Jessica M. Wiles
Jessica M. Wiles graduated from Lewis and Clark Law School, with a certificate in Environmental and Natural Resources Law, in 2010. She began her legal career as an associate attorney at Hobbs, Straus, Dean, and Walker, LLP, in Portland, Oregon, where she advised tribes and tribal organizations on a variety of legal matters including tribal self-governance contracting and compacting and tribal housing.
Ms. Wiles next worked as an Attorney-Advisor for the Department of Interior, Office of the Solicitor, in Billings, Montana. At the Solicitor’s Office, Ms. Wiles advised the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and other client agencies on topics including, but not limited to, grazing, oil and gas, mineral title and trespass, torts, administrative law, and water law. She also represented BLM in litigation before relevant administrative boards, including the Interior Board of Land Appeals.
Upon moving to Helena, Montana, Ms. Wiles worked as a Special Assistant Attorney General for the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) providing legal advice and representation to the DNRC Trust Land Management Division, working on a wide variety of issues including natural gas royalties, wind and solar contracting, public access, and state land leasing.
Ms. Wiles proudly hails from Lander, Wyoming. In her spare time she enjoys getting outside to adventure with her husband and two small children.
Ms. Wiles is proud to be a former 2019 Montana Legal Services, Rural Incubator Project for Lawyers (RIPL) Fellow. RIPL is designed to support practices that increase access to justice in rural and underserved communities in Montana.
EDUCATION
Juris Doctorate, Cum Laude, Lewis and Clark Law School, Environmental and Natural Resources Law Certificate (2010).
Bachelor of Science, Recreation Resource Management, University of Montana, College of Forestry and Conservation (2001).
ADMISSIONS
Montana State Bar
Montana First Judicial District Bar
Oregon State Bar (currently inactive)
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation Tribal Court
Wind River Tribal Court
EMPLOYMENT
Special Assistant Attorney General, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (2016-2018)
Attorney-Advisor, Department of the Interior, Office of the Solicitor (2013-2016)
Associate, Hobbs, Straus, Dean & Walker, LLP (2010-2013)
Summer Associate, Sonosky, Chambers, Sachse, Enderson & Perry, LLP (2009)