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Attorney
By
Attorney
Career Profiles of the Profession
Who?
What?
Primary Practice Area & Subspecialty Fields:
Education law, Indian law and Employment law.
When?
Years in Practice Area:
Since 1997
Years in the Legal Profession:
Since 1997
Where?
Employer:
Hufford, Horstman, Mongini, Parnell and McCarthy
h2m2law.com
Size/Sector:
10 attorneys
City/State:
Flagstaff, AZ
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Law School:
University of Idaho
Undergraduate School/Degree:
University of Washington, B.A. Communications
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Why?
Pluses/Challenges of Practice Area:
Representation of school districts, charter schools and community
schools involves several areas of law as well as complications
of Federal, state and tribal law. In addition, representation
of schools located on various Indian reservations provides a unique
glimpse into that particular tribe's culture.
Core Skills/Key Knowledge Needed in Your Practice Area:
In addition to substantive legal knowledge of Federal, State and
tribal law, one must have some experience and insight into tribal
and school politics.
Advice to Lawyers and Law Students Interested in Your Practice
Area:
This narrow area of the law is fascinating for those interested
in education, but not interested in teaching. The role as counselor
to a school is a key role in every aspect.
How?
Career Path to Current Position:
Resident of the Nez Perce Reservation, speech and drama classes,
waitressing, advertising professional, public relations consultant,
tribal liaison to a Department of Energy Contractor, summer associate
at a law firm with a group which practiced Indian law, finally,
a move to the Southwest.
Influences and Mentors:
My grandmothers, both Indian women who graduated from college
in the early 1930's; Douglas Nash, nationally renown Indian law
lawyer and uncle; Eric Eberhard and LynDee Wells, mentors and
supporters professionally and personally; Norbert Hill and the
AISES organization; and the Nez Perce community and my friends
who reside there.
Suggested Reading About Your Practice Area:
Felix Cohen's Handbook on Federal Indian Law.
Job Search Techniques Used in Finding Your Position(s):
Getting to know people who practiced Indian law.
Bar Affiliations and Activities:
Northwest Indian Bar Association, Washington State Bar Association,
American Bar Association, Federal Bar Association.
Recent Professional Publications:
The Ninth Circuit Approach to Applying Federal Law
to Indian Tribes in the Washington Bar News Magazine, November
2002.
Recent Professional Presentations:
Tribal Personnel Issues, Dorsey & Whitney LLP
Tribal Workshop; 2002 Tribal Employment Law, J. Dalton Institute,
Gathering of Nations; 2002 Tribal Employment Law, J. Dalton
Institute, Grande Ronde, Oregon, 2001
Memorable Career Moment(s):
Meeting a client who had received the Congressional Medal
of Honor for his service as a Navajo Code Talker.
Intriguing Interests:
DIY Home Improvement Projects, yard work and cooking.
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