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Attorney
By
Attorney
Career Profiles of the Profession
Who?
What?
Primary Practice Area & Subspecialty Fields:
Indian Law, in-house, with an emphasis in economic development,
tax, energy and natural resources.
When?
In Practice Area:
Since 1994.
In the Legal Profession:
Since 1994.
Where?
Employer:
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation
www.umatilla.nsn.us
Size/Sector:
7 attorneys in-house plus 3 or more on contract
City/State:
Pendleton, OR |
Law School:
Lewis & Clark Northwestern School of Law
Undergraduate School/Degree:
American University, B.A. Political Science
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Why?
Pluses/Challenges of Practice Area:
Cross-Cultural issues are fascinating. Clients that deserve to
be empowered. Wide variety of legal matters, i.e. never routine
or boring. Opportunity to interact with Governors, Senators and
similar on a regular basis. Opportunities to build institutions
from the ground up that are under local control and truly representative
of the people in the community.
Core Skills/Key Knowledge Needed in Your Practice Area:
An ability to rapidly digest and understand new areas of the law
on a regular basis. Top-notch people skills including an ability
to represent clients with different ways of communicating and
fundamentally different values and views than your own. Knowledge
of Federal Indian law; knowledge of basic government law; litigation
skills; transactional skills.
Advice to Lawyers and Law Students Interested in Your Practice
Area:
Trust is a huge issue in Indian Country. Most Tribes do not respond
well to aggressive, pushy attorneys or to typical attorney "legalese".
An ability to listen well, draw people out, along with a willingness
to invest time in a patient manner and treat Tribal customs respectfully,
will win an attorney the loyalty of Tribal leaders and members.
How?
Career Path to Current Position:
Teacher; Peace Corps; Social Worker; Public Interest Law Grant
to work with tribes while in law school, summer law clerking with
tribe, hired as 1st in-house attorney after passing bar exam.
Influences and Mentors:
Parents' involvement in civil rights movement in Louisiana; cross-cultural
experiences in Peace Corps; Kris Olsen, former U.S. Attorney for
Oregon; Howie Arnett, Attorney for Warm Springs Tribes
Suggested Reading About Your Practice Area:
Federal Indian Law casebooks; American Indian Law in a Nutshell
by Canby, ACLU's The Rights of Indian Tribes; numerous
law review articles about practicing in tribal courts and the
use of tribal custom in resolving disputes.
Job Search Techniques Used in Finding Your Position(s):
Use of grant funding to obtain introductory position.
Bar Affiliations and Activities:
Oregon State Bar Ass'n; Washington State Bar Ass'n; ABA; National
Indian Bar Ass'n; Native American Bar Ass'n
Recent Professional Presentations:
Public/Private Partnerships: Wanapa Energy Center at Buying
and Selling Electricity in the West, Seattle, WA 2003; other
recent topics include Indian tax issues, Indian housing law, and
environmental regulation on reservations.
Memorable Career Moment:
My first court appearance for the Tribes in state court
successfully defending Tribal hunting rights. Intriguing Interests:
Snowboarding, motorcycling, backpacking, poetry and art.
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