Job Opportunity – Full Time Attorney

Posted on February 10, 2021 by Indian Legal Program

Arizona Voice for Crime Victims (AVCV)

Summary: The legal representation will be limited to asserting and enforcing victims’ constitutional and/or statutory rights in criminal proceedings.

Requirements:

J.D. from an accredited law school
Membership in good standing with the State Bar of Arizona and the District of Arizona
Having reliable transportation and being able to travel throughout Arizona frequently, occasional out of state travel
Passing a background check
Being able to obtain a fingerprint card

Qualifications: Ideal candidate will have in-depth knowledge of the Federal Crime Victims’ Rights Act and the Arizona Victims’ Bill of Rights

Experience working with members of tribes
Experience in the state and federal criminal justice system
Excellent research, writing, and oral argument skills
Ability to handle a heavy case load
Excellent communication and organizational skills

Duties:

Appearing in court with victims
Conducting research on victims’ right issues
Drafting legal pleadings
Working with social workers/victim advocates to assist victims throughout the criminal justice process
Assisting with office coverage

Interested applicants should send a cover letter, resume, references, and writing sample to colleen.avcv@gmail.com.

2021 ILP Alumni Awards – Call for Nominations

Posted on February 8, 2021 by Indian Legal Program

The ILP alumni awards are now open. Nominate your classmates and friends! The ILP Awards include Professional Achievement, Alumni Service Award, and Emerging Leader Award. Nominations are due March 5, 2021! Nomination materials should be sent by email to: Kate.Rosier@asu.edu. Awards will be presented at the ILP Alumni & Friends Virtual Awards Ceremony. Details for date, time and location will be shared soon.

Nomination Guidelines

ILP Professional Achievement Award – This award recognizes outstanding achievement in Indian Law or Tribal Law throughout an individual’s career. The award honors ILP alumni whose achievements in the field of Indian Law or Tribal Law have brought distinction to themselves and real benefit to the Indian community. Nomination Package Requirements:

Describe the unique professional achievements in the field of Indian Law or Tribal Law that has brought distinction to the candidate. (maximum two pages)
Describe the recognized contributions made by this candidate that demonstrate a benefit to the larger community. (maximum one page)
Describe the ways in which the candidate’s achievements are truly extraordinary or exceptional. (maximum one page)
Provide at least two letters of support from individuals that can speak to the candidate’s impact on his or her profession.
Letters of support should speak to the magnitude of the individual’s impact in the practice of Indian or tribal law or in the Indian community.
Provide a 200 word bio of the nominee.
Past winners include: Kathy Bowman (’86), Rob Rosette (’96), Diane Enos (’92), Ben Hanley (’71), Herb Yazzie (’75).

ILP Alumni Service Award – This award is given for outstanding service to the Indian Legal Program, and is awarded for extended, extraordinary service to the Indian Legal Program. Nomination Package Requirements

Describe the ways in which the candidate has served or supported the ILP and the ILP alumni. Examples can include serving on committees, boards, CLEs, mentoring ILP students, or other volunteer or fundraising efforts or funding commitments. (maximum one page)
Describe the ways this service been truly extraordinary. (maximum one page)
Describe how the candidate’s service has benefited the ILP. (maximum one page)
Please provide at least two letters of support from ILP alumni as part of the nomination package.
Provide a 200 word bio of the nominee.
Past winners include: Verrin Kewenvoyouma (’04), Ann Marie Downes (’94), Mary Shirley (’92) and Jeff Harmon (’05)

ILP Emerging Leader Award – This award acknowledges and encourages service to Indian Country and the ILP by alumni who are less than ten years out of law school. The award recognizes outstanding achievements in their professional career, volunteer work, and promotion or support of the ILP and/or ASU NALSA. Nomination Package Requirements.

Describe how the candidate has achieved professional success in their legal career.
Describe the candidate’s volunteer work.
Describe how the candidate achieved an exceptional level of service while balancing the demands of being a recent graduate. (maximum one page)
Describe how the candidate was proactive in efforts to become involved in ILP and/or ILP alumni activities. (maximum one page)
Describe how the candidate’s service has been sustained over a long period of time or how the service has been innovative or beneficial. (maximum one page)
Provide two letters of support from fellow ILP alumni.
Provide a 200 word bio of the nominee.
Past winners include: Carolyn Angus-Hornbuckle (’09), Nikki Borchardt Campbell (’09), Steve Bodmer (’06), Elizabeth Medicine Crow (’05), Charles Galbraith (’07), Matthew Campbell (’08) and Michael Corey Hinton (’11)

Job Opportunity – Staff Attorney

Posted on January 26, 2021 by Indian Legal Program

Four Rivers Indian Legal Services,
a division of Southern Arizona Legal Aid, Inc.
Sacaton, AZ

Closing date: Open until filled

The person to be hired will undertake legal representation for members of the Gila
River Indian Community (GRIC) in civil actions involving family law matters,
consumer cases, housing, benefits, wills, and estate administration. Practice will
primarily be before the Gila River Indian Community Court with additional work in
the Pinal and Maricopa Superior Court systems.

Minimum Requirements:

Applicants must be members of the Arizona State Bar or pass the next exam; applicants licensed two years in another jurisdiction may practice by special rule. In addition, a successful candidate should either be admitted to practice before the Gila River Community Court or be willing to apply for and be admitted to practice at GRIC within three months of hire.
Preferred candidates should have advocacy experience before
administrative tribunals or governmental agencies; education or experience
in Indian law and policy highly preferred.
Applicants must exhibit a high degree of sensitivity to the legal issues faced
by low-income, rural, and Native populations. They should have initiative,
excellent communication skills, and the ability to work well in a multi-cultural
setting.
Ability to speak the O’otham language and familiarity with O’otham and
Piipaash culture helpful. Bilingual English/Spanish also helpful.

See full job description: 2021 Sacaton Attorney

Cover letter, resume and three references to salahr@sazlegalaid.org

Contact:
Hiring Committee
Southern Arizona Legal Aid Inc.
2343 E. Broadway Blvd., Suite 200
Tucson, Arizona 85719-6007

Job Opportunity – Cultural Resources Director

Posted on January 26, 2021 by Indian Legal Program

Cowlitz Indian Tribe
Ridgefield, WA

Salary Range: $35 to $45 per hour DOQ
Closing Date: Open until filled

Position Summary:
The Director of the Cultural Resources Director is charged with developing long-range plans andstrategies to highlight and promote the cultural identity of the Cowlitz Tribe. The Director will actively seek to cultivateand maintain local, regional, and national relationships that advance Cowlitz identity and the mission of the Tribe. TheDirector will maintain and promote Cowlitz image and reputation, while protecting Cowlitz traditional knowledge andintellectual property.

Minimum Qualifications:

5 years of supervisory experience in a capacity related to the essential job responsibilities.
Demonstrated ability to manage staff, budgets and schedules.
Demonstrated history of collaboration between diverse community partners, including government, commercial andnon-profit entities, and individuals.
Demonstrated history of NHPA Section 106 consultation
Comprehensive knowledge of Native cultures of the Pacific Northwest
Technology proficient across a variety of platforms and applications, including audio recording, still photographyand video production.
Tribal preference preferred

See full job description: Cultural Resources Director _ Ridgefield.

Please mail or fax Resume and Cover Letter to:
Cowlitz Indian Tribe
Human Resources Department
P.O. Box 2547
Longview, WA 98632
Fax: (360) 578-1641

Job opportunity – General Attorney

Posted on January 26, 2021 by Indian Legal Program

Department of Homeland Security
Customs and Border Protection
Office of Chief Counsel
Washington, DC

Closing date: 02/16/2021

In this position, you will become a key member of the legal team for The Office of The Chief Counsel. Typical work assignments include:

Providing legal advice and services concerning the laws that relate to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) enforcement and operational functions with special emphasis on customs, immigration, investigations, national security, counter-terrorism, and intelligence law;
Researching the law and prepares legal memoranda, litigation reports, declarations, and other documents in civil and/or criminal litigation or other actions involving CBP;
Providing current information and legal advice to the field concerning significant changes and other developments in law and jurisprudence;
Advising policy makers and coordinating legal issues with other agencies and components within the U.S. government and in support of international engagements; and
Reviewing CBP regulations, policies, and other materials and develops, reviews, and delivers training or other legal presentations as appropriate to support CBP missions.

See full job announcement and application details here.

Job Opportunity – Big Fire Law & Policy Group LLP

Posted on January 21, 2021 by Indian Legal Program

Big Fire Law & Policy Group LLP is a prominent tribal law firm providing legal representation and advocacy in a broad range of services, with an emphasis in tribal law and federal Indian law serving tribal nations, tribal business enterprises and tribal organizations throughout the United States.

Big Fire Law & Policy Group LLP is seeking candidates with 5-10 years of litigation experience to join our metropolitan Omaha, Nebraska office. The right candidate will have the opportunity to work on cases in a variety of areas including constitutional law, environmental law, real estate, employment, tax issues, corporate/business matters, and complex federal, state and tribal court litigation at both trial and appellate levels.

Apply via Email: careers@bigfirelaw.com

Susie Taylor
HR Director
staylor@bigfirelaw.com
4025138244
1404 Fort Crook Rd S Bellevue – NE

ILP Alumni partnership creates Judicial Clerkship Handbook

Posted on January 14, 2021 by Indian Legal Program

The Pre-Law Summer Institute (PLSI) Judicial Clerkship Committee that includes ILP alumni teamed up and created the Judicial Clerkship Handbook to advise and encourage Native American law students interested in judicial clerkships across all levels of courts, including tribal courts.

PLSI Judicial Clerkship Committee:

Racheal White Hawk (’16), Chair
Christine Jordan, Member
Lydia Locklear, Member
Doreen McPaul (’01), Member
Rodina Cave Parnall (’01), Member
Alexander Mallory (’19), Member
Roshanna K. Toya, Member
Kateri Eisenberg

Who better to offer advice than those who have served in these positions? White Hawk, former Judicial Clerk, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and Arizona Supreme Court; Parnall, former Judicial Clerk, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit; Mallory, current Judicial Clerk, U.S. Immigration Court, Department of Justice Honors Program; and McPaul, former Judicial Clerk, Arizona Court of Appeals and former Staff Attorney, Navajo Nation Judicial Branch.

Q: What is the importance of this project?

A: This Judicial Clerkship Handbook is a product of the Pre-Law Summer Institute (PLSI) Judicial Clerkship Committee, which consists of current and former Native American judicial clerks. The Handbook provides the unique perspective and advice of such judicial clerks about the sometimes mystifying judicial clerkship application process and is targeted toward Native American pre-law and law school students. Such students comprise an important audience because Native Americans are vastly underrepresented as not only judicial clerks but also as judges in America, and there has long been a connection between clerking in the judiciary and eventually becoming a judge. It is, therefore, essential that Native Americans are able to obtain clerkships and thereby participate in the pipeline to the judiciary. Ultimately, the Handbook seeks to improve America’s judicial systems by ensuring the rich diversity of the American people is reflected in such systems, including the people indigenous to this land. The Handbook also includes robust sections discussing tribal court clerkships, ensuring that students are made aware of such clerkships and funding opportunities as well as ensuring that tribal courts are included in the discussion about judicial systems in America.

Q: What made you decide to create the handbook?

A: Each year, the PLSI Judicial Clerkship Committee selects several Native American students to attend the American Bar Association’s Judicial Clerkship Program, which connects students with judges and provides information to students about the clerkship experience and application process. Such students must submit application materials to the Committee that are similar to what students would submit for a judicial clerkship application. We noticed that some students needed assistance with their application materials, so we decided to create this resource to assist those and other students in need of guidance. We also recognized that many judicial clerkship handbooks did not discuss tribal courts and did not include the unique perspective of Native American students or advice regarding how to discuss a student’s federal Indian law experience or valuable experiences that might be different from the typical judicial clerkship applicant. Each year, we will provide this Handbook to Native American pre-law students as a resource and to the National Native American Law Students Association. We think it is important that Native American pre-law students in particular be made aware of judicial clerkships so they can better align their law school experience with becoming a judicial clerk if they wish to pursue such a path.

Q: What are you most anticipating moving forward with this project?

A: We hope Native American students will find the Handbook helpful in applying for judicial clerkships and that the number of Native Americans clerking and becoming judges will increase over time. We also plan to continue improving the Handbook each year. As part of this Handbook, we are also starting a mentoring program in the fall of 2021 by connecting current and former Native American judicial clerks with Native American pre-law and law school students. We hope this Handbook will help mentees prepare for, and mentors provide guidance about, the judicial clerkship application process.

________

Racheal White Hawk (’16)
Associate Attorney, Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch, LLP
+
Rodina Cave Parnall (’01)
Director, Pre-Law Summer Institute, American Indian Law Center, Inc.

Job Opportunity – Tribal Attorney – Labor & Employment

Posted on December 22, 2020 by Indian Legal Program

Forest County Potawatomi Community
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Summary: Provides legal analysis and counsel on policy, on all labor and employment issues concerning the business and government operations of the Tribe.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Provides legal guidance and advice involving various areas of law.
Reviews, researches, interprets, and prepares both written and oral opinions on a wide variety of legal issues with respect to employment, wage & hour, work safety, harassment and discrimination
Drafts, reviews, and approves policies and procedures, regulations, bylaws, contracts, leases, and other legal documents; researches legal issues and recommends revisions as necessary.
Maintains professional and technical knowledge by conducting research, attending seminars, educational workshops, classes and conferences.
Other duties as assigned.

Requirements (Education, Experience, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities):

Juris Doctorate from an American Bar Association accredited law school; Licensed to practice law in the State of Wisconsin. At least three years of legal experience in tribal operations preferred.
Knowledge of corporate and/or governmental management and employment practices with eight years of experience in the field.
Research and knowledge of federal, state, tribal, and local law.
Ability to manage a number of priorities simultaneously.
Ability to work extended hours and various work schedules.
Seven years of experience preferred.
Must maintain confidentiality.
Other duties as assigned.

To apply, click here.

Job Opportunity – Deputy Associate Chief Counsel

Posted on December 16, 2020 by Indian Legal Program

The Resilience-Continuity and Preparedness Legal Division (RPCLD) is seeking an attorney to fill the Deputy Associate Chief Counsel (DACC) position. RPCLD is responsible for providing legal advice to the Deputy Administrator for Resilience, the Associate Administrator for Resilience, the Resilience Front Office Programs, the Grant Programs Directorate, the National Preparedness Directorate, the National Continuity Programs Directorate, and the U.S. Fire Administration. Additionally, RPCLD advises all of FEMA on Intellectual Property law. FEMA Resilience works to fulfill FEMA’s vision of a prepared and resilient nation through its programs and partnerships.

The DACC for RPCLD will report to the Associate Chief Counsel for RPCLD. The DACC will lead a team of 14 attorneys. In addition to leading the team, the DACC will provide advice to multiple SES and Political and Presidential Appointees. Accordingly, the ideal candidate must be able to quickly process a high volume of information and able to:

Think quickly to respond to a sudden change of information;
Show initiative and self-reliance to increase the effectiveness of the team; and
Keep an open mind and show willingness to learn new methods and techniques.

To qualify for this position at the GS-15 level, you must demonstrate:

At least five years of full-time professional legal experience gained after being admitted to the bar. The minimum four-year work experience requirement includes at least two years of specialized experience that is directly related to the position being filled. At least one of the two years of specialized experience must be at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to that of an attorney at the GS-14 level. Specialized experience for this position includes experience in emergency management and/or homeland security law. In addition, knowledge is required in FEMA laws, regulations and policies to provide expert counsel in support of complex disaster protection and national preparedness programs. Knowledge is also required of federal fiscal law, federal procurement law, federal personnel law, as well as demonstrated abilities to assess client risk. The ideal candidate must also possess excellent oral and written communication and interpersonal skills adequate to communicate effectively to Senior Executives. Additionally, supervisory experience is preferred and the ability to hold a TOP SECRET/SCI Security Clearance is required.

Application Instructions:

If you would like to be considered for this position, please send a brief cover letter explaining your interest, resume, and a writing sample no longer than 10 pages to Michelle Lienau at michelle.lienau@fema.dhs.gov by Friday, December 31, 2020.

Arizona Native Vote Changemakers

Posted on December 8, 2020 by Indian Legal Program

The Indian Legal Clinic student attorneys, ILP affiliates and volunteers worked on the Arizona Native Vote Election Protection Project (AZNVEP) for months to prepare for the general election on Nov. 3. The number of this year’s Election Protection volunteers made for a great success despite the circumstances! We had 100 volunteers, which is more than in past years, who assisted Native voters at over 60 polling locations in Arizona on Election Day through the Arizona Native Vote Election Protection Project. The ILC team included Native Vote Fellow Torey Dolan (’19) as lead, Brendan Clark (3L), Aspen Miller (3L), Dustin Rector (3L), MacArthur Stant (3L),and Blair Tarman (3L) under the supervision of Professor Patty Ferguson-Bohnee. Student attorneys provided virtual training sessions for volunteers, ran the hotline and interacted with voters on-site.

Through partnerships with the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona (ITCA), the Native American Bar Association of Arizona (NABA-AZ), the Arizona Election Protection Coalition and volunteers, Native Vote served as an important resource for hundreds of Native voters during the 2020 election. Over 250 Native American voters called the Native Vote Election Protection hotline for assistance on Election Day, and many voters called prior to the election to check voter registration and polling locations, and answered questions regarding general election information.

With the extraordinary commitment from volunteers—ILP students, alumni, faculty, staff and friends—an Election Protection volunteer was on-site and available at the following locations: Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community, Gila River Indian Community, Tohono O’odham Nation, White Mountain Apache, San Carlos Apache, Pascua Yaqui, Yavapai Apache, Yavapai Prescott, Quechan, Cocopah Indian Tribe, Colorado River Indian Tribes, Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, and the Ak-Chin Indian Community.

We thank our ASU community for the support, which released the ASU Now article on election day that highlighted the greater work of Native Vote as well as the innovative Polling Locator Tool created just this year with US Digital Response. Watch the video to see how this tool was used by Native voters.

Two of our ILC students Miller and Stant who traveled to Hopi and Navajo Nation were highlighted in an Arizona Republic article.

Ferguson-Bohnee was quoted in the Center for Public Integrity article and Arizona Republic articles here and here.

On Nov. 11, Dolan was interviewed by Native America Calling to give a recap about Native Vote. She was also quoted in The State Press articles here and here.

Find more coverage from Ferguson-Bohnee, Dolan and Brian Garcia (’20) in this VICE article, which included Arizona Native Vote assisting with extension hours to a polling site.

We appreciate our partners and all who volunteered across Indian Country to ensure Arizona’s tribal communities and tribal members had access to the polls!