As Western states grapple with water scarcity and competing demands, a graduating law student at the University of Montana will step into a role that sits at the center of it all.
Lori Blumenthal, who graduates May 16 from the Alexander Blewett III School of Law, has been appointed as a water master, a quasi-judicial position responsible for helping adjudicate water rights claims across Montana.
The appointment reflects both Blumenthal’s focus on environmental and natural resources law and a broader trend of UM law graduates securing meaningful, in-demand positions across the region.
“I’m looking forward to developing a deep understanding of water law,” Blumenthal said. “This will serve me into the future as Western water law continues to evolve.”
Blumenthal’s role traces back to the Montana Water Use Act, which established a system for adjudicating pre-1973 water rights. Water masters assist the Montana Water Court by reviewing claims, gathering evidence and making recommendations on how water should be allocated.
“We work basin by basin to review existing water-right claims,” Blumenthal said. “We make sure each right reflects the amount and priority it’s legally entitled to.”
Montana has over 240,000 state-law-based water rights, plus additional tribal and federal reserved water rights. The process Blumenthal is involved with is expected to take years.
“The Water Court isn’t meant to last forever, just until all of the 1973 rights are adjudicated,” she said. “This process is expected to run into the late 2020s, but could take longer.”
Blumenthal described the position as a unique entry point into the legal profession.
“It’s a chance to do important, hands-on legal work,” she said. “I’m excited about actually practicing and getting paid to do the work that I love.”
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