OPD Contract Attorney

The Montana Office of State Public Defender (OPD) has issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) numbered OPD-RFP/RFQ-2019-0018 to establish a pool of contract attorneys who will provide legal representation in criminal and civil matters throughout the state. Qualified attorneys must submit a comprehensive application package including a fillable PDF form, current resume, an appellate brief writing sample, proof of professional liability insurance, and their most recent Continuing Legal Education (CLE) transcript. Attorneys must have an active or recently expired Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with OPD and must successfully address six specific required questions as part of their qualification documentation. The solicitation was opened on September 20, 2018, with an unusually long closing date of September 20, 2099, indicating an ongoing recruitment process for building a robust legal representation network. The commodity code for this procurement is Professional Services - Legal Services, and interested attorneys can contact Emily Copeland at Emily.Copeland@mt.gov or +1 406-523-5169 for additional information.

The RFQ does not specify explicit set-aside designations or restrictions on responding organizations beyond the professional qualifications for attorneys. There are no detailed mentions of incumbent vendors, specific budget ranges, or contract award values in the provided documentation. The solicitation appears designed to create a flexible, ongoing pool of contract attorneys who can be appointed to represent clients across various legal matters in Montana. While no specific funding sources or contract amounts are outlined, the procurement suggests a comprehensive approach to maintaining a diverse and qualified legal representation network for the state's public defense needs. The lack of precise financial details indicates that individual contract assignments and compensation will likely be determined on a case-by-case basis, depending on the specific legal representation requirements and the attorney's qualifications.