Public Affairs

Director of Public Affairs: Calli J Michaels

Calli Michaels is an attorney at Michaels Law, PLLC in Sheridan, Montana. Her practice focuses on assisting agricultural clients with transactional issues ranging from real estate matters and water law to estate planning and probate. Ms. Michaels received her Juris Doctorate in 2015 from the University of Montana School of Law, where she graduated with high honors. In law school, she was President of the Rural Advocacy League, Executive Editor of the Montana Law Review, and recipient of the Margery Hunter Brown Law Assistantship. She also worked as a summer intern for the Montana Department of Agriculture, which gave her insight into the state government framework. After law school, Ms. Michaels clerked for the Honorable N. Randy Smith of the United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals before transitioning to private practice.

Ms. Michaels grew up working on sheep and cattle ranches in south-central Montana. Prior to law school, she received an undergraduate degree in Range Science and worked as a Natural Resource Specialist for a private consulting company. As a Natural Resource Specialist, Ms. Michaels conducted rangeland vegetation sampling in six western states, documented grazing use on public lands, developed rangeland management plans, and provided litigation support for permittees on federal grazing allotments.

As Director of Public Affairs, Ms. Michaels represents MWGA on issues related to law and policy. Her main duties are lobbying during the legislative session, preparing comments in response to proposed rules and regulations, and advising the MWGA Board on legal matters.