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Staff Attorney

Water Protector Legal Collective, Remote

Develop and manage a litigation and advocacy docket that advances WPLC’s mission on behalf of Indigenous Peoples, the Earth, and climate justice movements, in close collaboration with other staff attorneys, non-attorney staff, volunteers, and grassroots community partners.

Provide high-quality representation for Water Protectors and human rights defenders, and/or recruit, coordinate, and support cooperating attorneys to ensure representation needs are met.

Movement support and community engagement: Conduct outreach to Indigenous movements and Peoples across Turtle Island to assess legal needs, develop and present CLEs, webinars, legal trainings, document human rights violations, create systems for legal support and mass defense; and provide legal research.

Supervision of interns and volunteers: In coordination with the Executive Director, recruit and supervise law student interns, law clerks, and legal worker volunteers on relevant legal work. Coordinate with cooperating attorneys and contract counsel as needed.

Public Education & Communications: Work to increase awareness of WPLC legal cases and campaigns. When appropriate, engage in public speaking, media, and movement-facing communications on behalf of the organization. Provide edits or pre-publication review to press releases or other public communications as needed.

Required Qualifications:

• J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school
• Licensed attorney in good standing in at least one U.S. jurisdiction
• Approximately 3-5 years of litigation experience; candidates with more or less experience who strongly align with the position may be considered.
• Outstanding legal research, writing, and oral advocacy skills
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a remote, fast-paced setting
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to build trust with

Indigenous Peoples, frontline communities, and grassroots movement partners 

• Demonstrated commitment to decolonial, justice-centered, and Indigenous-led work, and to environmental and climate justice, human rights, and movement lawyering
• Understanding of cultural safety and the history of harm experienced by Indigenous

Peoples, including settler colonialism, pressures of domestic and international legal systems, impacts of extractive industry and corporate violence

Preferred Qualifications:

Knowledge of one or more of the following areas:

        Federal Indian Law

        Civil litigation or impact litigation

        Criminal defense and/or mass defense

        Environmental law

        Water law

        International human rights

        International Indigenous rights

        Administrative law

Experience working with Indigenous communities, Tribal governments, or grassroots organizations

Experience with community legal education, popular education, or movement training

Additional language skills relevant to communities we serve (i.e., Indigenous languages, Spanish, Portuguese, French)

This is a full-time, exempt position with a salary of $65,000 – $82,500 per year DOE. WPLC is committed to investing in the education and training, including opportunities for learning and professional development wherever possible, consistent with budget and organization capacity. Closes December 5, 2025

Submit 1) a cover letter and 2) an updated resume or CV to jobs@waterprotectorlegal.org by December 5, 2025 with the subject line: “Staff Attorney Application – Your Name.

https://www.waterprotectorlegal.org/opportunities

Associate Attorney

Bristol Associates, Inc., Washington

Our executive search firm, Bristol Associates, is assisting a federally recognized Native American Tribe seeking an ambitious and dedicated Associate Attorney to provide legal assistance for their organization. This position provides legal assistance in the form of contract review, legal research as well as advising on various business initiatives. This role provides a broad range of legal services on matters including, but not limited to, contract law, hospitality law, gaming law, employment law, administrative law, and tribal law.

Minimum Qualifications: 

– Juris Doctor degree from an ABA accredited law school

– If not licensed with the WA State Bar, must be willing to gain licensure within 6 months of employment

– At least five (5) years of transactional experience, specifically in corporate, finance, intellectual property, or other related areas

– Working knowledge of contractual agreement preparation and review, compliance, and employment law

Preferred Qualifications:

– Experience working for or with tribal governments, law firm specializing in tribal &/or gaming law, or graduate of an Indian law program preferred

– Previous experience in regulations and compliance and contract review as well as applicable compacts and regulations governing gaming preferred

– Working knowledge of federal Indian law, Washington State law, and other relevant Federal and state regulations and policies that apply to tribal communities preferred

Salary: $122,000 – $160,000 + Bonus Open until filled. https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/4321094229/