Lucy France

Lucy France serves as General Counsel for the University of Montana, part of the Montana University System under the governance of the Montana Board of Regents ^[1]. She is primarily responsible for the legal affairs of the university, including all of its colleges, schools, units, and affiliate campuses, handling the wide array of complex legal matters that face a large public research university. Her practice is centered on higher education law. France also oversees the University Compliance Office, the ADA/504 Coordinator, University Policies, and the Public Records function ^[1].

France joined the University of Montana in 2008 and previously served as the university's Equal Opportunity Director ^[1]. Before joining the university, she spent 13 years at the Missoula law firm Garlington, Lohn & Robinson, where she was elevated to partner. Immediately after law school, she served as a law clerk to the Honorable James F. Battin of the United States District Court for the District of Montana ^[1].

France is an adjunct instructor at the University of Montana's Alexander Blewett III School of Law ^[1]. She earned her B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley, and her J.D., with honors, from the University of Montana School of Law ^[1]. She has received the J.B. Speer Award for Distinguished Administrative Service at the University of Montana ^[1].

France is active in national higher education legal organizations. She served on the Board of Directors of the National Association of College and University Attorneys from 2017 to 2020 and currently serves as Secretary of the NACUA Board of Directors ^[2]. She also serves on the Executive Committee of the Council on Legal Affairs of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities.

Recognition

• Board of Directors — National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA) (2025) ^[2]
• J.B. Speer Award for Distinguished Administrative Service — University of Montana ^[1]