The Indian Legal Program at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University is holding a conference entitled Arizona Indian Water Law 101 CLE Conference on Friday, October 21, 2011. The conference will be a concise survey of the issues in Arizona Indian Water law and will be perfect training for young lawyers, attorneys new to the practice area, tribal council members and students.

Confirmed speakers are John D. Leshy (UC Hastings College of Law), Peter W. Culp (Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLP), Judith M. Dworkin (Sacks Tierney P.A.), Diane Enos (Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community), M. Kathryn Hoover (Navajo Nation DOJ), Diane J. Humetewa (Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLP), Jonathan L. Jantzen (Tohono O’odham Nation, Rodney B. Lewis (Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld), and Ryan A. Smith (Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck).

This conference will be eligible for up to 6.5 of hours of CLE credit in Arizona, New Mexico and California. Early bird rate $175 by 09/23, $200 by 10/18, and $225 Walk-in Rate. For agenda and registration visit: www.law.asu.edu/azindianwaterlaw
or contact Kate Rosier at 480.965.6204

Dear Alumni and Friends – TODAY! Arlinda Locklear will be at the COL. Her talk begins at 2:00pm in the Faculty Center (266)at the College of law at ASU. If you can make it we would love to have you. Ms. Locklear is the first Native woman to argue before the US Supreme Court. She is an amazing attorney and well respected in Indian Country. Refreshments will be served. Hope you can join us!

ILP Alumni, Marlene Rae Jones, is actively involved in putting on a scholarship golf tournament; The Ray Jones Scholarship Fund 2011 Golf Tournament will be held on October 14-16, 2011 at the beautiful Eagle Springs Golf & CC located in Friant, California just north of Fresno. Please follow the links to access the Welcome Letter, Golf Tournament Flyer and Contributor/Entry Form. Please note the entry deadline is October 7, 2011.

The American Indian Law Center is working in collaboration with the University of New Mexico’s Institute of Public Law and Southwest Indian Law Clinic to present the Tribal Court Training Program. The Tribal Court Training Program is a series of sessions specifically for Tribal Court Judges, Tribal Court Prosecutors, and Tribal Court Administrators/Clerks. The Registration form and Save the Date flyer for the Tribal Court Training Program is available at:
http://ailc-inc.org/PDF%20files/TCTraining%20-%20Admin-Clerks.pdf

Arizona Indian Gaming Association

Request for Proposal

Professional Services — Association Attorney

________________________________________

July 2011

Presented by:

Valerie Spicer

Acting Executive Director

Overview



The Arizona Indian Gaming Association (“AIGA” or “Association”) is a 501 (c) 6 non-profit organization with a membership of 18 tribes.

AIGA was established on November 21, 1994 by Arizona tribal leaders. The Association’s mission is to advance the lives of Indian people — economically, socially, and politically — so Indian tribes in Arizona can achieve their goals of tribal sovereignty, self-reliance, and self-determination by supporting tribal gaming enterprises on Arizona Indian lands. Speaking on behalf of its member tribes with one, unified voice; AIGA serves as an information clearinghouse and educational, legislative and public policy resource for tribes, policymakers and the public on Indian gaming issues and tribal community development. The Association is deeply committed to maintaining and protecting Indian sovereign governmental authority.

AIGA is seeking an attorney or firm to represent the Association’s interests. In order to prevent any conflict of interests, the respondent may not currently or during the term of this engagement represent an Arizona tribe for any specific reason. We invite interested law firms and individuals with a minimum of five (5) years of federal Indian and gaming law experience, to include at least the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) and the Arizona Tribal-State Gaming Compacts, to submit a written proposal.

As the AIGA attorney, the selected law firm or individual will be expected to provide a wide range of legal services to the Association. The attorney will be selected by the AIGA Executive Committee and will work closely with the AIGA Executive Director, the Executive Committee and other staff. The AIGA attorney’s primary role is to provide expert legal advice to the AIGA Tribal Leaders, Executive Committee and Executive Director. The selected attorney shall perform the tasks specified in the Request for Proposal (RFP).

Firms and individuals are hereby invited to submit a proposal based upon the requirements and conditions set forth in the RFP.

Mailing Instructions



Arizona Indian Gaming Association

Valerie Spicer

Acting Executive Director, AIGA

2214 N Central Avenue Suite 250

Phoenix, AZ 85004

Inquiries



Questions regarding this RFP should be submitted to Valerie Spicer @ valerie.spicer@azindiangaming.org or by calling 602-307-1992.

Submittal Date

Eight (8) copies are due Valerie Spicer no later than August 8, 2011

Proposals should provide a straightforward and concise presentation adequate to satisfy the requirements of the RFP. Emphasis should be on completeness and clarity of the proposal.

Responsiveness to the RFP will be a principal basis for evaluation. AIGA reserves the right, without qualification, to:

– Select any proposal based on written or oral communication with any or all of the firms or individuals when such action is considered to be in the best interest of AIGA.

– Reject all proposals.

– Exercise discretion and apply its judgment with respect to any proposals submitted.

All proposals will be deemed confidential and will be retained by AIGA.

Proposal Content



Experience and Qualifications



1. Please describe the nature of your law firm’s practice and your qualifications for providing legal services for AIGA. Please provide the professional experience of the individual who will be designated to serve as the primary attorney, as well as for others who you anticipate will be involved in providing legal services to AIGA.

2. Please provide the overall capabilities, qualifications, training and areas of expertise for each of the principals, partners and associates of the law firm, including the length of employment for each person and his/her area of specialization for those involved in the assignment.

3. For the person whom you propose to designate as the primary attorney, and for each person or firm you propose to designate as a deputy, supporting counsel for special services or backup, please provide the following:

a) Legal training and years of practice (including date of admission to the Arizona Bar)

b) Years of Indian law practice (general law and/or gaming law) as a full-time tribal attorney and/or in a private law office specializing in the representation of tribes.

c) Knowledge of, and experience with, federal Indian and tribal gaming law or other gaming sector experience or policy, including gaming compact negotiations and election initiative support.

d) Types of clientele represented and years representing each.

e) Experience in the area of contracts.

f) If the firm/individual, or any of the attorneys employed by the firm, have ever or currently, represent any clients adverse to Indian tribes, tribal casinos, or other tribal interests. If so, please provide the client(s) and matters of representation.

g) Affirmation that the firm/individual, or any of the attorneys employed by the firm, does not currently , and during the term of this engagement will not, represent an Arizona tribe for any reason.

h) If the firm/individual, or any of the attorneys employed by the firm, have ever

been sued by cities or other clients for malpractice, been the subject of complaints filed with the State Bar, or had discipline imposed by the State Bar, please provide information on the nature of the incident, the dates of the matter began and was concluded, and the results of the situation.

Requirements and Compensation



1) Must be a member in good standing of the Arizona Bar. The AIGA attorney will be required to attend AIGA attorney work group meetings and AIGA Tribal Leaders meetings. AIGA prefers that the time needed for these meetings, including travel be included in any retainer fee arrangement proposed. There is at least one (1) of each meeting per month.

2) Related duties will include: rendering of legal advice and opinions concerning legal matters that affect AIGA; such as legal work pertaining to special circumstances including but not limited to federal laws and rules governing Indian gaming, legal analysis and interpretation of the Arizona-Tribal gaming compact and its appendices, election initiative support, and contracting services.

3) The monitoring of pending and current state and federal legislation and court decisions as appropriate. Please define what type of work you would consider to be extra or specialized work which would be billed in addition to basic services.

Evaluation and Selection Process



All proposals must be received by Valerie Spicer by August 8, 2011.

Proposals will be screened, and the top candidates will be selected by Valerie Spicer and the Executive Committee. The top candidates will be subsequently submitted to AIGA Tribal Leaders.

Qualifications for top candidates will be verified and references will be checked by Valerie Spicer.

In reviewing the proposals, AIGA will carefully weigh:



a. Depth and breadth of experience and expertise in the practice of federal and Arizona gaming law, most specifically in those areas most often encountered by the Association.

b. Capability to perform legal services promptly and in a manner that permits the AIGA Board and staff to meet established deadlines and to operate in an effective and efficient manner;

c. Degree of availability for quick response to inquiries that arise out of day- to- day operating questions or problems;

d. Degree to which firm and individual attorneys stay current through continued professional development and active communication with practitioners in the tribal gaming law field;

e. Communication skills;

f. Cost of services; and

g. Other qualifications/criteria as deemed appropriate by the AIGA Executive Committee.

AIGA will conduct interviews of top candidates and make the final selection.

The Executive Committee will negotiate the final contract.

The Executive Committee will formally approve the contract and appoint the next AIGA attorney.

Services to AIGA are anticipated to begin shortly thereafter.

Telecommunications Policy Analyst Consultant, Native Public Media (Telecommuting)



Founded in 2004, Native Public Media’s mission promotes healthy, engaged, independent Native communities by strengthening and expanding Native American media capacity and by empowering a strong, proud Native American voice. Native Public Media is housed at the New America Foundation.

Native Public Media (NPM) is seeking an experienced Policy Analyst that specializes in telecommunications policy. Traveling is required for this position. The ideal candidate will have a good working knowledge of the Federal Communications Commission rulemaking process and knowledge of American Indian Tribes and Alaska Natives. Although this is a telecommuting position, it is expected that the Policy Analyst will reside in Washington, DC in order to participate in various proceedings. This is a contract position.

Responsibilities

– Formulate policies and proposals that will advance the telecommunications interests of American Indian Tribes and Alaska Native Villages.

– Work with NPM Director of Operations and staff to establish research priorities;

– Ensure NPM policy is proactive policy development;

– Create analysis and evaluations using qualitative, quantitative, case studies, survey research, model building and statistical analysis to best define problems, define evaluation criteria, identify solutions and/or alternatives, and best policy agenda, among other objectives.

– Prepare High quality Documentation for publication when needed.

– Assist with grant reports as needed.

– Determine which of various alternative policies will most achieve a given set of goals.

– Disseminate research results through academic publications, written reports, or public presentations.

– Develop and test theories, using information from interviews, newspapers, periodicals, case law, historical papers, polls, and/or statistical sources.

– Maintain current knowledge of government policy decisions.

– Collect, analyze, and interpret data such as election results and public opinion surveys; report on findings, recommendations, and conclusions.

– Interpret and analyze policies, public issues, legislation, and/or the operations of governments, businesses, and organizations.

– Write drafts of legislative proposals, and prepare speeches, correspondence, and policy papers.

– Forecast political, economic, and social trends.

– Utilize academic research and other resource materials;

– Prepare reports and other written information for policymakers, practitioners, researchers, and funders;

– Coordinate the dissemination of information on relevant research projects to tribal leaders, Indian programs, policymakers, federal and state agencies, partner agencies, funders, NPM NPM staff, and other individuals or entities in a timely manner;

– Adhere to NPM core values, guiding principles, and policy regarding ownership of data, respect for tribal Sovereignty and community-driven research and evaluation activities;

– Assist the Director of Operations in keeping the NPM President informed of policy positions and priorities;

– Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications



Ideal candidates will have the following qualifications:

– Advanced educational degree, including J.D., Master’s degree, or other comparable credential (a Ph.D. is preferred, but not required);

– A minimum of three years of experience in working on Indian policy and/or with American Indian/Alaska Native tribal governments or communities;

– Experience in conducting research and writing reports on American Indian policy issues;

– Strong writing, interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills;

– The ability to take direction and work independently, taking initiative within areas of responsibility, as well as providing leadership and direction while working in a team oriented environment;

– The ability to meet with, solicit cooperation of, and deal effectively with people at various levels and sectors, e.g., tribal representatives, funders, program directors, state and federal officials, consultants, etc.

– Experience with and enthusiasm for working in a fast-paced and dynamic environment; and

– The ability to adjust to changing priorities and growing responsibilities.

Application Process

Email a resume including three references, and a writing sample (no more than two pages) to: employment@nativepublicmedia.org

Please state “Telecommunications Policy Analyst Consultant” in the email subject line. The position is open until filled. The New America Foundation is an equal opportunity employer.

Colorado River Indian Tribes – Job Opening for a Deputy Attorney General – Criminal Prosecution (Contractual Position) Click here to view!

Please see the attached order and injunction issued yesterday by Judge Campbell in the federal district court case regarding the Tohono O’odham land into trust issue in Glendale. The Judge has enjoined Interior from taking the land into trust and enjoined Glendale’s annexation of Parcel 2 until the matter is decided by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

http://turtletalk.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/injunction-in-gric-v-united-states-05-03-2011.pdf