Category Archives: Alumni

Job opportunity: Deputy Attorney General

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Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians
Oakhurst, CA

The position of Deputy Attorney General shall be responsible for protecting all Tribal sovereignty and for providing legal advice and representation to all Tribal officials, agencies, departments, and branches of Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians. The Deputy Attorney General will defend the integrity of the Tribe. The Deputy Attorney General is prohibited from offering individual legal advice or representing individual Tribal Members, but instead serves to protect the rights of all members of the Tribe by administering fair and impartial justice. Maintains confidentiality of all Tribal information.

See full job announcement: Deputy Attorney General

Job opportunities: San Manuel Band of Mission Indians

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The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians is a federally recognized American Indian tribe whose Reservation and nationally-recognized resort casino are located in Highland, CA. We are excited to announce that our award-winning in-house legal department is hiring! 

Our legal team plays an instrumental role in supporting the tribal government and business entities that sustain the government infrastructure. We are looking for individuals whose pursuit of excellence matches our own high level of expectations. For those candidates, we have several current opportunities to work in a collegial, team-oriented practice that supports one of the most successful Tribal gaming operations in North America as well as Tribal and business leaders pursuing some of the most forward-thinking initiatives and projects in Indian Country. 

Current opportunities include:

  1. Staff Attorney – Government
  2. Staff Attorney – DEER (Development, Entitlements, Environmental, Real Estate)
  3. Legal Operations Specialist
  4. Managing Attorney – Complex Transactions (coming soon)

San Manuel offers competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package that includes: health and wellness plans, 401(k) matching, discretionary bonuses, and paid time off. If you seek a challenging and rewarding career in a fast-paced, dynamic environment responsible for preserving and protecting the interests of a Tribal government and its various business enterprises, now and into the future, we encourage you to learn more by clicking here. If you have any questions about roles, responsibilities, applications, or any other aspects, please feel free to reach out directly to our Executive Recruiter, Heather Nadeau, at heather.Nadeau@sanmanuel-nsn.gov .

Learning in Alaska

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Partnership expands ILP Traveling Class

For spring break, 29 ASU Law students traveled to Anchorage, Alaska for the ILP traveling class Alaska Native Legal Issues and Solutions. 

ASU Law and the Indian Legal Program (ILP) partnered with the Alaska Native Justice Center (ANJC) and the Cook Inlet Tribal Council, Inc. to offer this course. Alex Cleghorn, ANJC’s senior legal and policy director co-taught the class with Dean Stacy Leeds.

This week-long class exposed students to the culture, environment and unique legal issues of Alaska Native communities. Guest speakers, including ILP alumni Maude Blair (’02), Charlie Galbraith (’06) and Liz Medicine Crow (’05), presented on panels to share their insight and expertise. “What mostly resonated with me was applying a forward-looking approach to changing legislation instead of relying on legislative history to advocate for Native peoples,” said Maryam Salazar (2L).

On top of her course schedule and assignments, Ravynn Nothstine (3L)  documented and shared her experience. 

Read more in this ASU News article: Spring break trip to Alaska provides ASU students with firsthand look at Indigenous law

We appreciate our partners, hosts, presenters and alumni for making this an enriching experience. Thank you to our students, faculty and staff for documenting the first ILP traveling class in Alaska!

ILP alum talks about Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)

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On March 14, the ASU Native American Students Association (NALSA) and Women Law Students Association co-hosted VAWA: expanding tribal courts’ criminal jurisdiction. Diane Enos  (’92) who serves as Deputy Defense Attorney for the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community discussed how the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and Tribal Law and Order Act (TLOA) came to be and the work she did for TLOA. She spoke on the 2022 Reauthorization of VAWA amendments and offered advice on how tribes can implement VAWA into their own tribal courts. She encouraged students to go out and gain experience to bring back to their communities and commended all the Native law students. 

We appreciate you Honorable Enos for your commitment to VAWA and taking the time to share with ASU Law students.

ILP alum receives ABA Spirit of Excellence award

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On Feb. 4, Diandra Benally (’05) was awarded the American Bar Association’s 2023 Spirit of Excellence award. This title is awarded annually to legal professionals that demonstrate excellence and commitment to diversity in law. 

Diandra is the first female general counsel of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, a former special assistant U.S. attorney and former staff attorney with the Navajo Nation Department of Justice. She has also served on the National Native American Bar Association, the Native American Bar Association of Arizona and the Navajo Nation Bar Association.

In a true show of support, some of your ILP family traveled to New Orleans to celebrate an extraordinary recognition. Congratulations, Diandra!

Job Opportunity: Staff Attorney

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Bad River Band of Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians
Odanah, WI

Application Requirements:
• Must submit complete Bad River Tribal Application and Resume
• Transcripts
• Salary requirement
• 3 letters of recommendation
• Writing sample and
• Copy of Active license to practice law or eligibility to apply for Wisconsin State Bar Admission

Summary: The Staff Attorney works with the tribal government in all areas of Tribal law and Federal Indian law.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Advising on issues involving the delivery of government services to Tribal members, including jurisdiction, tribal property, civil rights, environmental law, and interpretation of social and family services and health services delivery to community members including child welfare services. Responsibilities may range from reviewing and editing draft documents to the provision of brief counsel and services to tribal government programs in meeting preparation or meeting settings, representing the Tribe in Tribal, state, and federal court, to advising and developing codes and policies for tribal government decision-making.
Qualification Requirements To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. The person in this position must be self-motivated and able to work with minimal direction.

See job announcement for full description and application details.

Job Opportunities: The Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe

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Lower Elwha Klallam Justice Center
Port Angeles, WA
 
The Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe is dedicated to fully exercising its sovereignty to prevent and reduce criminal activity and victimization on the Reservation. At the same time, pursuant to the Lower Elwha Constitution, Article VII, Bill of Rights, the Lower Elwha Judicial Code §§ 1.2, 6.11(3)(c), and the Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968, 25 U.S.C. § 1302(a)(8), the Tribe is dedicated to affording due process to all persons subject to the Tribe’s authority.

Tribal Defense Attorney job announcement 

  • Closing Date: February 17, 2023

Chief Judge job announcement

  • Closing Date: February 18, 2023

Tribal Deputy Prosecutor job announcement

  • Closing Date: February 17, 2023

Job Opportunity: Legislative Policy Advisor

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Hobbs, Straus, Dean & Walker, LLP
Washington, D.C.

Hobbs, Straus, Dean & Walker, LLP is looking for a motivated, energetic individual to join its legislative and health policy team in its Washington, DC office. Hobbs Straus is a national law firm dedicated to promoting and defending the interests of Indian tribal governments and organizations.

The Legislative Policy Advisor is a non-attorney position who will work with attorneys and legislative staff from across the firm on behalf of our tribal clients to advance the scope and quality of tribal health services. Duties include assisting attorney and legislative staff in outreach to Capitol Hill and federal agencies, attending and covering health policy meetings, researching and working on Indian health policy and drafting reports to clients. Applicants must have strong research, writing and communication skills. Prior legislative experience preferred but not required. Salary based on experience.

Educational requirements: B.A. or higher.

To apply: Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume to Ms. Robin Branthover at rbranthover@hobbsstraus.com.

Thank you for your interest in Hobbs, Straus, Dean & Walker, LLP.
www.hobbsstraus.com

Inclusion power

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Indian Country's representation

On Jan. 10, the Indian Legal Program hosted a special dinner for students to meet Bryan Newland, Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs in the Department of the Interior. A full year of serving in a prominent position, Assistant Secretary Newland leans on his experiences and centers tribal community as part of the strategy. He understands the challenges Tribes face and the importance of ensuring Indigenous People are protected, included and represented at every level, for every decision.  

We were also joined by Secretary Newland’s team who share that vision: Rose Petoskey, Joaquin Gallegos, Stephanie Sfiridis (’16), Sam Kohn, Senior-Counselor to the Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs and Katherine Isom-Clause, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Economic Development, as well as Shannon Estenoz, Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks and Steve Simpson, Senior Attorney with the Solicitor’s Office. ILP students learned about the work the Department of Interior does on behalf of Tribes and how hard each have worked to be in a position where they can drive change. 

“Having Assistant Secretary Bryan Newland and his team visit was such an honor,” said 2L Sophie Staires. “What struck me about all of them was the genuine interest they showed in all of us students—who we are, and what we want to do. Talking with them made it easier for me to picture myself in those roles, and I really needed that. Assistant Secretary Newland really impressed upon me that I am right where I need to be, that I am capable and that I will get to where I want to be.”

“It was nice to know that even though law school can be a real challenge sometimes, the opportunities to do great things for Indian Country outweighs that,” said 2L Chelsi Tsosie. “It was quite motivating to relate to someone in a position as high as his.” 

Thank you to the Department of the Interior for this special visit. We appreciate all that you do for Indian Country!