Staff Attorney - Southern Office

National Legal Aid & Defender Association; Escondido (CA); On-site; USD 77,000 - 102,000; Full time

Job summary

California Indian Legal Services seeks a Staff Attorney for its Southern Office in Escondido, CA. The role involves providing legal services in Federal Indian law, handling court matters and advising tribal clients, with a focus on ICWA, jurisdiction, and related issues.

Collaborative work with the Directing Attorney and staff is expected to support community advocacy and client rights. The position is full-time and exempt, with a competitive salary range and opportunities to work on state and

Qualifications

• Experience providing legal services to low-income Native American individuals.
• Ability to appear in state dependency actions where ICWA applies.
• Knowledge of Federal Indian Law and Tribal law and related regulatory frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Handle a varied caseload including brief counsel, litigation, and contract work.
• Advise tribal clients and assist in drafting constitutions, codes, and policies.
• Develop and maintain relationships with tribes and Indian organizations and funders.

Skills

Federal Indian law

State & federal litigation

Client development

Job description

Position Description

Staff Attorney

Southern Office, Escondido, CA Hiring Range: $77,435-$102,132 annually

Job Type: Full-time, Exempt

Program Description

Founded in 1967, California Indian Legal Services (CILS) is the oldest public interest Indian rights law firm in the country, promoting the fundamental rights of California Tribes and Indians through litigation, legislative and administrative advocacy, community development, and other strategies for systemic change. CILS provides a full range of legal representation to California Indian Tribes and Indian organizations, advocates for the rights of California Indians at the local, state, and national levels, and provides direct services and community education to low-income Native American individuals on issues related to Federal Indian Law and Tribal law. Currently, CILS offers services statewide and maintains four offices throughout California – Eastern (Bishop), Southern (Escondido), Northern (McKinleyville), and Central (Sacramento). This position is in the Southern Office, located in Escondido, CA. For additional information about CILS, go to our website at www.calindian.org.

Job Description

Supervised by the Directing Attorney, the Staff Attorney 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 (ICWA). The Staff Attorney will assume a varied caseload 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; and making community presentations. The Staff Attorney will be expected to appear on behalf of tribal clients in state dependency actions where the ICWA is applicable. Staff Attorney client development responsibilities include developing and maintaining effective relationships with tribes and Indian organizations in the service territory, including all funding sources, and ensuring that the office pursues and secures meaningful opportunities to work with tribes, Indian organizations, and Indian individuals throughout the service territory. Client development includes all CILS funding sources (grants, contracts, donations, etc.).

Staff Attorneys also collaborate with Directing Attorneys and the Director of Legal Programs for legal work management that includes Staff Attorney mentoring and supervision, assistance and administration of local legal work management systems, and grant and special project development and implementation, as directed by the Directing Attorney and/or the Director of Legal Programs.