Swinomish Indian Tribal Community

Tribal Prosecutor

Nature of Practice: The Tribal Prosecutor represents the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community in Tribal Court in criminal prosecutions, Wellness Court hearings, exclusion proceedings and civil code violations. The Prosecutor reports to and is supervised by the Director of the Office of Tribal Attorney. The Prosecutor also drafts ordinances and may provide advice and recommendations to the Police Department and other departments of the Tribe, as well as the Swinomish Indian Senate and its Committees, on legal policy issues. The work involves a creative, holistic, and interdisciplinary approach developed in conjunction with other Tribal departments to achieve restorative justice. The Prosecutor is supported by a legal assistant in the Office of Tribal Attorney. The Office of Prosecuting Attorney is paperless– all files are maintained electronically.

Minimum Qualifications: Candidate must have graduated from an accredited law school; be licensed to practice in Washington State or have the ability to become licensed through reciprocity, or be eligible for and register for the next scheduled Washington Bar Exam; have excellent written, oral, research and analytical skills; have sufficient experience to independently run a prosecutor’s office; have strong interpersonal communication skills; have negotiation and litigation experience; have an ability and desire to thrive in a dynamic, interdisciplinary and cross-cultural work environment; have experience engaging in creative problem-solving and a dedication to problem-solving approaches; have a commitment to restorative justice; be willing to work in a team setting, including with defense counsel; and view the prosecutorial role as a minister of justice rather than simply an advocate. Experience in a therapeutic court and/or tribal court preferred. Strong preference for an attorney with experience in criminal and Indian law, a demonstrated commitment to working with Native or other minority communities, and/or experience as a supervisor. Willingness and ability to independently work in a paperless office strongly preferred. Native American hiring preference will be in effect during the selection of candidates.

Location: Tribal offices are located in the Swinomish Village on the beautiful Swinomish Indian Reservation at the southeastern end of Fidalgo Island in rural Skagit County, Washington, across the Swinomish Channel from La Conner, W A. The Tribal offices are located 90 minutes north of Seattle, and 90 minutes south of Vancouver, Canada.

Salary: Negotiable depending upon experience. The position is full-time. Compensation includes medical, dental & vision, 401 (k) retirement plan, and other fringe benefits.

Application: The Tribe would like to hire an attorney for this position as soon as possible, with initial review of applications on September 13, 2016. Please submit the following: Swinomish employment application (available at http://www.swinomish-nsn.gov or via email), cover letter expressing the reasons for interest in the position and salary requirements; current resume, writing sample and the names of at least three professional references to:

Elizabeth Miller, Paralegal
Swinomish Indian Tribal Community
11404 Moorage Way
La Conner, Washington 98257
Tel: (360) 466-7369
Fax: (360) 466-5309
E-mail: emiller@swinomish.nsn.us