Turtle Talk

To post an open Indian law or leadership job to Turtle Talk, send all of the following information to indigenous@law.msu.edu

In the email body:

A typed brief description of the position which includes

• Position title
• Location (city, state)
• Main duties
• Closing date
• Any other pertinent details, such as a link to the application
• An attached PDF job announcement or link to the position description

Pueblo of Laguna

Prosecutor. Laguna, NM. Full-time attorney to prosecute adult criminal defendants and juveniles in Laguna Pueblo Court for violating Laguna Pueblo law.  Advocates for the Pueblo to achieve justice and rehabilitation. Works in office having a full-time assistant and victim’s advocate and is under supervision of the Pueblo Governor.  Easy commute from Albuquerque metro. Remote work available. Compensation DOE. Open until filled.

New Mexico Legal Aid

Director for Native American Program. Santa Ana, NM. New Mexico Legal Aid is seeking a Director for its Native American Program. The Native American Program (NAP) provides free legal services to low-income Native Americans living on or near the nineteen (19) Pueblos, and outreach and community education to the community of the Mescalero Apache Nation. NAP is funded by the Legal Services Corporation and is part of New Mexico Legal Aid’s statewide program. Open until filled.

Pechanga Band of Indians

Senior Associate General Counsel. Temecula, CA. The Senior Associate General Counsel works under the direct supervision of the General Counsel.  The Senior Associate General Counsel provides strategic legal advice and counsel to the Pechanga Band of Indians and all of its governmental and commercial entities to advance compliance with applicable laws, and minimize legal risk to the Tribe and its assets. The Senior Associate General Counsel also advocates for the Tribe’s interests at the direction of the General Counsel in negotiations and legal and administrative proceedings. Filing Deadline: Until filled.

Office of the Solicitor – U.S. Department of the Interior

Attorney-Advisor. Phoenix, AZ (Telework eligible). The Solicitor’s Office performs a wide variety of the legal work for the United States Department of the Interior.  The selected Attorney-Advisor will provide legal advice on and legal services for matters pertaining to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), including public lands management, western water law, 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. Applicants should have the ability to interact and negotiate with Tribes, States, and local governmental entities, regarding contracts, agreements, and other matters. Closing date: Friday, October 13, 2023, and applications may be used to fill additional positions as vacancies become available.

Washington Department of Revenue

Compact Negotiation and Tribal Legal Affairs Coordinator. Tumwater, WA. The Department of Revenue’s Executive Division/Tribal Partnerships Program is excited to announce an incredible opportunity as a Compact Negotiation and Tribal Legal Affairs Coordinator (Tax Policy Specialist 4). In this position you will provide legal advice, legal analysis, policy recommendations, and other support. Additionally, your expertise is needed on politically sensitive state and national issues having significant impact on the agency, the Tribes, and the State. This position will also serve as a key member of the Department’s compact negotiation team and may assist in dispute resolution with tribes. Closing Date 10/31/2023 11:59 PM.

California Tribal Families Coalition

ICWA Post-graduate Legal Fellow. Remote, CA. California Tribal Families Coalition is honored to offer the San Manuel Tribal Advocacy Fellowship – a new post-graduation position for law students who have lived experience in tribal communities and a demonstrated interest in federal Indian/tribal law or child welfare. The Fellowship is a one-year position and will provide a competitive salary, student loan forgiveness as needed, and mentoring and training in Indian law, specifically in Indian child welfare work. Priority consideration is given to UCLA Law graduates. Applicants must be planning to take the summer California Bar Exam and commit to the one-year position beginning in or around August. The Fellow’s main duties will consist of legal research for tribal clients, representing tribal clients in child welfare cases, and presenting research to clients and attorney committees. Applications due October 27, 2023, 11:59 PM Pacific.

University of Minnesota, Duluth

Department of Social Work Assistant or Associate Professor. Duluth, MN. Individuals who hold underrepresented and/or marginalized identities, especially American Indian and other Indigenous people, are strongly encouraged to apply. Job duties and responsibilities for this full time, tenure track faculty position include teaching courses in a variety of areas in both BSW and MSW programs; advising students; conducting and publishing scholarly research; providing professional, community and university service; and mentoring and supervising students in social work field placements. Open until filled.

Settlement Division of the Bureau of Trust Funds Administration

Program Analyst. Remote. Provides appeals analyst support to the OTAR Settlement Division’s Administrative Appeals Program by handling standard and complex administrative appeals cases from inception to final disposition. Researches and drafts decisions in administrative appeals cases, as well as provides briefings and/or issue papers, talking points or reports. Serves as project manager and primary point of contact on assigned trust-related litigation support cases, which can include recommending appropriate research, analysis, and accounting methods for addressing trust-related issues, directing the work of contractors conducting analysis of mismanagement and damage claims, preparing specific historical accountings, and responding to records production requests. Serves as a Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) or, until COR II certification obtained, supports COR in managing and administering contracts. Closing date: Friday, October 13, 2023.

California Indian Legal Services

Domestic Violence Staff Attorney. McKinleyville, CA. Supervised by the Directing Attorney, the Domestic Violence (DV) Staff Attorney will work collaboratively with the DV Advocate to provide exceptional legal services in domestic violence cases, sexual assault, stalking and sex trafficking. This position includes general office and case management work. Open until filled.

Office of the General Counsel

General Attorney. Seattle, WA. The incumbent may be asked to serve any of the client agencies within HHS. Attorneys in OGC-Region X provide legal advice and litigation support to the Department in complex matters requiring extensive research and sophisticated analysis of administrative law, judicial decisions, and statutes and regulations. Attorneys must be competent in a wide range of legal skills, including analytical and problem-solving skills; experience preparing legal briefs and/or memoranda; experience in applying statutes, regulations, and policies; experience providing oral and written advice; and the ability to relate effectively with clients (in-person and remote). Attorneys are expected to do their own legal research and writing and be substantially self-sufficient in preparing day-to-day correspondence and pleadings. Closing Date: Until filled.

Earthjustice

Associate Attorney, Northwest. Seattle, WA. The Northwest Office of Earthjustice is looking to hire an Associate Attorney that is available to start between January and September 2024. Although the primary focus of the Northwest office is representing environmental and community groups in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, we often take cases with national and international scope.  For example, the Northwest office is representing the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in fighting the Dakota Access Pipeline and is also litigating numerous cases fighting rollbacks of environmental and health protections by the Trump administration, including a reversal of a proposed ban on a dangerous pesticide, chlorpyrifos, and rollbacks of the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the National Environmental Policy Act. Apply By Date: Oct 15, 2023.

Fallon Paiute Shoshone Tribe

RFP – Architectural Design Services. Fallon, NV. The Tribe has significant funding to design, build, and operate a cultural resources center on the Tribe’s Reservation in northern Nevada.  It is a unique opportunity that arose as mitigation for expansion of a nearby military base onto public lands that have great importance to the Tribe, its culture, and its lifeways.  The Tribe hopes that the new center will help its members both protect and strengthen its culture for generations to come. The deadline for submittal is December 1, 2023.

Oglala Sioux Tribe

Attorney General. Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, SD. The Attorney General is the Chief Prosecutor of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. The Attorney General shall be directly responsible to the Oglala Sioux Tribal Council. The Attorney General may be dismissed upon ninety (90) days written notice by the Oglala Sioux Tribal Council. The Attorney General is responsible for providing administrative, management, and technical expertise in performing all administrative and programmatic functions of the Oglala Sioux Tribe Attorney General’s Office. The Attorney General will supervise a support staff of eight (8) persons, including four (4) Tribal Prosecutors and four (4) clerks, in the day-to-day operations of the office. The Attorney General shall be responsible for their work performance, time and attendance, approval and disapproval of leave, performance evaluations, and disciplinary actions, if necessary. Open until filled.

DNA-People’s Legal Services

Hopi Public Defender – Managing Attorney. Keams Canyon, AZ. DNA-People’s Legal Services is a non-profit law firm providing free, high-quality legal services to people living in poverty on the Navajo, Hopi, and Jicarilla Apache Nations, and parts of Northern Arizona, Northwest New Mexico, and Southern Utah. In addition to providing civil legal services in those areas, DNA serves as the Public Defender for the Hopi Tribal Court. No closing date – Open Until Filled.

Staff Attorney. Farmington, NM, or Hybrid-Remote. DNA – People’s Legal Services (“DNA”) is committed to providing high quality legal services to persons living in poverty on the Navajo, Hopi and Jicarilla Apache Reservations, and in parts of Northern Arizona, Northwest New Mexico, and Southern Utah. DNA’s main office, as well as DNA’s Fort Defiance branch office, are located in Window Rock, Arizona. DNA also has branch offices in Chinle, Arizona, Tuba City, Arizona, Flagstaff, Arizona, on the Hopi BIA judicial compound near Keams Canyon, Arizona, and Farmington, New Mexico. DNA legal staff practice in tribal, state, federal, and administrative courts. No closing date – open until filled.

Office of the General Counsel – U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

General Attorney. Seattle, WA. The Office of the General Counsel is the legal team for HHS, providing quality representation and legal advice on a wide range of highly visible national issues. OGC supports the development and implementation of the Department’s programs by providing the highest quality legal services to the Secretary of HHS and the organization’s various agencies and divisions. Open until filled.

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe

Chief Judge. Fort Yates, ND. The Chief Judge shall administer justice and discharge all duties in accordance with the Standing Rock Constitution and Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Code of Justice.  The Chief Judge shall be responsible for the administration of the Tribal Court, the assignment of cases, and the management of the Court’s calendar and business.  Duties of the Chief Judge include, but are not limited to: 1) hear and decide cases and enter judgments; 2) preside at arraignments, pre-trial hearings, trials, sentencing hearings, and all civil and family court hearings as assigned; 3) conduct legal research and writing as necessary for the decision in a case; and 4) timely issue rulings and written Court orders and judgments setting out findings of fact and conclusions of law interpreting, applying and enforcing tribal law, and federal an state law as applicable. Closing Date: Open until filled.

Chief Prosecutor. Fort Yates, ND. The Chief Prosecutor shall represent the interests of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in prosecuting individuals alleged to have violated criminal provisions of the Standing Rock Tribal Code of Justice.  The responsibilities of the chief Prosecutor include, but are not limited to:  1) reviewing reports, complaints, and citations; 2) filing appropriate criminal charges in the Standing Rock Tribal Court; 3) coordinating with law enforcement; 4) interviewing witnesses and gathering evidence; 5) legal research and writing; 6) drafting complaints, pleadings, and motions; 7) issuing subpoenas; 8) preparing and presenting cases for trial; and 9) managing the Tribal Prosecution Office. Closing Date: Open until filled.

Friends Committee on National Legislation

Legislative Manager of Native American Advocacy. Washington, DC (hybrid). Main duties: Represent FCNL to Congress and the Executive Branch; Develop a comprehensive change strategy; Work in coalition with our colleague organizations; Coordinate with other members of the Policy and Advocacy Team; Provide and develop expertise; Represent FCNL positions in the media. Closing date: November 1, 2023.

Pueblo of Sandia

Assistant General Counsel-Contracting. Albuquerque, NM. Under the general supervision of the General Counsel, the Assistant General Counsel – Contracting serves as a key member of the Pueblo’s legal team.  The responsibilities of the position cover a wide range of legal matters that would typically confront a tribal general counsel’s office, including: providing a diverse range of legal advice to the Pueblo; ensuring the Pueblo’s legal and sovereign interests are protected; and serving as the primary contact and expert for the Pueblo’s contracting matters, subject to the direction and oversight of the General Counsel. Open until filled.

Yurok Tribe

Summer 2024 Law Clerk. Klamath, CA. Main duties include legal research, writing internal legal memoranda, drafting ordinances, conducting policy analysis, and attending tribal department meetings and Tribal Council. We are recruiting on a rolling basis, we consider fall, winter, and spring positions, and we do not have a closing date.

Alaska Legal Services Corporation

Native Law Staff Attorney. Bethel or Anchorage, AK. Full-time (35 hours per week) staff attorney to provide legal services to Association of Village Council Presidents (“AVCP”) member Tribes and tribal members. This position primarily involves representation of tribal clients in state child welfare proceedings, enforcing the Indian Child Welfare Act; and managing a caseload of state court child in need of aid cases. Other duties may also involve litigating other Native law matters on behalf of AVCP Tribes and tribal members. Position open until filled.

Montana Legal Services Association

Intake Specialist. Helena or Billings MT. Montana Legal Services Association is hiring for an Intake Specialist. Responsibilities include: Answer incoming HelpLine calls and perform interviews of applicants for legal services, maintain calendars in the case management system and schedule advice appointments with MLSA advocates as appropriate, ability and willingness to work cooperatively and collegially within a decentralized statewide law firm, determine the legal needs and financial eligibility of the applicant for program services. Screening of applicants will begin immediately and we hope to fill the position before October 31, 2023. However, the position will remain open until filled.

Disaster Outreach/Intake Assistant. Billings MT. Montana Legal Services Association is hiring for a Disaster Outreach/Intake Assistant. Responsibilities include: Respectfully interview potential applicants for legal services who may be under stress of legal action, elicit factual information from applicants, analyze the type of legal problem presented to determine whether MLSA may assist, or whether a referral is appropriate, and evaluate legal need and financial eligibility of the applicant. Work with MLSA’s Disaster Relief Program Coordinator and/or the Pro Bono Project Coordinator to integrate disaster legal assistance into MLSA’s statewide program. Regularly connect with MLSA’s Communications Manager to ensure that Disaster Outreach efforts reflect and coincide with the movement of MLSA’s communications as a whole. Recruit and support volunteers across the state willing to assist with the civil legal needs of victims of disaster. Screening of applicants will begin immediately and we hope to fill the position before October 31, 2023. However, the position will remain open until filled.

Medical Legal Partnership Attorney. Missoula, Helena or Billings MT. Montana Legal Services Association is hiring two attorney positions for our Medical Legal Partnership Program.  Responsibilities include: Travel to partner Community Health Centers to conduct training, hold regular office hours, and provide legal services to address patients’ needs, provide orientation and training activities for Health Center partners, including how to make appropriate referrals, Interview, advise, and represent eligible clients on civil matters, develop and maintain specialized knowledge of the health-harming legal needs of patients, provide services ranging from brief counsel and advice, to more extended representation on core legal issues affecting patients in the Community Health system. A law degree and current license to practice law in Montana is preferred. We will consider applicants with the ability to waive in with a qualifying UBE score, or a willingness to take and pass the next Montana Bar Exam. Screening of applicants will begin immediately and we hope to fill the position before November 30, 2023. However, the position will remain open until filled.

Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate

Public Defender. Agency Village, SD. It is the duty of the Public Defender to represent indigent defendants charged with crimes within the boundaries of the Lake Traverse Reservation. The licensed attorney should have experience in criminal defense, filing pretrial motions, representing their client at all stages of the proceeding, and conducting bench and jury trials. This individual will assist with representing parents in all juvenile cases, including but not limited to, child abuse, neglect, dependency, and unruly and delinquent cases. The applicant may be needed to assist with Indian Child Welfare Act cases, and should be able to understand motions to intervene and/or transfer from State Court ICWA proceedings. This position is OPEN UNTIL FILLED. (Tribal Preference will apply).

New Mexico Legal Aid

Director – Native American Program. Santa Ana, NM. New Mexico Legal Aid is seeking a Director for its Native American Program.  The Native American Program (NAP) provides free legal services to low-income Native Americans living on or near the nineteen (19) Pueblos, and outreach and community education to the community of the Mescalero Apache Nation. NAP is funded by the Legal Services Corporation and is part of New Mexico Legal Aid’s statewide program. Deadline to apply: Until filled.

Pine Tree Legal Assistance

Staff Attorney. Bangor, ME. Pine Tree Legal Assistance, Inc. is seeking a staff attorney for its Indigenous Peoples Unit. This is primarily a litigation position, and the attorney will be in court or appearing in administrative proceedings on a regular basis for low-income tribal members. Most cases are in the Passamaquoddy Tribal Courts and the Penobscot Nation Tribal Court. The attorney will also be responsible for creating client education materials, coordinating with tribal community partners, and performing outreach across the five Wabanaki tribal communities. Experience working with tribes and tribal members is strongly preferred. Position is open until filled

Michigan Indian Legal Services

Part-time Legal Assistant. Traverse City, MI. Michigan Indian Legal Services (MILS) has an opening for a part-time Legal Secretary/Assistant to work out of our Traverse City office. The Legal Secretary/ Assistant will primarily be aiding attorneys with their state-wide case work, performing intakes, maintaining client files. Open until filled.

Rothstein Donatelli LLP

Associate Attorney – Indian Law. Tempe, AZ. Rothstein Donatelli LLP has offices in Santa Fe and Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Tempe, Arizona. The Tempe office is seeking an associate attorney for its Indian law practice group. The ideal candidate will have three or more years of experience with a demonstrated commitment to the highest quality of legal practice, excellent research and writing skills, and an interest in representing tribal Nations. Experience in Indian law is not required. Open until filled.

St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin

Staff Attorney. Siren, WI. Provides legal representation to the St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin. The candidate will assist the St. Croix Legal Department in legal research, drafting documents, contract review, and review/revise existing St. Croix code of laws. The candidate must be barred in the State of Wisconsin. Indian preference applies. Open until filled.

To view last week’s job announcements, please click here.