he University of Montana School of Law is still without a permanent dean after a search committee failed to find a new replacement last semester.

Now, the school is run by a long-time administrator and faculty member. Paul Kirgis, the former dean who resigned, is still teaching classes.

In October 2021, Kirgis resigned after he and another administrator were accused of mishandling Title IX complaints. Three interim deans — law professors Monte Mills, Sara Rinfret and Cathay Y. N. Smith — ran the school while a search began. That search failed to find a permanent dean. The school recently closed applications for a second search. A new interim dean took over the head job after the previous interim deans left or went on sabbatical.