PLSI

Pre-Law Summer Institute Assistant Director

gabrielagendreau

The American Indian Law Center, Inc. (AILC)

Assistant PLSI Director | Albuquerque, NM

The Assistant PLSI Director assists in planning and implementing the Pre-Law Summer Institute for American Indians and Alaska Natives and all its programs, including the PLSI Judicial Clerkship Program, Native American Bar Passage Initiative, the Pre-Law Advisors trainings, outreach to tribal colleges and universities and tribal education departments, academic and professional development programs, and clerkship opportunities. This position supports the PLSI Director in maintaining and growing services according to student needs and the AILC’s strategic plan. The position coordinates outreach and promotes services of the PLSI and AILC.

Duties include:
• Provides support to the PLSI Director in all aspects of PLSI and its programs.
• Assists with developing and implementing programs to support Native pre-law and law
students. Works with the Director to coordinate daily operations and activities.
• Builds relationships with alumni, pre-law advisors, law schools, tribal colleges and
universities, tribal education departments, and schools with significant Native American
populations.
• Builds relationships with law schools and employers regarding PLSI programs, students,
and alumni. Identifies possible areas for collaboration and partnerships.
• Assists in developing and managing budgets.
• Assists with staffing of faculty, teaching assistants, research assistants, and other
positions necessary for the summer and year-round programs.
• Recruits, trains, and builds relationships with attorney coaches and mentors.
• Coordinates with pre-law programs, Native American bar associations, judicial
organizations, professional organizations, and educational programs on events, projects,
and services for Native American pre-law and law students.
• Plans events including academic and professional trainings. Schedules speakers and
panels. Coordinates travel for staff, students, and professionals.
• Develops print and electronic materials for announcements, programs, CLEs, and
program promotion.
• Assists in grant compliance including collecting and assessing data, drafting reports, and
coordinating with grantors.
• Promotes PLSI and the AILC to the community through public relations, social media,
and advocacy.
• Represents PLSI and AILC at events, career fairs, and conferences.
• Assists with evaluating and developing programs and services according to grants and
AILC goals.
• Conforms with all safety rules and uses all appropriate safety equipment.
• Processes student applications for services, reimbursements, materials, and programs.
• Performs all other related duties, as assigned. Participates on committees and special
projects and seeks additional responsibilities.

Please see the position description for further information.

Interested candidates should send a cover letter and resume by March 18, 2022 to Rodina Cave Parnall, PLSI Director, caveparnall@law.unm.edu.

TCJ: “More than an Education: Three Tribal College Graduates Blaze Paths to Law School”

Monica Williamson

Like TCUs, PLSI is affected by education policy because it too depends on federal funding for a portion of its operating budget. Both TCUs and PLSI have continued to operate for more than 50 years, opening transformative doors for Native students. Felisha Adams, Amber Morningstar Byars, and Mariah Black Bird are on their way to becoming Native American lawyers, and all three have benefited from a tribal college education and PLSI.

Article here.

2019 Native American Pipeline to Law Initiative

Neoshia Roemer

From June 26-30, 2019, 34 prospective Native American pre-law applicants from across Indian Country attended the Native American Pipeline to Law Initiative at UC Berkeley in Berkeley, C.A. During this five-day intensive program, students heard from law school admissions professionals, law professors, law students, and more about applying to and attending law school. This year, we were fortunate enough for Olympian Billy Mills (Oglala Lakota) to surprise us!

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The Pipeline’s mission is to provide serious preparation for Native law applicants, as well as to connect applicants to the invaluable resources and support they need from professionals. The program even includes an introduction to and support for taking the LSAT. Former participants of this program have gone on to complete PLSI and law school.

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The Pipeline to Law Initiative will be held again during the summer of 2020. If you’re interested in providing financial support to this program or have more questions, please contact Kate Rosier.

 

Maurisa Bell, NNALSA 3L of the Year

Monica Williamson

 

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National NALSA 3L of the Year Award recipient, Maurisa Bell (right).

Maurisa Bell grew up on the Wind River Reservation in Riverton, Wyoming. She is an enrolled member of the Eastern Shoshone Tribe and was also raised around her Northern Arapaho family. In 2015, she graduated from Montana State University in Bozeman, MT and completed the Pre-Law Summer Institute program during the summer of 2016. While in law school, Maurisa served as Vice President and Treasurer for the MSU-NALSA, an Area representative for National-NALSA, and volunteered as a student mentor for the Indigenous Law and Policy Center.

She spent her summers in Washington, D.C. working for the Department of Justice’s Office of Tribal Justice; the National Indian Gaming Commission; and Dentons, US LLP in their Native American Law and Policy practice group. She is a dedicated and driven leader who, in just a few weeks, will graduate from the Michigan State University College of Law.

Maurisa will work for Dentons upon graduation, pursuing her passion in helping tribes and tribal communities.

Congratulations, Maurisa!

PLSI Alumni

Monica Williamson

Send your advice or encouragement to Native American pre-law students. Your quote could appear on new PLSI materials!

What advice would you give to a future law student? What advice or encouragement would you give to your pre-law self?

The American Indian Law Center, Inc. would like to use your answers on new materials (brochure, website, bookmarks, conference program). Please send your quote to Rodina Cave Parnall at AILCinfo@law.unm.edu by January 4, 2019 and keep it to less than 160 characters. It may be edited down to meet space limitations. Include your PLSI class year and current position.

Calling all PLSI Alumni!

Monica Williamson

Send your advice or encouragement to Native American pre-law students. Your quote could appear on new PLSI materials!

What advice would you give to a future law student? What advice or encouragement would you give to your pre-law self?

The American Indian Law Center, Inc. would like to use your answers on new materials (brochure, website, bookmarks, conference program). Please send your quote to Rodina Cave Parnall at AILCinfo@law.unm.edu by January 4, 2019 and keep it to less than 160 characters. It may be edited down to meet space limitations. Include your PLSI class year and current position.

PLSI’s Heidi Nesbitt to be Honored by New Mexico Women’s Law Caucus

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

The Women’s Law Caucus is pleased to announce the 2015 Honorees of the Justice Mary Walters Award will be The Honorable Anne Kass and Heidi Nesbitt, Director of the Pre-Law Summer Institute (PLSI) and Assistant Director of the American Indian Law Center, Inc.

On February 27, 2015, the Justice Mary Walters Award Banquet will be held at the UNM School of Law, where they will honor both of these women for their distinguished careers and the lasting impact they have made in the New Mexico legal community.

American Indian Law Center’s “Pre-Law Summer Institute for American Indians and Alaskan Natives” Recognized by the American Bar Association

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Outstanding news! And well-deserved!

Here is the press release: PLSI ABA Award PressRel_FINAL

An excerpt:

Albuquerque, NM – December 13, 2011 – The Pre-Law Summer Institute for American Indians and Alaskan Natives (PLSI) today announced that it will be recognized by the American Bar Association (ABA) Council for Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Education Pipeline for exemplary leadership in pipeline programming. PLSI is a program of the American Indian Law Center, Inc., that has been attended by many of the nation’s preeminent Native attorneys, judges, law school professors and deans, and tribal chairs since its inception in 1967.

The ABA 2012 Raymond Pace and Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander Award for Excellence in Pipeline Diversity recognized PLSI for their exemplary leadership in pipeline work. The ABA Council on Racial and Ethnic Diversity commended PLSI for its “outstanding accomplishments and significant contributions to diversifying” the law profession. The ABA will formally honor PLSI at the ABA Midyear Meeting in New Orleans, LA on February 3, 2012.