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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/
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