Category Archives: Alumni

Native American Heritage Month at ASU Law

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To kick off Native American Heritage month, the ILP invited all of ASU Law to a movie screening of Killers of the Flower Moon on Nov. 3.

Professor Robert Miller and panelists appeared on The Scholars’ Circle podcast segment “Osage Nation (tribe): history, oil, murders and gender dynamics.” In the panel, Miller discussed the legal situation and exploitation of Native Peoples in Oklahoma.

The ASU Native American Law Students Association (NALSA) visited the Honorable Diane Humetewa (’93), a federal judge in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona, at the Sandra Day O’Connor Courthouse.

On Nov. 8, NALSA and the American Constitution Society co-hosted a lunch lecture featuring Professor Robert Miller and discussed Native American influence on the U.S. Constitution. 

On Nov. 15, NALSA hosted a brown bag luncheon with April Olson (’06), partner at Rothstein Donatelli LLP and Kiyoko Patterson (’03), Assistant U.S. Attorney. We appreciate Rothstein Donatelli LLP for sponsoring this event.

On Nov. 18, students gathered for a “NALSA Friendsgiving” to strengthen community and enjoy a good meal.

NALSA students held a food drive and delivered donations to the Phoenix Indian Center.

In late October, ASU NALSA spent an afternoon with Ron Rosier (’95), of counsel at Lewis Roca and Steven Heeley, of counsel at Rothstein Donatelli LLP and learned about career opportunities for Indian law attorneys.

Job opportunity: State Policy Advocates

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Protect Democracy is hiring State Policy Advocates in Arizona and Nevada. You can find that job posting here; Full listing of jobs is here.

Protect Democracy is a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to preventing American democracy from declining into a more authoritarian form of government. Our diverse, cross-ideological team defends elections, the rule of law, and fact-based political debate against authoritarian threats, and works to shape a better democracy for future generations. 

The State Policy Advocate will be Protect Democracy’s advocacy lead in Arizona or Nevada, working with our full team to design, execute, and contribute to a variety of initiatives that achieve impact and advance Protect Democracy’s mission. The ideal candidates bring a strategic approach and superb communication skills; a flexible, growth-oriented mindset and collaborative approach; a commitment to excellence; and enthusiasm for our mission. 

We strongly encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds and with policy views across the political and ideological spectrum to apply. Finally, we do not expect any candidate to have 100% of the qualifications listed. 

Celebrating excellence, one award at a time

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The Native American Bar Association of Arizona (NABA-AZ) held its 2023 Annual Seven Generations Awards Dinner and Silent Auction and honored several of our ILP family. Congratulations to this year’s award recipients! ILP advisory council member Judith Dworkin received the Lifetime Achievement Award, Angela Willeford-Salazar (MLS ’23) with the Office of Congressional & Legislative Affairs’ Get Out the Vote Committee received the Community Leadership Award and Kiyoko Patterson (’03) received the Member of the Year Award.

Eleven ASU Native American Law Students Association (NALSA) students received the NABA-AZ Scholarship for their academic achievement. Congratulations to ILP students: Rachel Carroll (3L), Keely Driscoll (2L), Shandiin Herrera (2L), Clayton Kinsey (3L), Kaleb Lester (2L), Sadie Red Eagle (2L), Maryam Salazar (3L), Natalia Sells (3L), Ronnie Strode III (1L), Alexandra Trousdale (3L) and Makai Zuniga (2L).

The NABA-AZ are integral to student success and we appreciate their commitment to ILP students.

Job opportunity: Attorney-Adviser

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Department of the Interior
Office of the Solicitor
Phoenix, AZ

This position is in the excepted service and not subject to competitive service procedures.
Merit promotion procedures do not apply.
This vacancy may be used to fill additional positions as vacancies become available.

As an Attorney-Adviser with the Department of the Interior, Office of the Solicitor, Intermountain region, Phoenix Field Office, located in Phoenix, AZyour specific duties will include:

  • Providing advice on and legal services for matters pertaining to the various agencies within the Department of the Interior, primarily for, but not limited to, the Bureau of Land Management and the Bureau of Reclamation.
  • Providing advice and legal services on the topics of public lands management and western water law relating to laws and regulations of general applicability to Federal agencies, such as the Federal Land Management and Policy Act, National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, National Reclamation Act, and other relevant federal laws.
  • Providing litigation support on behalf of the Secretary of the Interior and various Interior agencies, including the Bureau of Land Management and the Bureau of Reclamation, to the Department of Justice and practicing before the Interior Board of Land Appeals.
  • Involves knowledge of water law; public lands law; federal and state litigation procedure; the federal Indian trust responsibility and statutes relating to interactions between the federal government and Tribes; federal environmental laws; real property laws; contracts, financial assistance, and cooperative agreements.
  • Requires the ability to analyze legal requirements and succinctly provide advice and counsel to technical/non-legal professionals; and the ability to interact and negotiate with outside entities, including Tribes, States, and local governmental entities, regarding contracts, agreements, and other matters.

For full job description and to apply, go to Job Posting.

Job opportunity: Associate Attorney Position

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Hobbs, Straus, Dean & Walker, LLP is seeking applications for an Associate Attorney who will work in-person in the Washington, DC office.

Hobbs Straus is a national law firm with offices in Washington, DC; Portland, OR; Oklahoma City, OK; and Sacramento, CA.  Hobbs Straus specializes in Federal Indian Law and has worked for 40 years to realize positive change in Indian Country.  Our attorneys are dedicated to promoting and defending Tribal Nations’ rights and exercise of sovereignty, expanding opportunities for Tribal Nations, and improving the lives of American Indians and Alaska Natives.

Qualifications for candidates include:

  • A strong academic performance;
  • Superior research and writing skills;
  • Strong communication skills; and
  • A commitment to Federal Indian Law.

The position would begin immediately upon hire.

To apply, interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, unofficial law school transcript, writing sample, and references to Tisa Perry at bperry@hobbsstraus.com.

Please reach out to Tisa or to Katie Klass at kklass@hobbsstraus.com with any questions.  We will contact all applicants after we make our hiring decision.  However, should you receive another offer or otherwise want an update before you hear from us, please reach out to Tisa or Katie.

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

Washington, DC Office Location:
1899 L Street, NW, Suite 1200
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 822-8282

Job opening: ASU Tribal Relations Director

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Arizona State University
Office of Government & Community Engagement

Serves as primary liaison between the University and tribal nations/communities locally, regionally, and globally to develop partnerships and seek to embrace and connect with tribal communities enabling both success of American Indian students by providing a climate of cultural respect and inclusion, and research integrity when working with tribal nations, communities, and native people.

Works in partnership with the Special Advisor to the President to assist the Office of American Indian initiatives.

See job announcement (pdf) and apply.

Increasing Native representation at the American Bar Association

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At this year’s annual ABA meeting, lawyers and legal advocates gathered to support two prominent Native American legal warriors: John Echohawk (Pawnee Nation) and Mary Smith (Cherokee Nation.)

John Echohawk, executive director of the Native American Rights Fund, received the ABA’s Thurgood Marshall Award for his service in protecting and fighting for the rights of Indian Country. Dallin Maybee (’11), NARF director of development, sang the honor song with Steve LaPointe.

Stacy Leeds, the first Indigenous dean at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, administered the oath ceremony for Mary Smith, the first Native American woman to lead the American Bar Association. 

(Photo courtesy Native American Rights Fund)

Congratulations to both John and Mary! Your leadership greatly bolsters Native Americans in the legal profession and strengthens Indian Country.

Call for articles

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The Law Journal for Social Justice (LJSJ) at Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law is seeking articles, notes, or comments for our Spring 2024 issue. We publish articles on a range of interdisciplinary topics at the intersection of law and social justice. In our Spring 2024 publication, we are looking for articles on topics centering around violent crime, Indigenous issues, and social justice. 

If you would like to submit your work for publication in Volume XIX of the Law Journal for Social Justice, you can submit your article to ljsjeic@gmail.com or to Managing Editor Tyler DeMers at tjdemers@asu.edu. 

Additionally, LJSJ is currently seeking out Symposium panelists who are interested in speaking on the topics of violent crime, Indigenous issues, and social justice for our Spring Symposium in February of 2024. If you have legal scholarship or research on these topics and are interested in participating in the Symposium, or if you have any questions regarding the Symposium, please feel free to contact Symposium Natalia Sells (3L) at nlsells@asu.edu. 

For more information regarding the Law Journal for Social Justice, please go to: https://lawjournalforsocialjustice.com/.

Job opportunities with New Mexico Legal Aid

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New Mexico Legal Aid (NMLA) provides civil legal services to low-income New Mexicans for a variety of legal issues including domestic violence/family law, consumer protection, housing, and benefits. NMLA has locations throughout the state including Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Las Cruces, Gallup, Roswell, Silver City, Clovis, Hobbs, Las Vegas, Taos, and Santa Ana.

Staff Attorney posting 8.4.2023

Director for Native American Program 8.1.2023