Job Posting – ASSISTANT TRIBAL ATTORNEY – White Mountain Apache Tribe

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POSITION TITLE:                          ASSISTANT TRIBAL ATTORNEY
EMPLOYMENT STATUS:             REGULAR / FULL-TIME
LOCATION OF POSITION:           LEGAL DEPARTMENT
STATEMENT OF JOB:                  Serve as Legal Advisor in all areas of Legal Rights, obligations and privileges, including outside legal counsel.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED:        Tribal Attorney
SUPERVISION EXERCISED:      Supervision of two to four Office Staff

APPLICATION:      This position will remain open until filled. Interested applicants should send a Letter of Application, Resume and References to:

Richard J. Palmer, Tribal Attorney
White Mountain Apache Tribe
Legal Department
P.O. Box 700
Whiteriver, Arizona 85941
(928)338-2537; Fax (928)338-4767

LOCATION:
The 15,000+ member White Mountain Apache Tribe exercises its sovereign powers over approximately 1.65 million acres of tribal trust land on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation in the White Mountains of east-central Arizona.  Elevation of the Tribe’s land ranges from 2,500 feet to 12,000 feet, from Sonoran Desert to high alpine forests, and includes several lakes, miles of streams, a first class ski resort and a casino with a convention center and hotel.

JOB DESCRIPTION:
The Tribe’s Legal Department represents the Tribe in all aspects of tribal government, Federal Tribal relations, Tribal court jurisdiction issues, hunting and fishing rights, water rights, tribal taxations, environmental and natural resource law and policy;  advises the Tribal Council in intergovernmental agreements, drafts ordinances and resolutions, advises tribal agencies such as social services, police department, and Tribal enterprises, e.g., Wildlife and Outdoor Recreation Division, Hondah Casino, Sunrise Ski Area; drafts leases and other commercial documents.

The Assistant Tribal Attorney aids the Tribal Attorney and the Deputy Tribal Attorney in representing the various tribal departments and enterprises in the area: Leasing, Commercial Transactions, Contracts, Gaming, Application of Environmental and Natural Resources Law and other Federal Laws relating to Tribal and Reservation agencies and enterprises, federal-state jurisdiction issues, taxation issues, economic development, environmental and natural resources issues, surety and construction law, forestry, fish and game matters, federal administrative proceedings and drafting ordinances, resolution, contracts, contracts and leases.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Three (3) years of legal work experience;
  • Juris Doctor Degree from an ABA accredited law school;
  • Be a member of the State of Bar of Arizona or eligible to become a member within twelve (12) months;
  • Federal Indian Law; Litigation experience, ICWA, and environmental and natural resource law experience; excellent writing, verbal, and interpersonal skills;
  • Ability to competently  handle wide range of complex transitional and litigation matters;
  • Prior legal experience in areas of Indian housing, Tribal code development, land-into-trust, corporate and commercial transactions, environmental issues, ICWA, employment law, Indian gaming, contracts, taxation, jurisdictional issues, and economic development in Indian Country;
  • Litigation experience and familiarity with court rules and procedures;
  • Skills interpreting case law, codes, ordinances and administrative rules;
  • Ability to manage law office staff and maintain department budget;
  • Strong interpersonal conflict resolution skills;
  • Commitment to the concepts of Tribal sovereignty and Indian self-determination;
  • Perform other duties as assigned.