Turtle Talk

The Indian Law Resource Center is a non‐profit legal advocacy organization dedicated to providing legal advice, assistance, and representation to Indian tribes and indigenous communities throughout the Americas. We are also
committed to developing new attorneys in the fields of Indian law and international human rights law.

To this end, we offer several fellowship and clerkship opportunities in both our Helena, Montana and Washington, D.C. offices.

These fellowship and clerkship opportunities require a minimum eight week commitment and entail legal research and writing on major Indian rights issues related to current projects of the Indian Law Resource Center. The Lewis and Sidley Fellowships both offer a stipend of $3,000 for the term of the Fellowship. Applicants are welcome to supplement this stipend with additional financial support through their law school’s public interest programs or through other public interest scholarships.

• The John D.B. Lewis Fellowship is a competitive fellowship awarded each
year to a law student who shows particular promise for a career in
international indigenous human rights issues.

• The Terrance A. Sidley Fellowship is a competitive Fellowship awarded
each year to a law student who shows particular promise for a career in
federal Indian law and international indigenous human rights issues.

• A limited number of unpaid, competitive legal clerkships are also
available. Applicants for these clerkships are encouraged to seek their own
financial support through their law school’s public interest programs or
through other public interest scholarships.

About the Indian Law Resource Center
Founded in 1978, the Indian Law Resource Center is a non‐profit law and advocacy organization established and directed by American Indians. We provide legal assistance to tribes and other indigenous peoples in the United States and in Central and South America who are working to protect their land, resources, human rights, environment, and cultural heritage. The Center seeks to overcome threats to indigenous peoples by establishing national and international legal standards that uphold indigenous human rights and dignity, strengthen indigenous self]determination, and protect indigenous lands and resources. For further information about the Center, visit our website, http://www.indianlaw.org.

To apply for a fellowship or clerkship, please send the following:

•  Cover letter specifying the office in which you would prefer to work and whether you wish to be considered for the Lewis or Sidley Fellowships, or an unpaid clerkship position;
• Resume;
• Law school transcript;
• Legal writing sample; and
• Two letters of recommendation (preferably one from a current or former employer and one from a law school professor).

We will accept clerkship applications on a rolling basis, but to be considered for the Lewis or Sidley Fellowship your application must be received by November 18, 2011.  Decisions regarding the Lewis and Sidley Fellowships will be made by December 16, 2011.  All applications may be sent by e-mail or regular mail to Jana L. Walker at jwalker@indianlaw.org or to Indian Law Resource Center, 602 N. Ewing Street, Helena, MT 59601. For additional information, contact Jana Walker at (406) 449-2006 ext. 106.