What is California Indian Legal Services (CILS)?

California Indian Legal Services (CILS) is the first Indian-controlled law firm organized to provide specialized legal representation to Indians and Indian tribes. CILS provides free or low-cost representation on those matters that fall within the priorities (see below) set by our Board of Trustees.

Created by California Indian leaders and public interest attorneys, CILS has been one of the preeminent advocates for the rights of Native Americans and Indian Tribes for over forty years.

CILS maintains four offices throughout California. CILS is supported by grants, namely the Legal Services Corporation and the State Bar of California, private foundations, and individual and corporate contributors as well as contracts from a host of California's 109 federally recognized Indian Tribes.

Click here to download a copy of our brochure (opens new window), which fully explains our organization and the services we provide.

Which cases does CILS handle?

The following priorities were established by the CILS Board of Trustees to direct the staff in its allocation of resources. The CILS Board reviews these priorities annually. Please feel free to contact them with any suggestions or comments you may have regarding these priorities.

1. Preserve and enhance the California Indian land base in California;
2. Secure self-determination and California Indian control of reservations and reservation programs in California;
3. Secure restoration and improvement of services which federal agencies have provided to Indians outside of California, but which those agencies have either failed to provide or have provided on a severely limited basis to California Indians;
4. Secure bureaucratic accountability for governmental policies, actions, or omissions which significantly and adversely affect California Indians;
5. Secure and protect the civil rights of Indians in California;
6. Protection of Indian families and children;
7. Improvement, protection and access to health care services;
8. Improvement, protection of, and access to adequate housing;
9. Development of Indian community economies in California;
10. Protection and preservation of Indian cultural resources, sites and sacred objects;
11. Participating in community advisory groups, work groups, and task forces;
12. Tracking statutory, administrative, and legislative developments affecting clients and explaining to clients how these developments would impact their rights;
13. To provide community education and training to California Indian communities and tribal and Indian organizations;
14. Development of self-help materials and other client information and education materials;
15. Development and implementation of special projects focused on critical Indian Law issues.
16. To seek additional funding for CILS activities and to carry out contractual or grant obligations that are thereby incurred

What do I do if I believe my request for services was unfairly denied or I am dissatisfied with services I received?

If you believe your request for services was unfairly denied, please request a grievance complaint form from the office you sought assistance from or the principal office of CILS or click here for the form.  If you have a grievance related to your case, please contact in writing the attorney assigned to your case.  If your grievance is not resolved to your satisfaction, request a complaint form to submit to the Directing Attorney of the office where you sought assistance.  If you still believe your issue(s) is not resolved, submit a copy of your completed complaint form to the Executive Director in the principal office located at 609 S. Escondido Blvd., Escondido, CA 92025.  You can also request a copy of CILS’ grievance procedures from the principal office.