Chapter President; American Bar Association - National Law Student Division Liaison; American Bankruptcy Institute - Member
- Gonzaga University
- B.B.A. (2016) | Business & Economics
- Honors: Cum Laude; President's & Dean's List (Many Semesters); Christopher M. West Memorial Award
- Activities: Gonzaga Student Body Association - Senator and Finance Committee Member
- Outstanding Achievement: 26th (& 27th) Annual Duberstein Bankruptcy Moot Court Competition in New York City
- American Bankruptcy Institute
- "The Duberstein Bankruptcy Moot Court Competition is widely recognized as one of the nation’s preeminent moot court competitions. The competition promotes and recognizes the finest oral and written advocacy on significant issues in bankruptcy practice. More than 50 law school teams participate, making this the largest single-site appellate moot court competition. The competition is held in honor of Judge Conrad Duberstein, a St. John's School of Law alumnus who ultimately served as Chief Judge."
- Best Brief: McNichols Moot Court Appellate Advocacy Competition
- University of Idaho College of Law
- Best Overall Advocate Runner-Up: McNichols Moot Court Competition
- University of Idaho College of Law
- Top Legal Memorandum: Legal Research & Writing
- University of Idaho College of Law
- Christopher M. West Memorial Award
- Gonzaga University
- Gonzaga University's Christopher M. West Award Scholarship: "The Christopher M. West Memorial Scholarship Committee selection criteria: Demonstration of humanitarianism through membership in honorary service clubs, participation in community service organizations, or unique individual humanitarian interests or deeds."
- United States District Court, District of Montana
- Current
- District of Columbia Court of Appeals
- Current
- Montana State Bar  # 63318988
- Member
- Current
- Attorney Panelist, Montana Medical Legal Panel, State of Montana
- Montana Medical Legal Panel Hearing
- Attorney Presenter, Road Law Litigation, Montana Association of County Road Supervisors (MACRS) 2022 Conference, Great Falls, Montana
- Montana Association of County Road Supervisors
- Attorney Panelist, Montana Road Law, Montana Association of County Road Supervisors (MACRS) Conference, Great Falls, Montana
- Montana Association of Counties