Job title: STAFF ATTORNEY, NATIVE AMERICAN LAW CENTER (PROJECT/TEMPORARY)
Company: University of Washington
Job description: If you are using a screen reader and experience any difficulty accessing our web pages, please call 206-543-2544 or email and we will be happy to assist you.
STAFF ATTORNEY, NATIVE AMERICAN LAW CENTER (Project/Temporary)
STAFF ATTORNEY, NATIVE AMERICAN LAW CENTER (Project/Temporary)
Req #: 225767
Department: SCHOOL OF LAW: TRIBAL COURT PUBLIC DEFENSE CLINIC
Appointing Department Web Address:
Job Location: Seattle Campus
Posting Date: 11/14/2023
Closing Info: Open Until Filled
Salary: $5,449 – $8,173 per month
Other Compensation:
Shift: First Shift
Benefits: As a UW employee, you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs. For a complete description of our benefits for this position, please visit our website,
As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.
UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty.
The School of Law’s Tribal Court Public Defense Clinic (TCPDC) provides experiential learning opportunities for second and third-year law students through the representation of indigent defendants who have been charged with crimes and who qualify for court-appointed counsel in the Tulalip Tribal Court. The Temporary Staff Attorney reports to the Director of the Tribal Court Public Defense Clinic and manages an active caseload of tribal cases. The Staff Attorney represents the legal interests of clients charged with crimes in the Tulalip Tribal Court, through the application of Tribal policies and regulations governing the Tribal court process and staffing court calendars to provide continuity of representation given the teaching duties of the Director.
Staff Attorneys provide in-person support to the Tribal Court Public Defense Clinic (TCPDC) team by staffing the Tulalip Tribal Court office located on the Tulalip Indian Reservation. Staff Attorneys also appears in court during court calendars where the full-time public defenders are engaged in teaching related activities. Staff Attorneys are integral to maintaining the continuity of representation for Tulalip Tribal Court clients. The TCPDC represents indigent Native American defendants who have been charged with crimes and who qualify for court-appointed counsel in the Tulalip Tribal Court.
The position of Staff Attorney requires the ability to exercise independent judgment, maintain client confidences, and to exercise discretion when representing persons charged in the Tulalip Tribal Court. The position requires the ability to vigorously advocate on behalf of the client during Tulalip Tribal Court hearings. Timeliness, strong communication and negotiation skills are essential. The position requires regular attention to detail, management of electronic records, client contact, court appearances, both virtual and in person.
The Tribal Court Public Defense Clinic is a unique way for Tribes to provide public defense services to their members while simultaneously creating learning opportunities and partnerships for University of Washington Law School students, while centering Tribal sovereignty.
Staff attorneys are integral to providing continuity of representation for Tribal Court Clinic clients and summer coverage for Tribal Court Clinic cases handled by clinic students and faculty. The position supports program objectives by providing case assistance to clinic attorneys, faculty and students, providing legal representation in Tribal court hearings and trials, and analyzing and contributing to the improvement of the Tribal justice system through the Criminal Operations Committee and the Law and Justice Committee.
This position requires knowledge of legal practice in Tribal Courts including admission to practice law at the Tulalip Tribal Court or the ability to sit for and pass the Tulalip Bar exam within 30 days of hire. The position also requires active license to practice law/membership the Washington State Bar Association. The Program Operator Specialist will interface with Tribal members, the Tulalip Tribal Court, the Tulalip Prosecuting Attorney and should demonstrate the ability to exercise independent judgment, maintain client confidences, meet the highest standards for ethical professional practice, and to exercise discretion when representing persons charged in the Tulalip Tribal Court. The position requires the ability to vigorously advocate on behalf of the client during Tulalip Tribal Court hearings.
The position requires excellent analytic and research skills, the ability to effectively advocate in oral and written communications, competence in effectively working with diverse communities, and ability to effectively manage frequent deadlines. The position requires the ability to work with or to learn a variety of software programs including word, excel and proprietary case management systems such as Clio and Odyssey. Timeliness, strong communication and negotiation skills are essential.
Responsibilities
The Staff Attorney’s primary responsibilities in representing the interests of adults charged with criminal offenses in the Tulalip Tribal Court include:
Legal Services: 60%
- Providing representation for Clinic clients and summer coverage for cases handled by Clinic students and faculty.
- Serving as a resource to Clinic faculty, legal staff, students, and interns.
- Interacting with students to support the development of all facets of their legal experience in the Tribal court, while ensuring client’s rights are maintained during the representation.
- Conducting case evaluation, applying legal principles to fact patterns, and representing clients charged with crimes in the Tulalip Tribal Court at a variety of hearings, which include First Appearance/Arraignment, Pre-Trial and Trial Readiness Jury Trials, and Sentencing.
- Working with Clinic faculty and staff to conduct case evaluation and legal analysis utilizing tribal criminal law principles.
- Attending Clinic staff meetings and participating in the analysis of cases, the discussion of various legal and practice issues.
- Providing other additional services as necessary to maintain the continuity of representation for Tulalip Tribal Court clients.
- Participation in and support of the Annual Indian Law Symposium
Jail Visits: 10%
- Traveling to local correctional facilities and conducting jail visits with incarcerated clients as part of case evaluation and preparation for court hearings.
- Accepting phone calls from incarcerated clients.
Client Intake: 10%
- Conducting case management for the Clinic by utilizing specialized legal knowledge to manage workflow and meet the Clinic’s needs and requirements.
- Working with Clinic staff to coordinate and improve case intake, management practices and procedures, maintaining internal case databases, and supporting students and staff to comply with case management best practices.
- Independently managing client communications, conducting case outreach activities, and assisting in providing updates and other information to faculty, students, and clients.
Conflict Checks: 10%
- Working with Clinic staff to manage the conflict check system by applying applicable rules of professional conduct in evaluating potential conflicts, coordinating, and improving conflicts and ethics management practices and procedures, maintaining internal conflicts databases, and supporting students and staff in complying with ethical requirements established by the Tulalip Tribes and Washington State Bar Association.
File Maintenance and Record Keeping: 10%
- Preparing and filing documents in compliance with current filing requirements in compliance with applicable law and court rules and maintaining electronic files and databases.
- Managing electronic discovery from multiple sources.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Juris Doctor
- Admission to the Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) or current license to practice law by any jurisdiction in the United States that applies appropriate professional licensing standards and effectively ensures the competence and professional responsibility of its licensed attorneys AND the ability to apply for and receive admission to WSBA within 6 months of hiring.
- Admission to the Tulalip Tribal Court Bar or the ability to sit for the Tulalip Bar within 30 days of hire.
- A strong educational background in criminal law preferably through a criminal defense clinical law program and/or a minimum of two years of criminal defense practice in a public defender office (Tribal, State or Federal).
- Ability to work with or to learn a variety of software programs including Microsoft Word, Excel and proprietary case management systems such as Clio and Odyssey.
DESIRED:
- A strong educational or experiential background in Indian Law and/or Tribal Court practice experience.
- A demonstrated history of working with Tribal clientele.
- Work experience within or in service to Tribal communities.
Application Process:
The application process for UW positions may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter, and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your “My Jobs” page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.
Committed to attracting and retaining a diverse staff, the University of Washington will honor your experiences, perspectives and unique identity. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable and welcoming.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.
To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or .
Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under
Expected salary: $5449 – 8173 per month
Location: Seattle, WA
Job date: Wed, 29 Nov 2023 23:05:36 GMT
