jobs

Public Defender Vacancy with Lower Brule Sioux Tribe

Sarah M Donnelly

The chosen applicant will:

  • Have a law degree from an ABA accredited law school and be a member in good standing of the bar of any state (South Dakota licensure preferred)
  • Must never have been convicted of a felony
  • Must be physically able to perform the duties of the office
  • Provides legal counsel and representation to adults accused of criminal offenses and juveniles accused of delinquent acts
  • Examines evidence and prepares and presents cases for the defense in criminal actions / delinquency actions
  • Review police reports
  • Draft motions, legal memorandums, and other pleadings
  • Conducts client and witness interviews
  • File pretrial motions
  • Identifies appropriate sentencing alternatives for clients and assists with getting clients into treatment
  • Appear in court on a daily basis
  • Knowledge of federal Indian law, criminal law, criminal procedure, juvenile law and procedure; and drug court or alternative courts process and procedures
  • Ability to argue legal positions effectively and persuasively, recognize, formulate and implement viable case defense theories, investigations and litigation strategies
  • Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing, multi-task, prioritize assignments, and remain organized.
  • Work effectively with others
  • Code writing (such as updating or amending tribal laws)
  • Assist with grant writing
  • Be a contributing asset to the office and welcome the opportunity to promote justice on the reservation
  • Other duties as may be assigned by Chief Judge

Salary: Negotiable,  depending on experience.
Closing Date: Until filled

Applications shall be in writing, to include a professional resume, legal qualifications, and any other submissions at the option of the applicant. Native American preference applies. Applications may be obtained from the LBST Personnel Office, Lower Brule, South Dakota (phone:  605-473-5561) or contacting Marlys Langdeau, Court Administrator at 605-473-5535.

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.

Department of the Interior

Attorney-Advisor, Office of the Solicitor, Division of General Law, Employment and Labor Law Unit, Washington D.C. (Closes 9/26/16)

Department of Justice

Law Student Volunteers, The U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Michigan is currently recruiting 4 Student Volunteers for Winter/Spring 2017. This is a volunteer (unpaid) position and is intended to last for one semester in Detroit. Closes Monday, October 3, 2016.

Gila River Indian Community

Protective Services Attorney, Office of General Counsel. Closes 9/30/16

Supervising Protective Services Attorney, Office of General Counsel. Closes 9/30/16

California Indian Legal Services

Senior Staff Attorney, Eureka office.

Procopio’s Native American Law Internship Summer 2017

Sarah M Donnelly

Link: Now Accepting Applications for Procopio’s Summer 2017 Native American Law Internship Program

Applications are due Friday, October 28th by 5 p.m. PST. Internship applications should include:

  1. A writing sample
  2. Law school transcript
  3. Resume
  4. Cover letter identifying why this is an opportunity you would like to pursue, any tribal governmental experience you have and why Native American legal issues are significant to you.

The program is ten weeks and begins after May 15, 2017.  Applications can be emailed to: ted.griswold@procopio.com or sent via USPS mail to:

Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch, LLP
Attention: Ted Griswold
525 B Street, Suite 2200
San Diego, California, 92101

RFP for Education-Related Legal Services to Navajo Nation

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

The Navajo Nation seeks education-related legal assistance in planning, organizing, drafting and finalizing Navajo Nation Educational Codes, policies, and standards that will facilitate the Nation’s development of a Tribal Education Agency.  Respondent’s work must be conducted consistent with Public Law 100-297, Public Law 93-638, Public Law 95-561, Title X of the Navajo Nation Code, and applicable Navajo Nation laws and policies.  The Navajo Nation Department of Justice will be accepting proposals for this service postmarked by 5:00 PM MT on Thursday, September 15, 2016.  NO LATE PROPOSALS WILL BE ACCEPTED.

2016-9-12-nndoj-rfp-for-dode-advisor-final

Navajo Nation RFP for Law Enforcement-Related Legal Services

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

The Navajo Nation seeks advice and recommendations on how to develop a nationally accredited uniform Use of Force Policy for the Navajo Division of Public Safety (NDPS) and its law enforcement departments and officers.   NDPS wishes to revise its current policies to reflect modern police practices with respect to use of force.  These revisions will, among other things, incorporate current case law and include law enforcement training specifically related to use of force situations, including officer-involved shootings.

The Navajo Nation Department of Justice will be accepting proposals for this service postmarked by 5:00 PM MT on Thursday, September 15, 2016.  LATE PROPOSALS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

2016-9-12-ndoj-rfp-for-ndps-advisor-final

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.

ASSOCIATION OF VILLAGE COUNCIL PRESIDENTS, BETHEL, ALASKA

ICWA Director

Responsible for the overall operations of the ICWA department and personnel. Supervision of the ICWA Program involving case management oversight entered into on behalf of the compacted villages in the AVCP region.

Required – Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university in a Human Services field of study or in a related field with a Master’s degree preferred. Work experience and training which provided the required knowledge, skills and abilities for the position can be substituted on a year-for-year basis. Three (3) years of successful experience as a Program Manager, including staff supervision, management networking, communications and staff development, grant writing and reporting and fiscal management.

Tribal Court Development Coordinator

Provides direct services to the villages in enhancing or creation of tribal courts under the directive of the center Director, including tribal court program planning, program reporting, assistance with training and technical assistance, tribal court reporting software troubleshooting and training of the software to tribal court staff. This position will research and draft policy and legal documents for the tribal court use, will assist member tribes and work directly with the Assigned Court Assessment Team under the guidance of the federal partners. Other duties include providing clerical and office support for the Tribal Justice Center (TJC). The Tribal Court Development Coordinator will work with the Director to seek funding sources for the tribal courts in conjunction with the tribes.

High school diploma or GED is required. A Bachelor’s or an Associate’s degree from an accredited university is preferred. A minimum of two to three (2-3) years of progressive experience in working with tribes is required.

To apply: www.avcp.org

SWINOMISH INDIAN TRIBAL COMMUNITY

Tribal Prosecutor

Nature of Practice: The Tribal Prosecutor represents the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community in Tribal Court in criminal prosecutions, Wellness Court hearings, exclusion proceedings and civil code violations. The Prosecutor reports to and is supervised by the Director of the Office of Tribal Attorney. The Prosecutor also drafts ordinances and may provide advice and recommendations to the Police Department and other departments of the Tribe, as well as the Swinomish Indian Senate and its Committees, on legal policy issues. The work involves a creative, holistic, and interdisciplinary approach developed in conjunction with other Tribal departments to achieve restorative justice. The Prosecutor is supported by a legal assistant in the Office of Tribal Attorney. The Office of Prosecuting Attorney is paperless– all files are maintained electronically.

Minimum Qualifications: Candidate must have graduated from an accredited law school; be licensed to practice in Washington State or have the ability to become licensed through reciprocity, or be eligible for and register for the next scheduled Washington Bar Exam; have excellent written, oral, research and analytical skills; have sufficient experience to independently run a prosecutor’s office; have strong interpersonal communication skills; have negotiation and litigation experience; have an ability and desire to thrive in a dynamic, interdisciplinary and cross-cultural work environment; have experience engaging in creative problem-solving and a dedication to problem-solving approaches; have a commitment to restorative justice; be willing to work in a team setting, including with defense counsel; and view the prosecutorial role as a minister of justice rather than simply an advocate. Experience in a therapeutic court and/or tribal court preferred. Strong preference for an attorney with experience in criminal and Indian law, a demonstrated commitment to working with Native or other minority communities, and/or experience as a supervisor. Willingness and ability to independently work in a paperless office strongly preferred. Native American hiring preference will be in effect during the selection of candidates.

Location: Tribal offices are located in the Swinomish Village on the beautiful Swinomish Indian Reservation at the southeastern end of Fidalgo Island in rural Skagit County, Washington, across the Swinomish Channel from La Conner, W A. The Tribal offices are located 90 minutes north of Seattle, and 90 minutes south of Vancouver, Canada.

Salary: Negotiable depending upon experience. The position is full-time. Compensation includes medical, dental & vision, 401 (k) retirement plan, and other fringe benefits.

Application: The Tribe would like to hire an attorney for this position as soon as possible, with initial review of applications on September 13, 2016. Please submit the following: Swinomish employment application (available at http://www.swinomish-nsn.gov or via email), cover letter expressing the reasons for interest in the position and salary requirements; current resume, writing sample and the names of at least three professional references to:

Elizabeth Miller, Paralegal
Swinomish Indian Tribal Community
11404 Moorage Way
La Conner, Washington 98257
Tel: (360) 466-7369
Fax: (360) 466-5309
E-mail: emiller@swinomish.nsn.us

YUROK TRIBE

2017 Summer Law Clerk

Download(PDF): Application Packet

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF MINNESOTA, CENTER FOR INDIAN COUNTRY DEVELOPMENT (CICD)

Project Manager/Senior Project Manager

Download(PDF): Job Posting

Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Request for Proposals

Sarah M Donnelly

The Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa is soliciting proposals from qualified, licensed attorneys to provide judicial services for the Band’s tribal court. The Band anticipates selecting four individuals to serve as appellate court judges and one individual to serve as a pro tem trial court judge.

The pro tem trial court judge will serve when the Band’s Chief Judge is unavailable, as assigned by the Chief Judge. The pro tem judge presides on motions and requests of the parties; schedules and presides over conferences, evidentiary hearings and bench trials; conducts necessary legal or factual research; and renders legal opinions.

The Band’s trial court hears cases on the first Monday and Tuesday of the month, unless the first Monday is a holiday. In that case, the court convenes on the second Monday and Tuesday of the month. Other court dates may be scheduled by the Chief Judge as necessary. The Trial court hears cases involving violations of the traffic, animal control, truancy and conservation codes, as well as general civil matters, including but not limited to dissolution of marriage, name change, small claims, contracts, and probate. In 2015, there were 179 new cases filed with the court. The Band’s ordinances are available at http://www.fdlrez.com/government/fdlordinances.htm.

The Band does not currently have an appellate court. The Band’s appellate code is currently under development. It is anticipated that oral arguments will be held at the Fond du Lac Tribal Court, and that the number of appeals will not exceed five annually.

Indian preference will apply in the selection process in accordance with the Band’s Tribal Employment Rights Ordinance.

Applicants must meet the following minimum qualifications:

  1. Have graduated from an accredited law school and be admitted to the bar in any state;
  2. Have a minimum of 8 years’ experience practicing law (which may include service on a tribal, federal or state court bench);
  3. Have a demonstrable knowledge of Indian and Federal law;
  4. Be familiar with the Constitution and laws of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe and the laws of the Fond du Lac Band;
  5. Have never been convicted or pleaded guilty to any felony, nor been found guilty of any crime involving fraud or dishonesty or moral turpitude.

Demonstrable knowledge and experience with Tribal Courts is preferred, but not required.

To submit a proposal, send a proposal by e-mail to kristiwheale@fdlrez.com or by mail to Kristi Wheale, Clerk of Court, Fond du Lac Tribal Court, 1720 Big Lake Road, Cloquet, MN 55720

The proposal should include:

  1. A proposed rate or fee;
  2. A statement to indicate whether the applicant is interested in an appellate court position, the pro-tem trial court position, or both.
  3. A resume and a statement of qualifications;
  4. A list of at least three professional references that may be contacted by the Band. It is preferred that the references include clients for whom similar work has been done within the past two year period. References shall include a complete address, contact name and telephone number.

Proposals must be received by 4:30 p.m. central time on Friday, October 7, 2016.

Friday Job Announcements

Sarah M Donnelly

Job vacancies will now be 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.

NNABA EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES ~

Federal Indian Law/Tribal Law Opportunities

1. Tribal Attorney Position, Ho-Chunk Nation, Black River Falls, WI (Open until filled)(posted on 7.24.16)

2. Policy Analyst, Sac and Fox Nation, Stroud, OK (posted on 7.24.16)

3. Indian Law and Clinic Faculty Position, Alexander Blewett III School of Law at the University of Montana, Missoula, MT (Closes August 22, 2016) (posted on 7.24.16)

4. Faculty in Law American Law, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID (Open until filled) (posted on 7.24.16)

5. Ethics Rules Committee–Vacancy Announcement Ethics & Rules Committee, Three Affiliated Tribes, Mandan, ND (Open until filled) (posted on 7.28.16)

6. Tribal Attorney –Prosecutor, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, Sault Ste. Marie, MI (Open until filled) (posted on 8.15.16)

7. Director of Finance, National Indian Child Welfare Association, Portland, OR (Closes September 14, 2016) (Open until filled) (posted on 7.28.16)

8. Fiscal Assistant, National Indian Child Welfare Association, Portland, OR (Closes September 14, 2016) (Open until filled) (posted on 7.28.16)

Federal Opportunities

1. Trial Attorney, United States Trustee Program, Milwaukee, WI (Closes on September 9, 2016) (posted on 8.29.16)

2. Trial Attorney, United States Trustee Program, Indianapolis, IN (Closes on September 13, 2016) (posted on 8.29.16)

3. Attorney, Unites States Attorney’s Office Northern District of Indiana, Hammond, IN (Closes on September 2, 2016) (posted on 8.29.16)

4. Assistant United States Attorney(Civil/Civil Rights), United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Iowa, Sioux City, IA (Closes on September 1, 2016) (posted on 8.29.16)

5. Assistant United States Attorney, United States Attorney’s Office Southern District of Indiana, Indianapolis, IN (Closes on September 12, 2016) (posted on 8.29.16)

6. Attorney, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5, Office of Regional Counsel, Chicago, IL(Closes on September 21, 2016) (posted on 8.29.16)

7. Attorney Advisor, Natural Resources and Environmental Division of the Office of the General Counsel, Washington, DC (Closes on September 26, 2016) (posted on 8.29.16)

Click here for a complete list of current attorney vacancies within the US Department of Justice

OFFICE OF THE SOLICITOR~

Attorney Adviser, Department of the Interior, Office of the Solicitor, Division of General Law, Branch of General Legal Services, Washington, DC (Closes on September 12, 2016)

EASTERN BAND OF CHEROKEE INDIANS~

EBCI is accepting applications for a Legal Services Attorney. Applicant must have a JD degree from an ABA accredited law school, be a member in good standing of N.C. State Bar, 3 years of experience practicing law, civil litigation experience is required. Family Law or criminal law is preferred. Excellent benefit package. Salary: $80,258, DOE.

EBCI is also accepting applications for a Tribal Prosecutor.  Besides bar passage, 5 years of experience practicing criminal law in N.C. is required, Federal prosecution experience is preferred. Prosecutes criminal and juvenile cases in Cherokee Court. Excellent benefit package. Salary: $104,653, DOE.

Both are open until filled. Contact EBCI Employment Office – Erin Taylor, P.O. Box 553, Cherokee, NC 28719. 858-554-6382.

Fredericks Peebles Seeks 2017 Summer Law Clerks

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

2017 SUMMER LAW CLERKS

Fredericks Peebles & Morgan LLP (“FPM”) is a nationwide firm dedicated to the practice of Federal Indian Law.  FPM represents Native American tribes and organizations in a wide spectrum of areas including business transactions, litigation, and governmental affairs.

FPM is seeking applications from second year law students for 2017 Summer Law Clerks for offices in Louisville, Colorado; Omaha, Nebraska; and Sacramento, California. Applicants must be enrolled in an ABA accredited law school.  Experience or coursework in tribal and Federal Indian Law is required.  Applicants must also possess excellent analytical, research and communication skills, and the ability to work well independently and as a team member in a fast-paced environment.  FPM offers a competitive hourly wage for a 10 – 12-week summer position.

Applicants should e-mail a cover letter, resume, a writing sample, and law school transcripts to Ann Hacker at ahacker@ndnlaw.com no later than September 30, 2016.  Your cover letter should indicate your preferred office location and addressed to Ann Hacker. If your preferred office location includes our Colorado office a separate cover letter needs to be addressed to the attention of Thomas W. Fredericks.

For additional information about FPM, visit our website at www.ndnlaw.com.

Sonosky, Chambers Seeks 2017 Summer Associates

Sarah M Donnelly

Sonosky, Chambers, Sachse, Endreson, & Perry LLP is a national law firm dedicated to representing Native American interests in a wide range of endeavors including trial and appellate litigation, federal Indian law, tribal law, Indian self-determination and self-governance matters, transportation and infrastructure, natural resources, and economic development, among others. The firm’s practice includes representation of tribal interests in federal, tribal and state courts, and before Congress, state legislatures, and federal and state agencies.

We are currently recruiting 2L students for 2017 summer associate positions. If you are interested in applying, please send the following to Will Stephens, Partner at wstephens@sonosky.com (please also copy kwray@sonosky.com):

  • Cover letter
  • Resume
  • Transcript
  • Writing sample (relevant to our practice area is preferred, but not necessary)

Interested applicants should send information no later than August 31, 2016. Thank you for your interest.