Author: Sarah Donnelly

Summer Law Clerk: Intern Positions Available with Navajo Nation Department of Justice

Sarah M Donnelly

The Navajo Nation Department of Justice (DOJ) is seeking energetic and motivated candidates for a number of funded summer law clerk positions in the following areas of practice:

  • Natural Resources,
  • Tax and Finance,
  • Litigation,
  • Employment,
  • Human Services,
  • Government Services,
  • Economic Development,
  • Gaming,
  • Water Rights, and
  • Direct Legal Services for Navajo Relocatees.

Minimum Qualifications:

  • Must be enrolled in a law school accredited by the American Bar Association.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Must have completed a law school course on Federal Indian Law.

(To receive full credit for education, certification, or licensure, transcripts, copies of degrees, certificates, and other appropriate documents must be submitted along with employment application.)

Externally funded candidates are also strongly encouraged to apply.

DOJ provides legal services to and litigates on behalf of the three governmental branches of the Navajo Nation government, including its chapters and entities, in matters in which the Navajo Nation government has an interest. The Attorney General also defends litigation against the Navajo Nation and supervises outside attorneys who assist the Nation with various cases.

Interested candidates should submit their cover letter, resume, transcript and a short (5-10 page) writing sample to Rodgerick Begay at rbegay@nndoj.org.  Complete application packets must be received no later than 5 p.m. Mountain Time on Friday, March 18th.

Selected candidates will also be asked to fill out a formal Navajo Nation Employee Application, which can be found at http://www.dpm.navajo-nsn.gov/jobs.html.

THE NAVAJO NATION GIVES PREFERENCE TO ELIGIBLE AND QUALIFIED APPLICANTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE NAVAJO PREFERENCE IN EMPLOYMENT ACT AND VETERANS’ PREFERENCE.

NHBP Shared Revenue to Help Michigan Schools Scrap Native Mascots

Sarah M Donnelly1 Comment

Link: New state-tribe agreement may help schools nix Native American mascots by Emily Lawler from MLive.

The Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi and the State of Michigan amended their gaming compact to allow up to $500,000 to be put in the Michigan Native American Heritage Fund:

The federal government on Dec. 12, 2016 approved another amendment that puts a portion of state revenue sharing into a special fund dedicated to promoting understanding, history and good relationships with the state’s Native Americans.

One use could be for monetary help transitioning schools away from Native American mascots.

“This fund demonstrates our commitment to providing Michigan schools, colleges and universities with the funds needed to improve curricula and resources related to Native American issues and mascot revisions,” said NHBP Tribal Chair Jamie Stuck in a press release. “We understand that schools often don’t have funds available for these types of projects and we are dedicated to removing that obstacle.”

Up to $500,000 per year from the tribe’s revenue sharing to the state could go into the new Michigan Native American Heritage Fund. It will be run by a board consisting of two people appointed by the tribe, two people appointed by the governor and also the Michigan Department of Civil Rights Director or his designee.

DNA-People’s Legal Services Seek Attorneys, Development Director

Sarah M Donnelly

DNA-People’s Legal Services is looking for a full-time Development Director, to write grants and do fundraising.

Qualifications:  5 years non-profit resource development experience (grassroots fundraising, direct mail, special events, and proven success in grant research and writing). In-depth understanding of DNA’s client community. Able to communicate and disseminate information about DNA, to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines; must have excellent organizational skills. Strong computer experience including fundraising software, researching grant and foundation opportunities online. Excellent written and oral communication skills, including public speaking. Strong management and supervisory skills. Pay DOE. Email cover letter and resumes to HResources@dnalegalservices.org. DNA is an EOE and follows the Navajo Preference in Employment Act. OPEN UNTIL FILLED.

DNA-People’s Legal Services is looking to hire six (6) full-time Attorney’s, at many rural communities.

DNA-People’s Legal Services has several litigator positions open in our Navajo office in Arizona and New Mexico, and in our Flagstaff AZ and Farmington NM offices. In most cases, litigators licensed in other state jurisdictions can waive into NM or AZ; litigators in Navajo offices would need to take and pass the Navajo Bar exam.  Staff Attorney’s provide direct legal services to low-income individuals on a wide range of civil matters, including consumer law, family law, domestic violence, housing, public benefits, employment, education, health, disability, and elder law. Staff Attorneys represent clients in tribal, state, and federal courts, as well as administrative agencies. Staff Attorneys work closely with DNA’s tribal court advocates (tribal members who are licensed to practice in tribal courts) and regularly participate in outreach and community education projects. This is a fast-paced and dynamic position, appropriate for applicants who are committed to the ideals of legal services, able to live in a remote area, and willing to travel extensively throughout the Navajo Reservation. OPEN UNTIL FILLED.

Qualifications:  A law graduate from an accredited university and licensed to practice in law. An active member of the Arizona State Bar; experience with issues of the client communities served, J.D. preferred and a member of the State Bar or eligibility for and willingness to take the next bar exam.

Bar Examinations:  Within one year of employment, DNA attorneys must pass the state bar examination relevant to their assigned office, as well as satisfy any examination and admission requirements of the relevant tribal court jurisdiction.

Salary/Benefits:  The minimum starting attorney salary is $37,500.  Persons with prior practice experience will start at a higher salary which will vary depending on the nature and duration of such experience. DNA provides health, dental and vision insurance at a minimal cost to employees, and provides paid bar leave, student loan deferral/forgiveness, life insurance coverage, and the option to open a 401(k).

Applicant Submissions:  A writing sample, resume, transcript, and the employment application should be submitted to Human Resource Director indicated in this Ad. Applicants will not be considered for employment until all requested information is provided.

Staff Attorney at Flagstaff—Medical Legal Partnership Attorney with North Country Health Clinic and ability to manage the grant. A law graduate from an accredited university and licensed to practice in law in Arizona.

Staff Attorney at Chinle—Domestic Violence Attorney in Tribal and State Court and the ability to manage the grant. Ability to do community presentations on and off reservation. A law graduate from an accredited university and licensed to practice in law in Arizona.

Staff Attorney at Farmington—A law graduate from an accredited university and licensed to practice in New Mexico law.

Staff Attorney at Hopi— A law graduate from an accredited university and licensed to practice in law.

Staff Attorney at Tuba City—Medical Legal Partnership Attorney with Tuba City Regional Healthcare and ability to manage the grant. A law graduate from an accredited university and licensed to practice in law in Arizona.

Email application, cover letter and resumes to HResources@dnalegalservices.org.
Applications available on our website: https://dnalegalservices.org/
Contact Human Resource Director at (928) 283-5265 ext. 3101.
DNA-People’s Legal Services, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer that is committed to hiring a diverse and talented workforce. EOE/Disability/Veteran/Navajo Preference

Associate Judge Vacancy with Colorado River Indian Tribes

Sarah M Donnelly

Download(PDF): Job Announcement

 

Friday Job Announcements

Sarah M Donnelly

Job vacancies are posted on Friday. Some announcements might still appear throughout the week. If you would like your Indian law job posted on Turtle Talk, please email indigenous@law.msu.edu.

Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe

RFP for tribal prosecutor, proposals will be accepted until January 31, 2017.

Department of the Interior

Senior Advisor (Tribal Relations), Office of the Secretary, Arlington, VA. Closes 1/4/2017.

Senior Advisor (Tribal Relations), Status Applicants. Closes 1/4/2017

Advisor for Tribal Relations, Office of the Secretary, Arlington, VA. Closes 1/5/2017.

Advisor for Tribal Relations, Status Applicants. Closes 1/5/2017.

Department of Justice

Grants Management Specialist (Senior Tribal Policy Advisor), Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Washington D.C.

Michigan Indian Legal Services

Summer Legal Interns, Traverse City, Southwest Michigan, and Sault Ste. Marie.

Nooksack Begins Disenrollee Evictions

Sarah M Donnelly

Downloads (PDF):

Links: Rejected motion, Complaint, Nooksack posts

Friday Job Announcements

Sarah M Donnelly

Job vacancies are posted on Friday. Some announcements might still appear throughout the week. If you would like your Indian law job posted on Turtle Talk, please email indigenous@law.msu.edu.

American Probation and Parole Association

Grants Manager, Tribal Programs, Seattle, WA.

Grants Manager, Tribal Programs, Sacramento, CA. Both close January 3, 2017.

Hualapai Nation

Associate Judge, Tribal Court. Closes December 30, 2016.

Respondent’s Brief in Lewis v. Clarke

Sarah M Donnelly

Download(PDF): Brief for Respondent

Link: Lewis v. Clarke tag archive

Petitioners Request Out-of-State Lawyers Be Allowed to Represent Protesters

Sarah M Donnelly1 Comment

Link: The Bismarck Tribune article by Caroline Grueskin

Download(PDF):

The unprecedented arrests at Standing Rock overextended available defense attorneys. Defendants are worried their civil rights are at risk and are asking the courts to allow out-of-state attorneys to defend them.

Excerpts of Tilton’s testimony, by topic:

On the reluctance of in-state attorneys:

[M]any licensed North Dakota criminal defense attorneys feel conflicted in taking these cases, either because the attorneys have close relations with law enforcement folk who are undertaking the arrests, or because the attorneys have personal interests in the pipeline construction industry, some of them directly with the DAPL. Other licensed North Dakota criminal defense attorneys have been reticent to take anti-DAPL protesters as clients because they live far distant from the South Central District courts where the cases will be tried. Some criminal defense attorneys have already maxed out their public defender contract allotments. Others have undertaken representation of one or a few DAPL protesters and are not interested in taking on more…

I have also personally talked with multiple persons charged as defendants in these anti-pipeline protests who have expressed extreme dissatisfaction with assigned attorneys given to them through the Indigent Defense Commission. Multiple defendants have complained that some public defender-assigned attorneys have been unwilling to take their phone calls, have not called them back, and have seemed uninterested in doing a thorough investigation of the factual circumstances of the arrests.

On the current caseload:

… I count 113 defendants as having requested an appointed attorney from the Indigent Defense office, but having been turned down.

… I count 40 individuals who are listed in the column “Returned Mail,” meaning that letters to them have been returned to the clerk’s office for some reason. All but 9 of these defendants also have “None” entered in the “Attorney” column, meaning that some of all of the remaining 31 people will not be getting notices from the court of from counsel.

[A]s of December 2, 2016, 264 defendants will be appearing pro se unless means are developed to provide them access to counsel.

On the cost:

In those discussions [with the North Dakota Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents (CLCI)] I have learned that none of the $17 million in emergency funding sought by the governor has been attributed to the increased need for legal defense resources to guarantee the right to counsel for indigent defendants. Similarly, it appears none of the additional funds has been attributed to supplementing the already-stressed court personnel.

Indian Health Service Partners with Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education to Increase Access to Behavioral Health Services for Native Youth

Sarah M Donnelly

Download(PDF): IHS-Indian Affairs joint news release

Excerpt:

“In keeping with President Obama’s Generation Indigenous initiative to improve opportunities for Native youth and the BIA’s Tiwahe initiative to strengthen Native families, this interagency agreement will enable the BIA and BIE to work collaboratively with IHS to bring much-needed behavioral health resources to Native youth,” said Lawrence S. “Larry” Roberts, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs in the U.S. Department of the Interior.