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 thirty years.  

CILS maintains six offices, five throughout California and one in Washington D.C.  CILS is supported by grants and contracts from a majority of California's 109 federally recognized Indian Tribes, the Federal Legal Services Corporation, the State Bar of California, private foundations, and individual and corporate contributors.

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.

• Preserve and enhance the Indian land base in California;
• Secure self-determination and Indian control of reservations and reservation programs;
• 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;
• Secure bureaucratic accountability for governmental policies, actions, or omissions which significantly and adversely affect California Indians;
• Secure and protect the full civil rights of California Indians;
• Protect and encourage the growth of Indian heritage.

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California Indian Legal Services
Serving the Indian community since 1967