Author: Matthew Campbell

Save the Date: Apply to Clerk at NARF by September 2, 2016

Matthew Campbell

Founded in 1970, the Native American Rights Fund (“NARF”) is the oldest and largest nonprofit law firm dedicated to asserting and defending the rights of Indian tribes, organizations, and individuals nationwide. NARF’s practice is concentrated in five key areas: the preservation of tribal existence; the protection of tribal natural resources; the promotion of Native American human rights; the accountability of governments to Native Americans; and the development of Indian law and educating the public about Indian rights, laws, and issues.

Summer Clerkships
NARF is currently seeking candidates for its Summer 2017 Clerkships! Each year, NARF conducts a nation-wide search for law students to participate in its Law Clerk Program. Positions are available in all three of NARF’s offices: Anchorage, AK; Boulder, CO; and Washington, D.C.

Here is the advertisement. The deadline to apply is September 2, 2016.

NARF’s Alaska Office Seeks Applicants for Alaska Fellow Position

Matthew Campbell

NARF’s Alaska office is seeking applicants with a strong background in federal Indian law and public service for a two-year fellowship as NARF’s Alaska Fellow.  Applicants must have a law degree from an accredited law school, a license to practice law in Alaska or the ability to be admitted by reciprocity or intention to sit for either the July 2016 or February 2017 bar exams, and experience working with American Indian or Alaska Native tribes.  Applications should be submitted no later than Friday, May 20, 2016, and more information can be found on the NARF website.

Reminder: Apply to Clerk at NARF by September 25, 2015

Matthew Campbell

Founded in 1970, the Native American Rights Fund (“NARF”) is the oldest and largest nonprofit law firm dedicated to asserting and defending the rights of Indian tribes, organizations, and individuals nationwide. NARF’s practice is concentrated in five key areas: the preservation of tribal existence; the protection of tribal natural resources; the promotion of Native American human rights; the accountability of governments to Native Americans; and the development of Indian law and educating the public about Indian rights, laws, and issues.

Summer Clerkships
NARF is currently seeking candidates for its Summer 2016 Clerkships! Each year, NARF conducts a nation-wide search for law students to participate in its Law Clerk Program. Positions are available in all three of NARF’s offices: Anchorage, AK; Boulder, CO; and Washington, D.C.

Here is the advertisement. The deadline to apply is September 25, 2015.

NMLA staff attorney position available at Native American Program in Santa Ana – deadline August 14

Matthew Campbell

From New Mexico Legal Aid and the State Bar of New Mexico:

Chris Vigil will leave the Native American Program at New Mexico Legal Aid next month to accept a position working on water rights adjudications with the New Mexico Administrative Office of the Courts. It’s a great opportunity for Chris, but a loss for NMLA. We very much appreciate the great work Chris has done for our clients, and we wish him much success in his new position.

Chris’s decision means that NMLA is now seeking a staff attorney to join the Native American Program in Santa Ana. The NAP staff attorney will handle cases and matters involving federal Indian law and Indian tribal law issues, including representation of low income individuals in tribal and Pueblo courts.  In addition, the staff attorney may be required to handle poverty law issues involving consumer and family law issues in forums other than tribal court and to conduct outreach in tribal and Pueblo communities.  The attorney will also be active in relevant bar and community activities.

The Native American Program does creative, challenging and complex work in a context of rich cultures and diverse client communities. We are looking for highly motivated candidates who are passionate and strongly committed to helping NMLA better serve our Native American communities, including development of effective team strategies to handle complex advocacy and extended representation cases.

Requirements:  Experience with Native American legal issues and communities, especially New Mexico tribal and Pueblo communities, will be highly preferred. At least two years’ experience in handling criminal defense cases, especially those arising in tribal or Pueblo courts, will be highly preferred. Must be willing to travel. Candidates must possess excellent written and oral communication skills, the ability to manage multiple tasks, and ability to manage a significant caseload and build collaborative relationships within the staff and the community.  Proficiency in relevant Native American languages is a plus.

Send a current resume and a letter of interest explaining what you would like to accomplish if you are selected for this position to:  jobs@nmlegalaid.org

Salary:  DOE, NMLA is an EEO Employer.

Deadline:  August 14, 2015.

Save the Date: Apply to Clerk at NARF by September 25, 2015

Matthew Campbell

Founded in 1970, the Native American Rights Fund (“NARF”) is the oldest and largest nonprofit law firm dedicated to asserting and defending the rights of Indian tribes, organizations, and individuals nationwide. NARF’s practice is concentrated in five key areas: the preservation of tribal existence; the protection of tribal natural resources; the promotion of Native American human rights; the accountability of governments to Native Americans; and the development of Indian law and educating the public about Indian rights, laws, and issues.

Summer Clerkships
NARF is currently seeking candidates for its Summer 2016 Clerkships! Each year, NARF conducts a nation-wide search for law students to participate in its Law Clerk Program. Positions are available in all three of NARF’s offices: Anchorage, AK; Boulder, CO; and Washington, D.C.

Here is the advertisement. The deadline to apply is September 25, 2015.

Reminder: Apply to Clerk at NARF by September 29, 2014

Matthew Campbell

Don’t forget to get your application in to Clerk at the Native American Rights Fund (“NARF”) by September 29, 2014. Founded in 1970, NARF is the oldest and largest nonprofit law firm dedicated to asserting and defending the rights of Indian tribes, organizations, and individuals nationwide. NARF’s practice is concentrated in five key areas: the preservation of tribal existence; the protection of tribal natural resources; the promotion of Native American human rights; the accountability of governments to Native Americans; and the development of Indian law and educating the public about Indian rights, laws, and issues.

Summer Clerkships
NARF is currently seeking candidates for its Summer 2015 Clerkships! Each year, NARF conducts a nation-wide search for law students to participate in its Law Clerk Program. Positions are available in all three of NARF’s offices: Anchorage, AK; Boulder, CO; and Washington, D.C.

Here is the advertisement.

To learn more about NARF’s work, go to its website.  

Save the Date: Apply to Clerk at NARF by September 29, 2014

Matthew Campbell

Founded in 1970, the Native American Rights Fund (NARF) is the oldest and largest nonprofit law firm dedicated to asserting and defending the rights of Indian tribes, organizations, and individuals nationwide. NARF’s practice is concentrated in five key areas: the preservation of tribal existence; the protection of tribal natural resources; the promotion of Native American human rights; the accountability of governments to Native Americans; and the development of Indian law and educating the public about Indian rights, laws, and issues.
Summer Clerkships
NARF is currently seeking candidates for its Summer 2015 Clerkships! Each year, NARF conducts a nation-wide search for law students to participate in its Law Clerk Program. Positions are available in all three of NARF’s offices: Anchorage, AK; Boulder, CO; and Washington, D.C.

Here is the advertisement.

Reminder – Apply to Clerk at NARF by November 1

Matthew Campbell

NARF is currently seeking candidates for its Summer 2014 Clerkships. Each year, NARF conducts a nation-wide search for law students to participate in its Law Clerk Program. Positions are available in all three of NARF’s offices: Anchorage, AK; Boulder, CO; and Washington, D.C.  The deadline to apply is November 1, 2013.  See the flyer with the qualifications and requirements here.

Apply to clerk at the Native American Rights Fund!

Matthew Campbell

NARF is currently seeking candidates for its Summer 2014 Clerkships. Each year, NARF conducts a nation-wide search for law students to participate in its Law Clerk Program. Positions are available in all three of NARF’s offices: Anchorage, AK; Boulder, CO; and Washington, D.C.  The deadline to apply is November 1, 2013.  See the flyer with the qualifications and requirements here.

Uranium Companies and Others Challenge Secretarial Withdrawal of Lands Around Grand Canyon on Establishment Grounds

Matthew Campbell4 Comments

In January of 2012, Secretary Salazar announced that he was withdrawing lands near the Grand Canyon.  Specifically, the withdrawal prohibits new mining claims and development on old claims that lack “valid existing rights.”

Recently, uranium companies and others have challenged the withdrawal.  A portion of Yount’s Second Amended Complaint:

SIXTH CLAIM
The Secretary of the Interior’s rationale for a withdrawal as stated in his Record of Decision is substantially based on granting an unconstitutional preference for the religious belief of Native Americans proximate to the NAPWA. By deferring to Native American religious and cultural beliefs this appears to convey a message of government endorsement of their religious beliefs contrary to established law.

A portion of Quaterra Alaska, Inc.’s Amended Complaint:

Federal law does not recognize the right to preclude land uses
based solely on religious or cultural sensibilities. Sensibilities or feelings that are separate from a site protected under the NHPA or religious practice protected by RLUIPA and enjoy no legal protection. A withdrawal based on protecting sensibilities independent of legally protected sites and religious practices is arbitrary and capricious and contrary to
law. It is based on irrelevant factors not recognized in law and exceeds the Secretary’s authority.