Program Description:
California Indian Legal Services (CILS) is a statewide, tribally controlled, non-profit corporation that provides legal services to Indian tribes, Indian organizations and low-income individual Indians on issues involving Federal Indian Law. CILS provides a variety of legal services including brief counsel and advice and extended representation on core legal issues affecting Native Americans and Indian tribes. CILS is involved in litigation, policy analysis and advocacy and also provides transactional services to tribes involving economic development and tribal infrastructure. The Bishop office of CILS is also home to the Eastern Sierra Legal Assistance Project and the Inyo-Mono Senior Legal Program. CILS has four offices throughout California.
Additional information about CILS may be found on our website, at www.dev.calindian.org.
Position Description:
With support from the California Bar Foundation, CILS is hiring a recent law school graduate for a one-year fellowship during 2017. Supervised by the Directing Attorney, the fellow will work collaboratively with other staff to provide exceptional legal services in all areas of Federal Indian law. Our fast-paced office provides legal services on issues of jurisdiction, tax, estate planning, trust assets, environmental law, natural resource development, tribal governance, employment and the Indian Child Welfare Act. The fellow will assume a varied case load that may include: brief counsel and services to low-income Indian individuals; state and federal court litigation; contract negotiation; advising tribal clients; developing and implementing constitutions, codes, and policies for tribal clients; making presentations; and ICWA related dependency cases.
Sample of Substantive Areas of Practice:
Land issues, Indian Child Welfare Act, Taxation issues, Wills and Probate, Jurisdictional issues, Tribal Justice System development, Tribal Governance, Public Benefits, Healthcare and senior/elder law issues.
Duties and Responsibilities:
* California bar membership in good standing.
* Excellent communication, writing, and organizational skills.
* Strong work ethic and able to work nights and weekends when many tribal councils
meet.
* Ability to travel overnight and a valid driver’s license.
* A commitment to providing high-quality legal services for Indian people.
* Ability to work independently, as part of a team and to take the initiative.
The following qualifications are desirable but not absolutely required:
* Familiarity or experience working with Indian individuals, tribes or Indian communities.
*Prior legal services experience.
Qualifications:
Recent law school graduates who are interested in Federal Indian Law and serving Indian communities; those with experience in Indian communities or who have completed Indian law courses are preferred. Applicants must be highly skilled in legal research and writing.
To Apply:
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Please submit a letter of interest, resume, writing sample, and law school transcripts via:
* e-mail: hiring@calindian.org
* mail: California Indian Legal Services, 117 J Street, Suite 300, Sacramento, CA 95814
About the California Bar Foundation Public Interest Legal Fellowship Program
Launched in 2015, the California Bar Foundation’s Public Interest Legal Fellowship Program supports diverse rising 3Ls and recent law graduates who are committed to representing low-income and underserved populations in California. We fund leading California legal aid agencies who are committed to building diverse, inclusive staff environments to receive a summer or yearlong legal fellow.
Through this fellowship program, along with our diversity scholarships and grants, the California Bar Foundation is fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession and, by extension, the justice system as a whole. For more information about our fellowship program, please contact Sheila Bapat at sheilab@calbarfoundation.org.