Author Archives: Indian Legal Program

Job Opportunity: Attorney

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Yavapai-Apache Nation

The Attorney position represents the Yavapai-Apache Nation on a wide range of legal issues including drafting of codes and policies, negotiation and review of contracts and other agreements, advising the Tribal Council and its departments and entities, and representing the Nation before the Tribal Courts of the Nation and other tribal, federal, and state courts and administrative tribunals under the direction of the Attorney General.

See full job description.

How to apply:  Please submit your resume and application to:
Yavapai-Apache Nation / Human Resources
2400 W. Datsi / Camp Verde, AZ  86322
P:  928-567-1062 / Fax:  928-567-1064
Or email to shall@yan-tribe.org or ppierce@yan-tribe.org
Applications can be located at: www.yavapai-apache.org

Job Opportunity: Mid-Level Associate

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Sacks Tierney

For over 60 years, Sacks Tierney has distinguished itself through cause-related volunteerism and legal involvement in local and national issues; offering litigation services and experience competitive with much larger firms; and pioneering expertise in legal areas of special value to Arizona clients. For more information about Sacks Tierney, visit www.sackstierney.com.

Sacks Tierney is currently seeking a mid-level associate with 2-4 years of experience to join our Indian Law practice. Applicants must have excellent research, analytical, and writing skills. In addition, the successful candidate must have strong academic credentials, and must be licensed to practice in Arizona. Qualified applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, law school transcript and a writing sample to Laura Nance by email at laura.nance@sackstierney.com.

Job Opportunity: Associate Attorney

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Rothstein Donatelli LLP

The Tempe, Arizona office of Rothstein Donatelli, LLP is seeking an associate attorney for its Indian law practice. Rothstein Donatelli has offices in Santa Fe and Albuquerque, New Mexico, as well as in Tempe, Arizona where we specialize in federal Indian law, including gaming, economic development, Indian Child Welfare Act, Indian health law, labor and employment law, civil litigation, and transactional matters. Rothstein Donatelli is committed to advancing the sovereign rights of Native American tribes. More information about the Firm is available at www.rothsteinlaw.com.

Rothstein Donatelli is interested in an attorney with two or more years of experience with a demonstrated commitment to the highest quality of legal practice. The ideal candidate will have excellent research and writing skills and experience working with tribal communities. Familiarity with Indian law is preferred. Interested candidates should send a cover letter, resume, references, and writing sample to Firm Administrator Manya Snyder at info@rothsteinlaw.com. The position will remain open until filled.

Job Opportunity: Associate Attorneys

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National Majority-Indian Owned Law Firm Seeking Associate Attorneys
Rosette, LLP is a leading majority-Indian owned national law firm who’s dynamic approach and practice area diversity is unparalleled for our size firm. We specialize in federal law and it’s application to tribes, tribal business, complex litigation, government negotiations, financial transitions, tribal housing, land use and planning, Human Resources management, tribal energy development, and representation related to internal tribal governance matters. We are currently seeking ambitious and motivated Associate Attorneys to handle legal matters for tribal governments and tribal businesses across the United States with offices in Arizona, California, Michigan, Oklahoma, and Washington D.C.  Applicants must have a minimum of three years of experience. 

Nate Hendricks
CEO
nhendricks@rosettelaw.com
602-686-6654
565 W. Chandler Blvd. Suite 212 Chandler, AZ 85225

Apply via Email: nhendricks@rosettelaw.com

Job Opportunity: Staff Attorney + Fellowship

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Alaska Native Justice Center

Our mission is justice for Alaska Native People. We provide legal services to victims and survivors of crime. We also support and partner with Alaska Tribes to build capacity, implement cultural values and remedies, and access resources for Tribal Justice Systems. Finally, we represent Alaska Tribes in State Child of Need Aid cases where the Indian Child Welfare Act (“ICWA”) applies. The Staff Attorney manages a caseload of matters related to the above. A successful applicant will have a background in communicating and interacting effectively in cross-cultural situations, and a commitment to race equity work. Travel to both rural and urban areas may be required.

Staff Attorney | Anchorage, Alaska

Qualifications
Admission to the Alaska bar is required. Preferred experience includes family law and working with victims and survivors of domestic violence. Additional preferred experience includes Indian Child Welfare Act; Child in Need of Aid; Alaska Native Law and ANCSA.
Hiring preference given to qualified Alaska Native/American Indian applicants pursuant to P.L. 93-638 Indian Self-Determination Act.

Applying for the position
Visit ANJC website for the full job description and to apply. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Fellowship | Anchorage, Alaska

About the Fellowship
The Fellowship offers a competitive salary, training, and the opportunity to work with experienced attorneys in an organization serving Alaska Tribes, tribal organizations and Native people. The Fellow will be located in Anchorage and, over the course of the fellowship, will work with attorneys in as many of our practice areas as possible. Fellows will engage in legal research and writing, litigation, communication with our clients, and administrative advocacy, among other kinds of work.

Qualifications and Selection Criteria
Applications are encouraged from recent law school graduates with a demonstrated commitment to Native law. Applicants must be eligible and qualified Alaska Native/American Indian as defined in P.L. 93-638 Indian Self-Determination Act. Preference is given to candidates who demonstrate personal or professional experience with Native communities. We seek Fellows who bring a variety of experiences to our clients and partners. Academic achievements are considered along with other factors: personal accomplishments and experience, resourcefulness, professional goals, and the capacity to work conscientiously and independently. Membership in the Alaska Bar, or willingness to obtain Alaska or other state bar membership, is preferred.


Applying for the Fellowship
Interested law school graduates and 3rd year law school students should apply here.

Native Vote Restoration

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Big win for the Pascua Yaqui Tribe

The Campaign Legal Center, Osborn Maledon and the Indian Legal Clinic represented the Pascua Yaqui Tribe in a lawsuit to restore the early voting location before the 2020 election. The Pascua Yaqui Tribe recently reached a settlement with Pima County to restore an in-person early voting location on the Pascua Yaqui Reservation. 

The right to vote for Native Americans in Arizona was only secured in 1948, and despite this right on paper, barriers to voting continue to persist and prevent Native American communities from fully participating. One such barrier was the closing of the early voting location on the Pascua Yaqui Tribe’s reservation in 2018 by then Pima County Recorder F. Ann Rodriguez. The Pascua Yaqui Tribe has been fighting to restore the site since it was originally closed in 2018 and have used every available tool to have the site restored. 

Now, the Pascua Yaqui Tribe’s efforts are finally coming to fruition with this settlement agreement, which will restore the in-person early voting location on the reservation and provide voters living on the reservation an opportunity to vote in-person early, safely, and in their community just as other Arizonans have voted across Pima County for the past four years. The settlement agreement also provides for cooperation on voter registration and outreach.  

Student attorneys Aspen Miller (’21), Jens Camp (’21) worked with Professor Ferguson-Bohnee and Native Vote Fellow Torey Dolan (’19) prepare for the preliminary injunction hearing last fall. We have been proud to stand alongside the Campaign Legal Center and Osborn Maledon in representing the Pascua Yaqui Tribe in their fight to protect their right to vote and are glad that the current Pima County Recorder Gabriella Cázares-Kelly recognizes the importance of this site and has worked with the Pascua Yaqui Tribe to reach this agreement.

Job Opportunities: Big Fire Law & Policy Group LLP

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Big Fire Law & Policy Group LLP is seeking candidates with 5-10 years’ experience possessing a strong background in gaming, regulatory compliance, employment law, transactional law, and general corporate law. This position is a new, unique, and cutting-edge opportunity to work closely with a client on large scale, state-run gaming projects. Big Fire Law & Policy Group LLP is a prominent law firm providing legal representation and advocacy in a broad range of disciplines, with an emphasis in tribal law and federal Indian law and economic development, serving tribal nations, tribal business enterprises, and tribal organizations throughout the United States.

Gaming and Compliance Attorney

Litigation Attorney

Associate Attorney – Tribal Government and Housing

ILP serving on the NABA-AZ Board

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The Native American Bar Association of Arizona (NABA-AZ) recently announced its 2021-2022 board of directors. Congratulations to this year’s ILP leadership: ILP Executive Director Kate Rosier, president; Meredith Gaylord (’19), president-elect; Bartley Harris (’08), treasurer; and Professor Pilar Thomas, secretary. Other ASU ILP board members include Jason Croxton (’10), ILP Faculty Director Patty Ferguson-Bohnee, Simon Goldenberg (’17), Verrin Kewenvoyouma (’04) and Kevin Pooley (’15). 

We appreciate ILP representation on the board!

____

Danielle Williams
Program Coordinator Sr, Indian Legal Program, ASU Law

Indian Gaming and Tribal Self-Governance Programs Welcome Expert Faculty Associates

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Two new faculty associates bring hands-on expertise to the Indian Gaming and Tribal Self-Governance Master of Legal Studies (MLS) Programs, part of the Indian Legal Program at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University. Jay Spaan, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, teaches Tribal Self-Governance I, and Michael Hoenig teaches Indian Gaming II.

Jay Spaan on Tribal Self-Governance
“Tribal self-governance is always evolving and its implementation is unique for each Tribal Nation,” said Spaan. “We will discuss and learn about the authorizing legislation and regulations, as well as caselaw that provide the framework for self-governance authority, and we will focus on how tribal nations have implemented the authority to best serve their citizens and communities. We also learn about the creative thinking and perseverance of tribal leaders that made self-governance a reality and how that continues to shape the future of self-governance.”

Spaan offered important advice for ASU Law students: “Take initiative, push boundaries and think beyond the confines of the current system. Tribal self-governance was an initiative of tribal leaders who were frustrated with the federal-tribal relationship and wanted to see real improvements in the lives of their citizens and communities. Don’t be scared to think beyond the boundaries of existing legislative frameworks. Anything is possible.”

Spaan is the executive director of the Self-Governance Communication & Education Tribal Consortium. He has more than a decade of experience in program evaluation, primarily as a senior analyst in the U.S. Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) Natural Resource and Environment team. Spaan actively sought opportunities to increase American Indian and Alaska Native representation within GAO and brought in numerous speakers to educate its employees on federal trust responsibility, tribal sovereignty and building effective working relationships with Tribal Nations. Spaan earned a master’s of jurisprudence in Indian Law from the University of Tulsa and a master’s of public affairs from the University of Texas at Dallas.

Michael Hoenig on Indian Gaming
“Indian gaming has had a profoundly positive impact across Indian country,” said Hoenig. “It has created needed jobs and provided funding for vital programs and services. It is also one of the most heavily regulated activities, with tribes, states, and various federal agencies all playing a part. It needs people who understand not only how casino operations work, but also all those legal and regulatory requirements. I decided to teach this course so I could share my knowledge and hopefully ensure that there will continue to be people to fill those important roles.”

The Indian Gaming II course will provide an in-depth understanding of the legal and regulatory requirements of Indian gaming pursuant to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) regulations and other laws that touch on Indian gaming. “As you study Indian gaming,” Hoenig advised students, “keep in mind IGRA’s purpose that tribes must be the primary beneficiaries of their gaming.”

Hoenig is the general counsel at the NIGC, an independent federal regulatory agency. He provides legal oversight, guidance and assistance to the commission in carrying out its responsibilities under the IGRA. He joined the NIGC as a staff attorney in 2006, became associate general counsel in 2014 and general counsel in 2015. Prior to joining the NIGC, Hoenig served as counsel to Chickasaw Nation Ambassador Charles Blackwell and as counsel to Native Affairs Development Group. Hoenig received his law degree from the Creighton University School of Law and a master of laws in American Indian and Indigenous Law from the University of Tulsa, where he graduated with highest honors.

We are thrilled to welcome Professors Spaan and Hoenig to ASU Law.

“The success of the Indian Gaming and Tribal Self-Governance programs could not be possible without the high-quality learning opportunities offered to its students,” said Derrick Beetso (’10), recently named director of the Indian Gaming and Tribal Self-Governance programs. “Professor Spaan and Professor Hoenig bring a wealth of practical experience and subject matter expertise to the programs, and we are delighted that our students are now able to gain insights and lessons from both. We are confident these teachings will serve our students well in their future careers.”

Staff Attorney – Northern Arapaho Tribe

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The position of Staff Attorney shall be responsible for representing the interests of the Northern Arapaho Tribe (“Tribe”), defending the Tribe’s integrity, assisting and advising all Tribal entities in their pursuit of progress on behalf of Tribal members, protecting all Tribal assets, and managing and providing legal services and representation to the Tribe, including, but not limited to, the Northern Arapaho Business Council, the Tribal Government, and all Tribal Entities.
Specific Responsibilities The Staff Attorney shall perform such legal services as delegated by the In-House Counsel, including, but not limited to, the following: • Work at the direction of the In-house Counsel on legal matters impacting the Tribe, its Tribal Government, and Tribal Entities; • Complete legal research for the In-house Counsel on legal issues effecting the Tribe; • Prepare and recommend appropriate tribal laws, resolutions, rules and regulations for the In-House Counsel; • Perform legal reviews of contracts, agreements, leases, grant applications and similar documents; • Research and monitor federal and state legislation that could impact any of the Tribe’s interests and recommend appropriate legal or legislative action; • Coordinate with Tribal Government employees to evaluate and make recommendations to the In-house Counsel regarding ways to improve the programs and services provided to tribal members, the internal environment of Tribal Government and Tribal Entities for employees, and any other means of advancing the best interests of the Tribe; • Draft advisory opinions on legal questions interpreting Tribal law upon request of the Inhouse Counsel. • Work directly with Tribal Programs on policy, procedures, legal issues, and represent the Programs in State and Tribal Court. NORTHERN ARAPAHO TRIBE LEGAL DEPARTMENT Qualifications To perform the job successfully, the candidate should have, at least, the following qualifications: • Juris Doctor Degree • 2021, law school graduates with exceptional Indian law backgrounds and credentials are encouraged to apply. • A member in good standing of the Wyoming State Bar or a member in good standing of another State Bar Association and must successfully pass one of the three next regularly scheduled examinations for admission to the Wyoming State Bar, or be eligible to waive into the Wyoming State Bar • At least five (5) years of experience as a practicing attorney preferred • At least two (2) years of experience working with (a) a tribe, tribal entity, or organization dedicated to tribal interests or (b) a federal or state government agency with oversight or responsibility for tribal issues preferred Additional Required Skills • Ability to maintain appropriate confidentiality; • Exceptional legal research skills; • Ability to work in a high-performance, fast-paced, high-pressure environment; • Exceptional interpersonal and communication (verbal and written) skills; • Adept at multi-tasking, have unquestionable integrity, with an uncompromising commitment to quality; • Organized with unfailing attention to detail and outstanding project management skills; • High level of comfort/ease interacting with all levels in the Tribe; • Ability to translate complex legal issues and requirements into understandable terms for easy dissemination across the organization; • Ability to work odd and irregular hours, as needed; • Must be people-oriented and relate well to people from diverse backgrounds; • Must successfully pass the required criminal and character background check, • Ability to travel and participate in required training, leadership development and other events; and • Ability to adequately and successfully perform all duties and responsibilities of this position. Application Information: Applicants must submit a resume, cover letter, a complete application form, and certificates of good standing for all jurisdictions in which they are licensed to practice to In-House Counsel, L. Clare Johnson by September 15, 2021. Only complete applications will be considered. Please contact L. Clare Johnson at clare.johnson@northernarapaho.com with any questions