WA – Attorney II -Public Defender-Legal Aid Services – Yakama Nation

JOB TITLE:

Attorney II -Public Defender-Legal Aid Services

DEPARTMENT:

Office of Legal Council

SUPERVISOR:

Lead Attorney-Program Manager

SALARY:

$50.83-$57.21

JOB SUMMARY:

Employee serves as attorney for the Yakama Nation Public Defender-Legal Aid Services Program and is responsible for providing quality professional legal representation and advice to Tribal member clients in Tribal, Municipal, State and Federal Court systems and/or administrative agencies. Employee is responsible for providing a full range of legal services to Tribal members in areas criminal, dependency, children’s court, fish, and game, civil, family and Federal Indian Law matters, as assigned by the Lead Attorney- Program Manager.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Provide attorney representation to qualified individuals before Tribal, Municipal, State, Federal Courts, and administrative agencies.
  • Provide quality representation in criminal, civil, dependency, children’s court, fish and game, and administrative matters as assigned.
  • Provide legal advice on questions of Federal, State and Tribal law, treaty and constitutional rights, Indian lands, and Tribal sovereignty and jurisdiction in Indian Country.
  • Must demonstrate sufficient trial experience to be able to immediately try cases before juries and the bench.
  • Must have the ability to conduct legal research, evaluate complex cases, and perform thorough analysis and preparation of cases, briefs, reports, resolutions, narratives, and testimony.
  • Knowledge of standard court procedures, evidence rules, and application of legal principles relative to practicing law.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

  • Graduation from an accredited School of Law with a Juris Doctor and six months of experience in professional legal work or two years experience in Tribal legal office or Tribal Court.
  • Proof of being licensed and an active member in good standing of the Washington State Bar or licensed to practice before the Courts of any other state or the United States – and willingness and ability to pass the next Washington state bar exam.
  • Willingness to be admitted to practice law in the Yakama Tribal Court and other Tribal Courts as necessary, upon hire.
  • Candidate must be in good standing in all jurisdictions where licensed; must be of good moral character; must not have any felony convictions or extensive misdemeanor record.
  • Must sign a waiver to allow the Tribe to perform criminal background checks and must successfully pass an extensive criminal history background inquiry.
  • Must pass a pre-employment background check.
  • Must possess a valid Washington State Driver’s License with the ability to obtain a Yakama Nation Driving permit.
  • Required to pass a pre-employment drug test.

PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS:

  • History of work experience in public service law, poverty litigation and/or indigent defense or Indian law preferred.
  • Enrolled Yakama Preference, but all qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.

To apply, Click Here