2024 Pechanga Band of Indians Estate Planning Clinic

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Over fall break, eight dedicated law students from the Indian Legal Clinic’s Estate Planning section, led by Professor Helen Burtis (’07), traveled to Temecula Valley, California, to serve members of the Pechanga Band of Indians. Jessica Banks, Gabe Dowell, Shandiin Herrera, Imani Hicks, Matthew McGraw, Cristella Medrano, Sam Phillips and Ian Roche worked directly with clients, making a meaningful impact through their work.

The Pechanga Band of Indians 2024 Estate Planning Clinic was especially significant for Hicks. A member of the Pechanga Band of Indians, Hicks first encountered the Indian Legal Program’s estate planning clinics as an undergraduate, accompanying her grandmother to one of the program’s earliest clinics with the Band. Reflecting on the experience, Hicks shared, “The Estate Planning Clinic was truly a full circle moment for me. I’m grateful I had the opportunity to provide this experience to my community through the Indian Legal Program’s Estate Planning Clinic and to serve my home community. It reaffirmed my choice to go to ASU Law to serve Native communities within Arizona and throughout Indian Country.”

McGraw captured the collective sentiment of the group, “The estate planning clinic was an invaluable experience. We gained practical skills in one-on-one client advising, expanded our knowledge of federal Indian law and decedent’s estates, and enjoyed the exceptional hospitality of the Pechanga Band of Indians.”

The estate planning clinics have become a cherished experience for many students, often inspiring them to return for additional opportunities. Phillips, a returning participant, shared, “This was my second Estate Planning Clinic and they have become work that is very important to me, especially helping elders as a way to give back to the communities that continually support us in the Indian Legal Program.”

During their time in Temecula, the students met with 14 clients to discuss estate plans and assist in drafting and executing wills and health care powers of attorney. Thanks to their efforts, these clients now have peace of mind knowing their wishes are safeguarded in legal documents.

“I genuinely felt like I made a difference,” said Banks, summing up the profound impact of their work.

 

Job opportunity: Reservation Attorney

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Tulalip Tribes
Tulalip, Washington, 

Description

The Reservation Attorney shall work with other Attorneys in the Office of Reservation Attorney to represent and provide legal counsel to the Tulalip Tribes government in all judicial and administrative forums and in the Tribes’ governmental and business relations with outside entities.  The Reservation Attorney should also be prepared to provide day-to-day legal counsel on all aspects of tribal governmental action.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES

  • Providing legal services to the Board of Directors, Tribal government, Executive Directors, CEO’s, and various other departments, enterprises, commissions and committees.
  • Must be able to practice in the areas of, HR/employment, Tribal Employment Rights Ordinance, Housing, Education, and other duties as assigned, including representation in Tribal Court and Administrative Hearings.
  • Maintain the ability to read, analyze, and interpret the most complex documents.
  • To respond effectively to the most sensitive inquires or issues in a confidential, professional manner.
  • Write memos, correspondence and articles using original or innovative techniques or style.
  • Make effective and persuasive speeches and presentations on controversial or complex topics to Tribal Leadership, management, public groups, and/or other governmental agencies.
  • Regular and satisfactory attendance and punctuality.
  • Other related job duties as assigned.

Salary is based on the number of years from passing the bar from any state but must become a member of the Washington State Bar Association and the Tulalip Tribal Court Bar within 6 months of hiring.

See full job description.

Submit an application via the Washington State Bar Association website (even if someone you are not licensed in WA), or send a cover letter, copy of law school transcripts, and resume by email to Carson Cooper, Managing Attorney, at  carson.cooper@tulaliptribes-nsn.gov

Job opportunity: Indian Law Fellowship

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INDIAN LAW FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
BERKEY WILLIAMS LLP

2025-2026
Berkey Williams Indian Law Fellowship

Berkey Williams LLP seeks applicants for its one-year Indian Law Fellowship beginning September 2025. Our Fellowship program encourages recent law graduates to work in the field of Indian law and provides Fellows with opportunities to pursue a wide variety of projects in Indian Country. The Fellowship contributes to the development of the Indian law leaders of the future, whatever their career paths in the field might be.

About Berkey Williams
Berkey Williams is an intentionally small Indian law firm providing comprehensive legal services to tribal Nations and tribal organizations across the United States. The firm prides itself on many decades of collective experience championing tribal interests to protect and promote our clients’ legal, political, cultural, and economic rights. We maintain offices in Davis, California; Oakland, California; Washington, D.C.; and Syracuse, New York. We are a private law firm with a public interest focus, practicing primarily in natural and cultural resource protection, water and land rights, tribal sovereignty, self-governance, employment, health care and Indian child welfare. Additional information is available on our website: www.berkeywilliams.com.

About the Fellowship
The Fellowship offers a competitive salary, benefits, training, and the opportunity to work with experienced attorneys in a firm serving Indian Nations and organizations exclusively. The Fellow will be located in Davis and, over the course of the year, will work with each of the Firm’s partners in as many of our practice areas as possible. Fellows have contact with clients and typically engage in legal research and writing, historical research, litigation, and legislative advocacy, depending on client needs and the Fellow’s interests.

Qualifications and Selection Criteria
Applications are encouraged from recent law school graduates with a demonstrated commitment to Indian law. We give preference to candidates with personal or professional experience with Indian communities. We seek Fellows who bring a variety of experiences to the firm’s clients. High academic achievements are considered and weighed with other equally significant factors: personal accomplishments and experience, resourcefulness, creativity, commitment to promoting Indian sovereignty, and capacity to work conscientiously and independently. Membership in the California Bar, or willingness to obtain California Bar membership, is preferred.

Applying for the Fellowship
Interested law school graduates and 3rd year law school students should send a cover letter, resume and writing sample to Gloria Coronado, Administrative/ICWA Assistant, at gcoronado@berkeywilliams.com. No phone calls please. Deadline to apply has been extended to November 22, 2024.

Job opportunity: Staff Attorney

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New Mexico Legal Aid (NMLA) provides civil legal services to low income New Mexicans for a variety of legal issues including domestic violence/family law, consumer protection, housing, and benefits. NMLA has locations throughout the state including Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Las Cruces, Gallup, Roswell, Silver City, Clovis, Hobbs, Las Vegas, Taos, and Santa Ana Pueblo.

For this position, the staff attorney will handle issue for eligible clients such as:

  • Eviction prevention
  • Eviction diversion
  • Habitability
  • Reasonable accommodations
  • Subsidized housing
  • Low Income housing Tax Credit
  • Other housing related work

The work will include:

  • Advising clients.
  • Helping them prepare paperwork.
  • Representing clients in court and in administrative proceedings.
  • Conducting community education and outreach to eligible clients and community organizations as necessary.

This attorney position is based in the NMLA Las office.

NMLA offers a very collaborative environment and support for less experienced attorneys. NMLA handles a wide range of creative, challenging and complex work. We are looking for highly motivated candidates who are passionate about and strongly committed to helping NMLA better serve our client communities.

Requirements:

  • Experience as a licensed attorney preferred, but exceptional entry-level candidates will be considered.
  • Admission to practice in New Mexico required.
  • Must be able to effectively use computer technology and remote communications systems, including shared on-line workspaces, web meetings and videoconferencing. software, to effectively collaborate and co-counsel with staff located in multiple offices.
  • Familiarity with Office365 is a plus.
  • Have excellent written and oral communication skills.
  • Ability to manage multiple tasks and manage a caseload.
  • Able to build collaborative relationships with the staff in multiple offices and the community.

NMLA employees enjoy:

  • Being unionized
  • A great work environment
  • Great benefits including generous leave
  • Hybrid remote work schedule (3 days in office – 2 home office) available
  • Competitive salary

Applicants will be subject to a background check. Please do not let this deter you from applying. NMLA is committed to a strong workforce and recognizes that persons with marks on their record may still be able to perform admirably.

The position is part of a collective bargaining agreement negotiated by the union. Pay is determined by years of experience and set by a union scale outlined in the CBA (click here to view the salary scale). NMLA provides comprehensive benefits, holiday and leave packages. For information about NMLA’s generous benefits, and what it is like to work at NMLA click here.

Applicants must submit a current resume and a cover letter in order to be considered. Your cover letter should include the ways in which you satisfy the skills and qualifications specified above and explain your interest in this position and the mission of NMLA. Your application will not be considered unless we receive both of these documents. To apply click here. As an alternative, you can email the applicant packet to jobs@nmlegalaid.org.

Salary: DOE, NMLA is an EEO Employer. Application Deadline: 11/15/2024

Job opportunity: CTFC Fellowship

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California Tribal Families Coalition (CTFC) is honored to offer the San Manuel Tribal Advocacy Fellowship – a new post-graduation position for law students who have lived experience in tribal communities and a demonstrated interest in federal Indian/tribal law or child welfare. The Fellowship is a one-year position and will provide a competitive salary, student loan forgiveness as needed, and mentoring and training in Indian law, specifically in Indian child welfare work. Applicants must be planning to take the summer California Bar Exam and commit to the one-year position beginning in or around August.

The CTFC team focuses on high impact work, community driven needs identification with a focus on high needs stakeholders. We are looking for engaged and driven individuals that thrive in a collaborative environment, seek mentorship and learning and enjoy creative problem-solving.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

The fellowship will commence approximately 1-2 weeks upon completion of the California State Bar Exam. Pending Bar Exam results, fellows are supervised and trained by a Senior Staff Attorney and work on a variety of projects related to the mission of the organization. Projects may include: research and writing about legislative efforts to improve Indian Child Welfare (ICWA) practice-related statutes (including topics related to education law, delinquency law, and child welfare); research and analysis related to CTFC lawsuits against state and federal agencies; assisting attorneys in preparing motions and pleadings for court; and preparing and presenting training materials on issues related to child welfare and litigation. Fellows will also receive hands-on mentorship from Senior Attorneys and complete approximately 7 weeks of California Dependency Attorney Training for Tribal Attorneys.

Upon passing the California Bar Exam, Fellows will become a licensed and practicing attorney for CTFC and will continue working under the supervision of a Senior Staff attorney. Duties will continue to include various projects as outlined above, but will also expand to case-specific work, including representing Tribes in child welfare dependency matters, appearing in Court, negotiating favorable outcomes for clients, and legally advising Tribal Social Service Agencies.

Compensation & Benefits:

The CTFC Fellowship is a one-year, full-time paid position. Work setting will be remote. Preferred start date is 1-2 weeks after completing the California Bar Exam in Summer of 2025, with some flexibility. 

  • Salary range including benefits: $68,000-$90,700 commensurate on experience, more details on benefits available upon request but generally includes health, dental, and vision insurance and access to a retirement savings plan.
  • Up to $10,000 available in student loan reimbursement
  • Up to $2,500 for bar preparation support between May-July 2025

CTFC is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. Graduating Native Law Students are strongly encouraged to apply.

How to apply:

Applications will be accepted at fellowship@caltribalfamilies.org until 11:59 PM Pacific on Nov. 15, 2024. Graduates of the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Law, where the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians has supported Indian law instruction, will receive priority consideration. To apply, please send the following materials by the deadline:

  • Resumé
  • Cover Letter – the letter should address experience or education relevant to the position that is not reflected in the resumé, especially if there is a unique area of focus within the CTFC mission the applicant is interested in.
  • 2 Letters of Recommendation
  • Law School Transcripts
  • Writing Sample
  • Short answers to the following prompts:
  1. Please describe your interest and experience related to tribal communities.
  2. Please describe your interest and experience related to child welfare.

California Tribal Families Coalition staff will schedule virtual interviews with qualified applicants shortly after the close of applications. The Fellowship is a remote position with some travel required. If you have any questions, please reach out to CTFC Senior Staff Attorney, Jhette Diamond, at fellowship@caltribalfamilies.org. 

 

Student attorneys sworn into Tribal Court

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On August 30, Professor Patty Ferguson-Bohnee, Law Fellow Jordan Garcia (’23) and the Indian Legal Clinic students Garrett Bryan (3L), Shandiin Herrera (3L), Imani Hicks (3L), Morgan Oakes (3L) and Sadie Red Eagle (3L) traveled to the Gila River Indian Community Courthouse in Sacaton, Arizona. While at the court, the ILC student attorneys and Garcia were sworn in to the Gila River Indian Community Court by Chief Judge Anthony Hill (’06). Judge Charles Aragon led an informative tour during which the students met other judges and staff.

ILC student attorneys work with the Gila River Prosecutor’s Office on traffic trials. In this capacity, Bryan represented the Gila River Indian Community in prosecuting a civil traffic trial on Oct.1.

“Being able to practice in a courtroom as a law student is always a great privilege and worthwhile experience,” said Bryan. “This is especially true when practicing in Tribal Court, where that legal experience intersects with Indian country as a Sovereign Nation. While I don’t want to diminish what it means to gain experience in any other court, I especially appreciate being able to gain this experience in a Tribal Court.”

Bryan previously worked for the Gila River Indian Community Court as an intern and returned as a student attorney. “It was awesome to be able to practice in the Court in a very different role. While I may not have won my trial, it was a great learning experience. I had the opportunity to handle a traffic citation under the guidance of Clinic staff and the Gila River Prosecutor’s Office. This included pre-trial preparation and conducting the trial myself, for a great, well-rounded experience.”

“One of the reasons I chose to go to ASU Law was the ability to practice law in Tribal communities,” said Hicks. “I’m incredibly grateful that the Clinic provides opportunities for law students to appear in Tribal courts and represent clients. Before joining the Clinic, I spent most of my time in law school studying federal or state courts. However, this semester, I learned more about Tribal courts in Arizona and how Tribes provide equitable and efficient legal forums for their members.”

Before visiting the courthouse, the student attorneys met with members of the Gila River Prosecutor’s Office. Students conversed with the new Chief Prosecutor Lynn Arouh, Carleton Giff and prosecutors Ammon Orr (’16) and Dustin Rector (’21). ILC student attorneys prosecute civil traffic trials with the Gila River Prosecutor’s Office.

We extend our appreciation to the Gila River Indian Community Court for their continued support.

Job opportunity: Executive Director

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The National Indian Education Association (NIEA) Board of Directors is launching a nationwide search for the next NIEA Executive Director to lead the dynamic, compassionate, and committed NIEA staff as we continue to work toward a thriving future for our Native students.

The National Indian Education Association (NIEA) was founded in 1969, in Minneapolis, MN, by Native educators who were eager to find solutions to improve the education systems for Native students. NIEA adheres to the organization’s founding principles: 1) to bring Native educators together to explore ways to improve schools and the schooling of Native students; 2) to promote the maintenance and continued development of Native languages and cultures; and 3) to develop and implement strategies for influencing local, state, and federal policy and policymakers.

Reporting to a Board of Directors, the Executive Director (ED) provides overall strategic and operational direction for NIEA. The ED ensures the mission of the NIEA and the NIEA Board of Directors is carried out effectively and efficiently.

The position will remain open until filled.

Application Requirements

  1. Cover Letter/Letter of Application
  2. CV or Resume
  3. Three (3) Reference Letters, with at least one related to work/experience in a culturally-relevant area

Salary/Compensation

  • Salary Range: $170,000-$180,000

Benefits: Health Insurance, Dental, Vision, Short-term and Long-term Disability, and Life Insurance

See full job description.

Job opportunity: Instructional Faculty

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Tenure Track Faculty – Native American Studies (Federal Indian/Tribal Law/Policy, Tribal Governance, and/or Sovereignty)

Work type: Instructional Faculty – Tenured/Tenure-Track
Location: Sacramento
Categories: Unit 3 – CFA – California Faculty Association, Faculty – Social Sciences, Tenured/Tenure-Track, Full Time

COLLEGE: College of Social Sciences and Interdisciplinary Studies

DEPARTMENT: Ethnic Studies

POSITION TITLE: Native American Studies (Federal Indian/Tribal Law/Policy, Tribal Governance, and/or Sovereignty)

For full job posting, go to: https://careers.csus.edu/en-us/job/540805/tenure-track-faculty-native-american-studies-federal-indiantribal-lawpolicy-tribal-governance-andor-sovereignty