I sold my old law office last week

The new editor of the Leader, Kristi Niemeyer, called me recently and requested I write a column. The request came with a Jan. 23 deadline so I realized it was more a directive than a request.

That same day, I closed the sale on my old law office across from the courthouse. I’d owned it for 42 years, about as long as I’d known Kristi, so it got my mind wandering back to the days of yore.

We returned to Montana in 1978 after law school in Oregon, and chose Polson because it seemed like a great place to raise kids. I was hired as deputy Lake County attorney. It was considered a part-time position but with a full-time work load. It paid $13,000.

I followed Kent Duckworth, who was always more highly thought of than me, which, I am convinced, was mostly due to his South Carolina accent which grew more syrupy in jury trials and other times of need.

We tried cases in those days. In my year as prosecutor, I had 24 jury trials. Most were against the sole public defender. He had served with General Patton in World War II, and followed Patton’s steamroller approach in trial. Once in trial he said if I objected again, he would slap me. Another time he ‘accidentally’ spilled a pitcher of water on me as I was trying to make a closing statement to the jury. It was good training for a young trial lawyer.

In 1979 I went into private practice and in January 1980 I bought the building at 201 4th Ave. E., with Keith Rennie and John Frederick. John became county attorney in 1982. He is retired and still running half marathons in California in his 80s. Keith went on to earn a master’s in business administration and teach college. He is retired and playing bass in a local band.

There were only two 49er fans here, so Ken Donovan and I had a 49er Club breakfast before each game. The 49ers had drafted a new quarterback named Joe Montana. He went in the third round because many thought his arm was too weak.

Later that year, Ronald Reagan was elected president. At the time, the U.S. had the largest trade surplus and middle class and manufacturing base of any country in the world. The U.S. was the world’s largest creditor nation. All that was about to change.

Just about every town in western Montana had a lumber mill where many of us got our first good jobs and some, like me, could put themselves through college by working nights. And most towns in our valley had newspapers too, where young writers like Kristi could learn their trade.

Having never written a column before, I see I have strayed from the topic, which appears to be my old law office. Many young attorneys got their start there: Brian Smith, Andre Larose, Jim Hanley and Becky Dupuis started there. Also Kathleen O’Rourke Mullins, Ann Moderie, Kathy Coburn, Josh Morigeau and Mike McKeon. For the last nine years, Bob Long was there.

Thousands of clients came through those doors for legal advice, and I like to believe we helped a lot of people.

The building was just purchased by a group of excellent young lawyers, which makes me happy. And yes, Polson turned out a great place to raise kids and six grandkids.

Jim Manley, a self-described “country lawyer,” served from 2013-2022 as 20th District Court Judge, overseeing Lake and Sanders counties. During his long career, he spent one year as a deputy county attorney before entering private practice, and also worked as city attorney for the communities of St. Ignatius and Hot Springs.