Exploring Capitol Hill

Posted on October 21, 2025 by dwilliams

Students in the Indian Legal Program (ILP) traded their campus classrooms for Capitol Hill this fall break, immersing themselves in federal Indian Law and advocacy during the annual “Federal Advocacy for the Tribal Client” course led by Professors Derrick Beetso (’10) and Anne Marie Bledsoe Downes (’94).

Throughout the week, students met with practitioners shaping Indian law and policy in Washington, D.C. Site visits included the Native American Rights Fund, the United South and Eastern Tribes Sovereignty Protection Fund, Jenner & Block, Hobbs Straus Dean & Walker, Big Fire Law, Dentons and the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation, among others.

For many students, the experience offered a new perspective on how advocacy plays out at the federal level.

“That class was honestly one of the most eye-opening experiences of my law school journey so far because it exposed me to a side of the legal profession and advocacy that we just don’t see on campus,” said Grant Schoen, second-year law student. “I’ve generally been drawn more toward transactional practice, but this experience opened my eyes to how meaningful and impactful the policy side of the legal world can be. I can see myself being drawn back to it at some point, especially when the issues hit close to home.”

Visiting third-year student Tyanne Benallie echoed that sense of purpose: “A traveling class like this is a pathway for aspiring Native attorneys, and taking a class with other intelligent, well-rounded Native individuals is inspiring because in the end, we are all in this for the same reason — to better our Indigenous peoples and communities. Despite the shutdown and what is currently going on in D.C., there is always work to do to advance our Native peoples. We, Natives, have been through many presidential administrations and have always survived. We have our sovereignty that keeps us fighting the good fight.”

We extend our appreciation to the many colleagues, alumni and supporters who help make this class possible each year.

From Campus to Capitol: ILP Traveling Class

Posted on October 29, 2024 by dwilliams

Earlier this month, 11 driven law students – 10 juris doctor and one master of legal studies – traded in their fall break for a transformative experience in Washington, D.C., as part of the “Federal Advocacy for the Tribal Client” traveling class. Hosted at the Barrett & O’Connor Washington Center and led by Derrick Beetso (’10), professor of practice and executive director of the Indian Gaming and Tribal Self-Governance program, the week-long course provided an exclusive opportunity to gain real-world insights into federal advocacy for Tribal Nations. From learning legal strategies to experiencing policy in action, these students embraced a powerful week of growth and discovery in the heart of the nation’s capital.

Students met with the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs; Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs Bryan Newland; Senior Advisor to the Secretary Heidi Todacheene; and Deputy Solicitor for Indian Affairs Joel West Williams. They also spent time discussing advocacy with the Native American Rights Fund, the National Congress of American Indians, the Navajo Nation’s Washington Office and attorneys Sam Hirsch and Andrew DeGuglielmo of Jenner & Block LLP. And finally, the students were able to hear from ILP alums working in D.C. about their career paths and their approach to working in the nation’s capital.

Many special thanks to ILP alums Stephanie Sfiridis (’16), Darren Pete (’00), Rebecca Ross (’10), Rani Williams (’18) and Ann Marie Bledsoe Downes (’94).

Learning in Alaska

Posted on April 4, 2023 by dwilliams

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!

Federal Advocacy Class in DC

Posted on October 20, 2022 by dwilliams

Last week, 17 students – 15 JD, 1 LLM and 1 MLS – in the Indian Legal Program (ILP) spent their fall break in Washington, D.C. for the “Federal Advocacy for the Tribal Client” traveling class. The students attended the week-long class taught by the ILP’s Indian Gaming and Tribal Self-Governance Director Derrick Beetso (’10) at the O’Connor Center. ILP hosted private practice attorneys: Brian Gunn of Powers Law, and Sam Hirsch, Leonard Powell, and Krystalyn Kinsel (’15) of Jenner & Block. Each attorney shared about their work on behalf of tribal clients and offered sage advice to the students. Thank you, Brian, Sam, Leonard, and Krystalyn! Thank you, D.C. ASU Law team – your hospitality and service is appreciated!

The week also included a visit to the Office of the Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs, where students received encouragement and reaffirmance of their respective academic endeavors from Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, Bryan Newland. They also exchanged questions and comments with Deputy Assistant Secretary for Indian Energy and Economic Development, Kathryn Isom-Clause; Senior Counselor Stephanie Sfiridis (’16), Senior Advisor Tracy Canard Goodluck and Deputy Solicitor Joel Williams; and Special Assistant Joaquin Gallegos and connected virtually with Rose Petoskey, Senior Counselor. Thank you, AS-IA leadership team!

ILP students then visited the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. Committee staff were extremely gracious with their time and their space as a group of bipartisan staffers, including Senior Counsel Breann Nu’uhiwa (LLM ’09), Deputy Staff Director Amber Ebarb, Counsel Connie Tsosie de Haro, Policy Advisors John Simermeyer and Jacqueline Bisillie (MLS ’14), and Staff Assistant Denae Benson, met with students and explained the Committee’s history, the work they do, and their perspectives on what it means to draft and pass laws that further tribal self-governance. The students also learned a lot about the important education the Committee provides across party lines and numerous issue areas through the work they do. Thank you, Senate Committee on Indian Affairs!

The students also enjoyed lunch with Samantha Kelty, Managing Staff Attorney, Morgan Saunders, Staff Attorney, and Denver Jacket, Paralegal, of the Native American Rights Fund’s (NARF) Washington, D.C. office. They learned about the important voting rights litigation, cultural protection, and appellate and Supreme Court briefing work they do. They also learned about the history of the oldest and largest national law firm dedicated to protecting Native rights. Thank you, NARF!

Finally, the students concluded their week with a terrific panel made up of Sun Devil ILP alums Rebecca Ross (’10), Senior Attorney, Indian Resources Section, Department of Justice; Rani Williams (‘18), Legislative Assistant, Congressmember Sharice Davids; and Jens Camp (’21), Associate, Hobbs Straus Dean & Walker, and ILP Advisory Council Member Larry Roberts, General Counsel, Mohegan Tribe. The panel shared career tips, discussed their legal work experience in Washington, D.C., and responded to questions with invaluable advice. Thank you, Larry, Rebecca, Rani, and Jens!

Students Resume Travel

Posted on March 26, 2022 by dwilliams

ILP Traveling Class in Nebraska

Nineteen ASU Law students spent their spring break at the headquarters of Ho-Chunk, Inc in Winnebago, Nebraska for the ILP traveling class, “Contemporary Issues in Tribal Economic Development,” taught by Professor Lance Morgan. Morgan is CEO of Ho-Chunk, Inc., an award-winning economic development corporation owned by the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska.

In this ILP traveling class, students learned about practical political, legal and economic solutions to help tribes implement a broad range of economic development activities. Morgan helped students understand that federal Indian law is restrictive in nature but, to be a successful lawyer, they will have to use federal Indian law as a starting point, not an endpoint.

We’re proud to have Morgan on our team to share the success stories of Ho-Chunk, Inc.