Missoula Lawyers Appeal for Cans to Quash ‘Cats

It's an award dwarfed only by The Great Divide trophy.

But for Missoula lawyers, it's the sign of dominance over their competitors, and a chance to show a law degree is the path to prominence and compassion.

This week, leading law firms in the Garden City are jumping into their own "sidebar" competition for the annual "Can the 'Cats" food drive, with as more behind-the-scenes scheming than on any fictitious courtroom drama like "Law & Order."

Since this is only the second year of the "brief" battle, we can make no predictions about how it will turn out.

Last year, one firm ran away from the others

Because any strategy was a good strategy for the first year of the competition, winning was about both caring for the hungry, and surprise as Ryan and Miller took home the massive trophy by using cash donations to advantage.

Ryan & Miller: 40 lbs, $525  = 565 Total
Judnich Law: 543 lbs = 543 Total
Holloway & Hulling: 39 lbs $382 = 421 Total
The Advocates: 154 lbs = 154 Total
Maldonado Law: 5 lbs, $25 = 30 Total

This year it's about "restitution reputation"

"We don't want to give it up," Angie Miller laughingly told me this week when referring to the traveling trophy.

But she says the competition is actually about caring, not hardware.

"It's a good way to help support our community, but also kind of push each other in the legal world. And make sure that we're doing our best to help support support the community."

Miller says the attorneys see the need every day, working with clients in tough circumstances.

"And especially in today's economy," Miller observes. "Food is extremely expensive for families. We deal with a lot of people who are in their worst situation and we see how bad life can really knock someone down. And then having food and equality can be very difficult. On top of that, we're very passionate about making sure that we're helping our neighbors, making sure everyone has access to the food that they need."

Miller and others who attended law school at U.M. actually had food drives as part of their college life, so they're keeping up a tradition. And all the totals help the broader "Can the 'Cats" food drive.

Watch for food boxes and more information on the firms' various social media feeds and websites and help them help others.

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