UM Alum Finds her Passion with Military Service
University of Montana alum Carolyn Mattingly didn’t spend as much time in Missoula as most students, but the short time she did spend on campus had an outsized impact. She transferred to UM for her senior year, and it didn’t take long to adjust to being a Grizzly.
“I really enjoyed my time there,” said Mattingly. “I got to know the other students and faculty in a short period of time.”
Mattingly studied political science and Spanish and after completing her undergraduate studies, she considered pursuing a master's in political science and public policy. However, her concerns about the math portion of the entrance exam led Mattingly to explore other options. With support and encouragement from her father, she decided to study for the LSAT.
She pushed through a bout of pneumonia on exam day and gained admission to Arizona Summit Law School. Mattingly immediately felt that she had made the right choice in pursuing a career in law. Post-graduation, she returned to Montana to take jobs as a local prosecutor first in Havre, and then in Cascade County.
After a few years, she began to feel restless.
“I didn’t feel like my skillset was totally used,” she explained. “You’re in a very small area in the law and you specialize in just criminal law. The legal field is just so much bigger than that.
Mattingly's life took a new turn when her husband joined the Marine Corps. Inspired by her grandfather’s service, she had always carried her own interest in military service and joined the Montana Army National Guard in 2018.
It was exactly the career pivot she had been hoping for.
“Once I started doing legal work for the military, I enjoyed it so much more than prosecution and I knew that was where I wanted to go with my career,” she said.
As a Judge Advocate in the Guard, her legal work within the military involved estate planning for military families, military personnel law and providing legal advice to commanders in domestic operations and emergency response, such as firefighting. Mattingly also had to stay combat-ready with annual training.
“The Guard is a really incredible opportunity to not only serve your country but also serve your state” she said.
Mattingly took on a new role when she began active duty with the National Guard Bureau as a Special Victims' Counsel for National Guard Service Members and spouses who were victims of sexual assault or domestic violence. In that role, she assisted victims of sexual assault and domestic violence by providing legal assistance and advocacy to clients through military investigations, administrative hearings, and court-martials.
Upon completing active duty, Mattingly accepted a civilian position at Malmstrom Air Force Base, near Great Falls. The opportunity allows her to stay involved with the Montana Guard while utilizing her past experience and getting to work across various aspects of the law, from property and environmental law to fiscal law.
“You certainly don’t get bored in a legal office for the military,” she said.
Mattingly is looking forward to thriving in her newest adventure and encourages anyone looking for an engaging and impactful law career to consider following her path.
“Don’t dismiss those opportunities because your family was never in the military or you don’t think you’re hard-core enough,” she said. “You have an amazing support network and get to practice in a variety of areas.”