POSITION TITLE: Assistant General Counsel
DEPARTMENT: Legal Department
REPORTS TO: General Counsel
DEFINITION/PURPOSE: Provide legal advice to the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation Tribal Council, tribal departments and economic enterprises. Represent the Fort McDowell Indian Community in matters brought in state and Federal court.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Essential functions may include the following tasks, knowledge, skills and other characteristics. This list of tasks is ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY, and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and tasks performed by positions in this class.
TASKS:Serves as legal advisor to the tribal council, tribal government departments and economic enterprises; Provides legal advice and analysis of tribal, state and Federal laws and regulations; Drafts and revises the Tribal Constitution, Law and Order Code, other tribal laws, ordinances, and policies; Works at hours and times outside of normal business hours and days; Drafts, reviews and recommends changes to contracts; Reviews other agreements, proposals; Represents the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation in state and Federal court actions; Performs other duties as assigned or required.
KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS:- Knowledge of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation Constitution, Law and Order Code, Arizona Revised Statutes, Federal Indian Law, Indian Civil Rights Act, Indian Child Welfare Act, Tribal Case Law, Federal Rules of Evidence;- Knowledge of contract and employment law;- Knowledge of state and Federal court protocol, proceedings, and practices;- Knowledge of legal research utilizing books and electronic research systems;- Skill in interpreting and applying complex laws, statutes, ordinances, and rules to the facts and evidence in individual cases;- Skill in drafting complex court orders;- Skill in managing a high case load consisting of a variety of case types;- Skill in utilizing a computer and in software capable of word processing;- Skill in establishing and maintaining effective and cooperative working relationships with other departments of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, state and Federal officials, departments, and agencies.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS/EDUCATION:1) An attorney licensed to practice law in the State of Arizona; 2) Two years experience as a trial attorney or advocate; 3) Current AZ drivers license and meet FMYN insurance standards.
POSITION STATUS: Regular-Full-TimePAYRATE: $69,965.48 to $83,958.57
OPEN DATE: October 4, 2007 CLOSEDATE: Open Until Filled
SUBMIT APPLICATION TO: Fort McDowell Yavapai NationHuman Resources DepartmentAttn: RecruiterP O Box 17779Fountain Hills, AZ 85269Phone: 480-816-7119Fax: 480-816-0419Email: recruiter@ftmcdowell.org
INDIAN PREFERENCE:Preference will be given to qualified applicants who are members of federally recognized Indian tribes. To be considered for Indian Preference, you must submit your Certificate of Indian Blood (CIB) with your application.
WILL REQUIRE TO PASS A PRE-EMPLOYMENT DRGU SCREENAND COMPLETE A BACKGROUND CHECKWHICH MAY REQUIRE FINGERPRINTING
Author Archives: Indian Legal Program
JOB: SRPMIC Office of General Counsel
Assistant General Counsel-Enterprise
Job Description
Under general supervision of the Deputy General Counsel, provides legal review and advice to the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC) government. Ensures that applicable laws are followed so that tribal sovereignty is protected and enhanced. Provides assistance to avoid or prevent expensive legal disputes and litigation and protects the Community’s legal interests. This class is treated as FLSA exempt.
Skills/Requirements
Graduation from accredited college or university with a Law Degree (Juris Doctor) and three (3) years of experience as an attorney involving the legal affairs of Native American tribes. Experience that has provided knowledge of social and economic conditions of tribal governments is essential. Assignments (positions) requiring specialization in realty, enterprise (or other specializations) legal matters require previous experience in same. Membership in a State Bar and the ability to practice in Federal District Court is required. If not a member of the Arizona State Bar, must be willing to take and pass the Arizona State Bar Exam within one year of employment with the Community. Must attend a minimum of 15 hours annual continuing legal education as related to job and approved by supervisor.
Job Reference #:
999999 – OUF
Job Status:
Full Time
Date Posted:
11/21/2007
Pay Rate:
$102,639 to $151,395/year
Pay Comments
Advertised salary is the full range. Salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications. SRPMIC offers a rich benefits package with too much to mention: Health Insurance, Prescription Drug Coverage, Vision Care, Dental, Paid Life, Employee Assistance Program, 401(k)Plan, Accrue 15 Paid Annual and 15 Sick Days Your First Year, 13 Recognized Holidays and more!
Important Notes
CLOSING DATE: Open Until Filled First Review Date: December 5, 2007SRPMIC is an EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYERImportant notes: – Equivalent combinations of education and experience that will allow the applicant to satisfactorily perform the duties of the job may be considered- Will be required to pass a pre-employment drug test. In addition, may be required to pass fingerprint/background check.- “SRPMIC is an “Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.” Preference will be given to a qualified Community Member, then a qualified Native American and then other qualified candidate.- Insurability: Must possess a valid Arizona operator’s license and be insurable under tribal insurer requirements (e.g., be age 21 or over, no alcohol-related motor vehicle violations such as DUI, within the past 5 years; no reckless driving violations within the past 3 years; no more than one speeding ticket in excess of 15 mph over the speed limit within the past 3 years; and no more than one “at fault” accident within the past 3 years).- NOTE: Applications or Resumes which are not in the Human Resources Office by 5 p.m. on the closing date will not be considered. SUBMIT APPLICATION TO: SRPMIC- Human Resources, 10,005 E. Osborn Scottsdale, Arizona 85256Fax#: (480) 850-8126 or Apply on line at SRPMICJOBS.com
Dallin Maybee – Best in Show
First-year law student Dallin Maybee, recently won Best of Show in the 86th Annual Santa Fe Indian Market, one of the most prestigious Indian art shows in the country, for two children’s books that he wrote, illustrated, and covered in beading.
The story and photos, which are available at http://www.law.asu.edu/ under Headlines, recently ran in The Arizona Republic, and are posted on ASU’s Graduate College Web site at http://graduate.asu.edu/profiles/dmaybee.html, where he is featured in the flash show of “Outstanding Graduate Students” on their home page http://graduate.asu.edu/.
Law student wins Best of Show at Santa Fe Indian Market
Dallin Maybee, a first-year law student at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University, recently won Best of Show in the 86th Annual Santa Fe Indian Market, one of the most prestigious Indian art shows in the country, for two children’s books that he wrote, illustrated, and covered in beading.Maybee, 33, was raised on the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation in Western New York. His father is Seneca, his mother Northern Arapaho, and he is descended from a long line of well-known bead workers and doll makers, including his uncle, Bob Spoonhunter.But Maybee first became famous as a traditional dancer, starting at 13 and joining a traveling group that performed throughout region. He has since performed across the United States and in China, Mongolia, Europe, the Middle East, Ecuador and Chile.Eventually, Maybee became part of the American Indian Dance Theater, performed at Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, helped choreograph and performed in the 2002 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremonies, and performed in one of the first Native operas last year in Omaha, Nebraska.He began doing beadwork to make his own regalia for dances. One year, he went to the Santa Fe Indian Market and was “blown away” by the caliber of the beadwork and other arts, and began entering beaded bags and moccasins.
As an undergraduate, Maybee took a class in the philosophy of childhood and began to develop a children’s story that became the basis for his books. The artwork was inspired by ledger art.
“During the Indian wars, when the warriors would be held prisoner at some of the forts, they would recount their experiences in battle and hunt on the used ledger paper provided by the store traders,” Maybee said. “That type of art became known as ledger art even though the pictographic history of drawing and recounting stories on buffalo hides and tipis and such had been around for a long time. I was a big fan of ledger art. I found some antique ledger paper from 1863 and used it for the illustrations in my book.”
“During the Indian wars, when the warriors would be held prisoner at some of the forts, they would recount their experiences in battle and hunt on the used ledger paper provided by the store traders,” Maybee said. “That type of art became known as ledger art even though the pictographic history of drawing and recounting stories on buffalo hides and tipis and such had been around for a long time. I was a big fan of ledger art. I found some antique ledger paper from 1863 and used it for the illustrations in my book.”
One book is about a young boy and his father. It has rawhide covers with acrylic painting and beadwork. The second is about a young girl and her mother. Through Nov. 20, the book covers, an explanation of their meaning and Maybee’s show ribbons are on display in the foyer of the Ross-Blakley Law Library at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. The stories are being held behind the library’s front counter; to read them, just ask one of the librarians.Maybee was stunned when he found he had won Best in Show.
“It was an incredibly humbling experience to win Best of Show,” Maybee said. “To be considered for the award, in the midst of so many fantastic artists, artists I admire and have looked up to for so many years was an emotional experience.
“In submitting the pieces, you never know if anyone is going to understand your work, and in my case, actually open the books and take the time to read what’s inside. For me, I think the stories are the best part of the pieces.”
Maybee, who worked at a law firm the summer before entering law school, is discussing a publishing deal to produce the books commercially.Maybee earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and has begun work on a master’s in fine arts from the University of California at Los Angeles. He decided to go to law school after working as a tribal police office.
“When we had to prosecute our own cases, I began to think about the implications of the legal system upon Indian peoples, and the desire to understand the scope of that impact changed things for me,” Maybee said. “I really enjoyed my job, but I knew I wanted to have bigger impact on the overall evolution and progress of Indian Tribes. I did some Indian law coursework at UCLA during my master’s, including coursework on Federal Indian Law and practical applications in the legal development program there, where I was able to do some really exciting things like helping a tribe draft civil procedural code. Yes, plowing through California Civil Procedure is great stuff when I had not yet had a civil procedure class…”
Maybee said he wants to work in a larger firm that does litigation in Indian Country. “I worked for a securities litigation firm last summer, but my hope is to eventually get into finance and economic development, but not simply gaming.”
JOB – Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Legal Department
The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Legal Department Is looking for qualified candidates for the following position:Associate CounselAgua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians (ACBCI) is searching for an Associate Counsel. The Associate Counsel will be primarily responsible for providing legal advice to the Tribal Council, Administration, departments, and committees in structuring, documenting, and drafting documents related to commercial real estate transactions, working with the BIA on matters involving Indian trust lands, and contract drafting and review.
The successful candidate will have experience in structuring, documenting, and drafting instruments related to commercial real estate transactions; contract drafting and review; NEPA/CEQA; BIA leasing procedures and related CFR’s; knowledgeable in ILCA a plus; strong communication, writing and interpersonal skills; a positive attitude; strong work ethic; electronic research skills and the ability to handle multiple matters.Salary Range: 89,000 or (DOE)Requirements:- Member in good standing of a state bar with preference given to those licensed in the State of California- Minimum of 3 years experience as a licensed attorney in transactional matters, including commercial real estate, contract drafting and review, and leasing of Indian lands- Membership in a federally-recognized Indian tribe is preferable, but not essentialCandidates will be subject to a thorough background check. Compensation is negotiable and will be commensurate with background and experience.
For a complete job description or questions regarding applications, go online and apply at www.aguacaliente-nsn.gov.Person of Contact: Isabella TagoreSr. Human Resources Specialist(760) 699-6854
JOB – Navajo Housing Authority
Contact: Clarence Chee
Employer: Navajo Housing Authority
Address1: PO Box # 4980
Address2:
CityStateZip: Window Rock, AZ 86515
Website: www.hooghan.org
Phone: 928-871-2621
Fax: 928-871-2635
AcceptingCalls: Yes
JobTitle: Staff Advocate
Salary: $25.96 per hour
Hours: M-F, 8am-5pm
Description: Under general supervision of the General Counsel, represents the Navajo Housing Authority in the courts of the Navajo Nation in Forcible Entry and Detainer cases and collection efforts. Advises the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Officers, Division Directors and other key management staff regarding legal matters, in accordance with the standard of ethics of the Navajo Nation Bar Association and all established standards, rules, regulations, and objectives of the Navajo Housing Authority. Maintains confidentially of privilege information.
Experience: Graduate,Current Bar Members
Submit: Resume,Cover Letter,Transcript,References
SubmitOther: Copy of Degree and Navajo Housing Authority job application which can be printed off the Web site www.hooghan.org
SendBy: Mail,Fax,Email
Deadline: Open until filled
Indian Legal Program Brown Bag Session
Bethany Berger
Associate Professor of Law, University of Connecticut School of Law
Monday, October 29th
12:00
Room 114
Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law
Associate Professor of Law, University of Connecticut School of Law
Monday, October 29th
12:00
Room 114
Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law
An abstract of Professor Berger’s article is provided below.
Red: Uses of American Indian Race.
This Article uses history to examine how racial meanings developed and are used in Indian law and policy. Scholarship on the subject has too often either assumed that race works for American Indians in the same way that it does for African Americans, and therefore emphasized uses of blood quantum and segregation as primary evidence of racism, or has emphasized the lack of the hallmarks of white-black racism, such as prohibitions on interracial marriage, to argue that race is not a significant factor. In the Article, I examine the different eras of Indian-white interaction to argue that although racialized perceptions played a role throughout these eras, they generally worked in a very different way than they did with respect to African Americans. North Americans were not primarily concerned with using Indian people as a source of labor, and therefore did not have to theorize Indians as inferior individuals to control that labor. Rather, the primary concern was to obtain tribal resources and use tribes as a flattering foil for American governments. Therefore it was necessary to theorize tribal societies as fatally and racially inferior, while emphasizing the ability of Indian individuals to leave their societies and join non-Indian ones. This theory addresses the odd paradox that the most racially oppressive eras in Indian-white interaction emphasized and encouraged assimilation of Indian individuals. It also speaks directly to an issue that figures prominently in current policy debates and will likely soon reemerge in the Supreme Court, the status of classifications of Indian people under equal protection jurisprudence.
Only a few more days to Register!
Announcing the2nd Annual ASU NALSA Golf Tournament
Sponsored by theNative American Law Students Association
Sandra Day O’Connor College of LawArizona State University
Date: Saturday, November 3rd, 2007
Time: 7:30 AM Shotgun Start
Place: The Foothills Golf Club, Awahtukee (Phx), AZ
Course info: ttp://www.thefoothillsgc.com/
Entry Fee: $100 per player
Fee includes: Lunch, green fees, cart, range balls and 1 raffle ticket
Format: Men, Women, and Coed (Scramble format). Teams consist of 4 players but all golfers are welcomed and entries with less than 4 players will be consolidated into teams of 4.
Contests: Longest drive, closest to the pin, putting contest, raffle, and skins (side bets).
Prizes: Championship and runner up prizes to Men’s, Women’s, and Co-ed divisions.
Deadline: Entries will be limited to the first paid 100 golfers. Paid entries must be recieved on or before Wednesday, October 24th, 2007 (No exceptions). ASU NALSA will adhere to this strict deadline in order to facilitate scheduling with the golf course.Please see attached sign up form for payment.
For more info, contact: JC at clarkEjerome32@yahoo.com
In addition, NALSA recognizes there could be non-golfers who would like to contribute. There is an opportunity for hole sponsorship. Golf hole sponsorships are $100 per hole or if you’d like to sponsor current NALSA members who play golf, please contact JC at the e-mail address above.
The Ninth Circuit
The Ninth Circuit voted to rehear the SF Peaks Case en banc. Please see http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/ca9/newopinions.nsf and search by date for the October 17, 2007 opinion of the Navajo Nation v. United States Forest Service case.
The Ninth Circuit
The Ninth Circuit voted to rehear the SF Peaks Case en banc. http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/ca9/newopinions.nsf/8AFDEB9C52312EB988257377004A3A5F/$file/0615371ebo.pdf?openelement
Navajo Law Seminar
Navajo Law Seminar
Reflections from Within and Without
November 9, 2007
Navajo Nation Museum
Highway 64 and Loop Road
Window Rock, AZ 86515
In Celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the Navajo Nation Department of Justice and Sutin Thayer & Browne’s 10th Annual Navajo Law Seminar.
Sponsored by: The Navajo Nation Department of Justice, Sutin Thayer & Browne, the University of New Mexico School of Law and the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University College of Law.
AGENDA
8:30 – 8:45 Welcome
8:45 – 10:15 Fundamental Law of the Dine (1.5 Navajo Law or Navajo Ethics) (1.5 state general)
MODERATOR Christine Zuni Cruz
PANELISTS
1. Former Justice Ray Austin (UNM will find transcriber)
2. Herb Yazzie
3. Johnson Dennison
10:30 – 12:00 Navajo Nation Department of Justice: 25 Years of In-House Legal Counsel, Reflections from within and without (1.5 Navajo Law or Navajo Ethics) (1.5 state ethics)
MODERATOR Helen Padilla
PANELISTS
1. Louis Denetsosie
2. Pilar Thomas
3. Brad Downes
12:00 – 1:15 LUNCH
1:00 – 2:30 Dine Membership, Identity, and Self-Determination: 21st Century Challenges for the Navajo Nation (1.5 hours Navajo Law) (1.5 state general)
MODERATOR Kip Bobroff
PANELISTS
1. Paul Spruhan
2. Kevin Gover
3. Yolanda Begay
4. Phil Bluehouse
3:00 – 4:30 – BREAK OUT A & B (1.5 hours of Navajo law) (1.5 state general)
A. Navajo Employment Law
MODERATOR Bidtah Becker
PANELISTS
1. Regina Holyan
2. Lee Bergen
3. David Jordan
B. Navajo Nation Sovereign Immunity
MODERATOR Christina West
PANELISTS
1. Luralene Tapahe
2. Ron Rosier
3. Anne Brown
CLE CREDIT – This program has been submitted to the Navajo Nation Bar Association for a total of 6 hours of CLE Credit, 2 hours of which may be applied to Navajo ethics. NNBA will decide the actual number of credit hours that can be earned at the seminar. This program is pending with with State Bar of New Mexico for a total of 6 hours of general credit, 2 hours of which may be applied to ethics. The semnar will be submitted to the State Bar of Utah for CLE credits. This course may qualify for up to 6 hours, including 3 hours of ethics credit, toward your annual CLE requirement for the State Bar of Arizona. The State Bar of Arizona does not approve or accredit CLE activities for the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education requirement.
Registration: $110 per person on or before October 26, 2007. After October 26, 2007 or at the door $125.
Make Checks payable to: Sutin Thayer & Browne Attn: Navajo Law Seminar PO Box 1945, Albuquerque, NM 87103 Fax: (505) 855-9588
For more information contact: Tara Maestas at (505) 883-3396