Job Opportunity – General Attorney

Posted on February 5, 2021 by Indian Legal Program

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY – Customs and Border Protection – Office of Chief Counsel

Salary: $65,190.00 – $142,732.00

Closing date: 2/11/2021

Position Summary:

As our nation navigates the COVID-19 pandemic, CBP is committed to delivering our mission to safeguard America’s borders and enable legitimate trade and travel. Staffing mission critical positions remains a high priority. Be reassured that CBP is still hiring, despite potential hiring process step delays due to restrictions to in-person activities.

Qualifications:

Applicant must be a graduate from a full course of study in a School of Law accredited by the American Bar Association and be an active member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory of the United States, the District of Columbia or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
Specialized Education: Recent law school graduates may be appointed to attorney positions at the GS-11 level with the following additional qualifications: rank in the top 1/3 of graduating class; participation on the school’s official Law Review; membership in the Order of the Coif; or winning of a moot court competition.
An interim appointment of 14 months may be made pending the selectee’s admission to the bar.
Selectee will be required to provide admittance and standing to the Bar and must provide a copy of their official law school transcript.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social).

Responsibilities:

Providing legal advice to, and legal representation of, Customs and Border Protection (CBP’s) National Finance Center, Revenue Division, Procurement Division, Facilities Management & Engineering Division, Environmental and Energy Division (Office of Enterprise Services), Office of Trade, Office of Field Operations, and other CBP offices throughout the United States;
Performing legal research into laws, regulations, decisions and other precedents bearing on legal issues involving CBP, particularly in the areas of federal appropriations, bankruptcy, collections (primarily customs duties, liquidated damages, fees and charges), contract, construction, employment, environmental, international trade, real property and tort law;
Assisting the Department of Justice in civil action involving CBP by preparing litigation reports, affidavits, and other pleading, and participating in discovery, motion drafting, settlement discussions, and providing litigation support in a variety of matters such as complex trade cases generally involving the collection of revenue, actions brought under federal statutes such as the False Claims Act, procurement disputes filed in federal courts, and condemnation actions; and also representing CBP in various third party administrative hearings involving matters such as employee discipline and adverse actions, arbitrations, EEO discrimination complaints, Merit Systems Principles Board (MSPB) appeals, contract and travel/relocation disputes before the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals, and employee overpayment hearings; and
Advocating for claims filed on behalf of the Government and provides legal opinions and advice concerning resolution of claims against the government arising out of CBP operations.
Travel Required Occasional travel – You may be expected to travel for this position.

See full job announcement and application details: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/PrintPreview/590767100

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.

New Faculty Associate & New MLS Course

Posted on January 13, 2021 by Indian Legal Program

This upcoming summer, the Indian Legal Program (ILP) is expanding the Master of Legal Studies (MLS) program with a new course on civil jurisdiction in Indian Country. Paul Spruhan joins as faculty associate of the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. Spruhan is the Assistant Attorney General for the Litigation Unit of the Navajo Nation Department of Justice in Window Rock, Arizona.

This new course compliments the current curriculum offered to ILP students enrolled in the MLS program as it will allow an in-depth and comprehensive study on the foundational laws that have shaped civil jurisdiction in Indian Country today. This course will examine the relationship between the circuit courts and the United States Supreme Court in the development of binding case law that directly impacts the reach and impact of tribal sovereignty.

“Issues of civil jurisdiction in Indian Country are complex but vital for the development of tribal sovereignty,” said Spruhan. “This class will discuss the important federal cases and statutes and apply those cases to real world situations, so that tribal leaders and others within and outside Indian Country can understand the framework created by federal Indian law to make the important policy decisions that affect tribal communities.”

Professor Ann Marie Bledsoe Downes (Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska) is the Director of the Masters of Legal Studies for ILP and works on the development of curriculum for the Indian Gaming and Tribal Self-Governance programs for the MLS and LL.M programs. Professor Bledsoe Downes is excited to expand ILP’s online Federal Indian Law courses for the MLS program. There are now three Indian law MLS emphasis areas and this new course developed and taught by Spruhan is an important addition to each of these study areas. “Paul’s expertise in this area and talent for the online classroom are the perfect fit for the Indian Legal Program and our new Indian Gaming and Tribal Self-Governance Programs,” said Bledsoe Downes. “We also anticipate MLS students from other emphasis areas pursing this course, which is a great way to expose more of our student body to the field of Federal Indian Law and to improve understating of tribal governments and tribal sovereignty.”

Please join ILP in welcoming Paul Spruhan to the ILP family!

________
DesiRae Deschine (’19)
Attorney, Navajo Nation Department of Justice

Awesome news for the ILP Family!

Posted on January 8, 2021 by Indian Legal Program

Welcome Professor Stacy Leeds!

Starting out the semester with big news and a big win for Arizona State University!

Click Here

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.