Turtle Talk

Position Title

Assistant General Counsel

Employer Name

Gila River Indian Community – Office of General Counsel

Location (City, State or Remote)

Sacaton, Az

Job Description/Main Duties

The Assistant General Counsel assists the General Counsel in providing legal advice and legal representation of the Gila River Indian Community.

Minimum Qualifications and Desired or Preferred Qualifications

Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school and member in good standing of the State Bar of Arizona; or must be able to obtain admission to the State Bar of Arizona through reciprocity within a timeframe acceptable to the General Counsel.

• Submission of an acceptable legal writing sample (10-20 pages).

Salary Range

$117,627 to $152,627

Closing Date

02/19/2025

Link to job announcement with instructions for applicants.

Position Title

Associate Attorney, Northern Rockies Regional Office

Employer Name

Earthjustice

Location (City, State or Remote)

HYBRID: Bozeman, MT

Job Description/Main Duties

Earthjustice seeks an Associate Attorney to join our Bozeman office. In the Northern Rockies, we are engaged in litigation focused on protecting and preserving the iconic wildlife species and wild lands of this incomparable region. The Northern Rockies office has played a leading and long-standing role as the last line of defense for the ecosystems encompassing Yellowstone and Glacier national parks, as well as the grizzly bears, wolves, bison and other species that depend upon the integrity of these spectacular areas.

We are equally engaged in the battle to combat global warming by challenging coal mining and coal-fired power plants, ensuring fair opportunities for development of renewable energy sources, and responding to a rapid natural gas development boom that is spreading and raising new environmental protection and human health issues across the Northern Rockies region.

In recent years, the work of the Northern Rockies office has increasingly touched on Native American interests and issues of Indian law, including work to restore wild bison to tribal lands; to oppose oil and gas exploration on public national forest lands of extreme cultural and spiritual importance to the Blackfeet people; and to defend the integrity of culturally and spiritually lands and waters against threats posed by hardrock mining.

We regularly litigate federal and state court cases and administrative proceedings in an effort to defeat the major threats to the region’s ecological integrity. For more information about our office’s work, visit http://earthjustice.org/about/offices/northern-rockies.

Earthjustice is the premier nonprofit environmental law organization. We take on the biggest, most precedent-setting cases across the country. We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people’s health; to preserve magnificent places and wildlife; to advance clean energy; and to combat climate change. We partner with thousands of groups to engage on the critical environmental issues of our time and bring about positive change. We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer. 

Founded in 1971, Earthjustice has a distinguished track record of achieving significant, lasting environmental protections. We achieve this by hiring people who share a passion for justice and a healthy environment. Our headquarters are in San Francisco with offices in Anchorage, Bozeman, Chicago, Denver, Honolulu, Houston, Juneau, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Seattle, Tallahassee and Washington, D.C. 

The Associate Attorney position is a three-year position with the opportunity for extension. Many Associates have gone on to other positions within Earthjustice and with other public interest organizations. The Associate Attorney program is designed to help attorneys who are in the early stages of their careers to develop into thoughtful, professional, and effective advocates skilled in the various phases of public interest litigation. As Associate Attorneys gain experience, they gradually take on more independent responsibility for their cases, but Associates work throughout their tenure under the supervision of a Senior Attorney or the Managing Attorney. Many Associates have gone on to other positions within Earthjustice and with other public interest organizations.

This hybrid position is based in our Bozeman, Montana office. This is not a remote position. The successful candidate will be required to come into the office as-needed, though that is typically 1 day a week.

Responsibilities:
Associate attorneys perform a range of work, in partnership with senior attorneys and professional staff, to investigate, develop, and prosecute administrative appeals and litigation including: factual investigation, legal research, case development, record review, client engagement and development, expert evidence and witness development, motions practice and brief writing, oral advocacy, and appellate advocacy.

Specific responsibilities include:
Participate in the full range of tasks involved in complex litigation, including factual investigation, legal research and analysis, discovery, briefing, and oral advocacy.
Conducting legal research and preparing memoranda on issues relating to ongoing or potential litigation projects.
Drafting motions, briefs, and other legal and factual documents in support of litigation.
Reviewing and analyzing administrative records and technical documents.
Preparing comments on proposed agency actions and environmental impact statements.
Participating in proceedings before federal and state courts and agencies.
Presenting oral argument and examining witnesses before state or federal courts and administrative bodies and making advocacy presentations to agency officials.
Participate in cultivating new clients, allies, and coalition partners.
Integrate communications and legislative advocacy into litigation and other legal strategies.
Work effectively with other departments within Earthjustice, including our communications, development, and policy and legislation departments.
Hiring and supervising law students who work at Earthjustice as interns or clerks.
Interacting with clients and working with experts to develop a clear understanding of the facts involved in each case and to ultimately support our litigation goals.
Engaging with a variety of news and social media regarding our work, including press.

Minimum Qualifications and Desired or Preferred Qualifications

Qualifications:
Law school graduates who are admitted, or willing to apply for admission, to the state bar where they are located.
1-5 years of litigation or judicial clerkship experience. Litigation experience on issues of concern to tribes and Indigenous communities is a plus.
Excellent research, writing, analytic, and communication skills.
Ability to work independently and to prioritize tasks and deadlines.
Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to work well collegially both inside and outside the organization.
Strong and demonstrated initiative, good judgment, creativity, and work ethic.
Ability and willingness to travel as needed, including for case work, court appearances, and meetings with clients and partners.
Commitment to serving the public interest and a passion for the role of Earthjustice and its mission.
Demonstrated awareness and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of individuals from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and orientations.
Commitment to help create a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work culture that encourages and celebrates differences.

Salary Range

95,200 – 112,100

Closing Date

Preference will be given to candidates who apply by February 23, 2025.

Link to job announcement with instructions for applicants.

Position Title

Chief Judge

Employer Name

Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians

Location (City, State or Remote)

Oakhurst, CA

Job Description/Main Duties

Prepares Motions, Resolutions, and Ordinances.

• Protects and promotes the integrity of the Tribal Court System.
• Adhere to the highest ethical standards and Chukchansi Code of Conduct.
• Conduct hearings for fair presentation of evidence, develop and maintain records, and issure decisions based on Tribal law.
• Works with the Tribal Court Administrator and Legal Department to manage Tribal Court calendar and caseload.
• Maintain a working relationship with the Social Services Department as well as State, Federal, and other Tribal Courts.
• Work collaboratively with the Legal Department to identify and pursue funding for expansion of services.
• Willingness to participate in legal training to gain knowledge necessary to do the job.
• Familiarity with Native American cultures.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to respect the rule of law over emotion, provide sound judgement, and make impartial decisions.
• Develops, or assists in developing, and implements court policy and procedures, forms, and tribal codes.

Minimum Qualifications and Desired or Preferred Qualifications

• J.D. Degree from an ABA accredited or State-Bar registered law school.
• Must be a member in good standing of the bar of any state.
• Must have a minimum of 5 years of experience in practicing law, including service on a tribal, federal, or state court bench.
• Knowledge of Federal Indian Law with emphasis on issues of tribal sovereignty and government, including the Indian Civil Rights Act and PL 638 contracts and grants.
• Knowledge of the Chukchansi customs, traditions, and history of the Chukchansi Tribe.
• Must have experience in management and an understanding of basic office skills.
• Must have good interpersonal skills.
• Must have strong oral and written communication skills.
• Experience in Indian affairs or Tribal Government.
• Must have a clean criminal record.
• Must have excellent organizational skills.
• Must have and retain a valid driver’s license.
• Must pass a criminal background check and pre-employment drug and alcohol screen.

Salary Range

DOE

Closing Date

March 5, 2025

Link to job announcement with instructions for applicants.