DEPARTMENT: Legal
REPORTS TO: Tribal Water Institute Lead Attorney
FLSA STATUS: Exempt, Termed (two-year position)
LOCATION: Boulder, Colorado (on-site required)
COMPANY DESCRIPTION
The Native American Rights Fund (NARF), established in 1970, provides critical legal assistance to Indian tribes, organizations, and individuals across the United States. A leading non-profit organization, NARF fights to uphold tribal sovereignty, treaty rights, and the protection of natural resources and Indian education. NARF advocates for ensuring that federal and state governments honor their legal commitments to Native communities.
ROLE DESCRIPTION
The Law Fellow position is primarily responsible for legal research, legal writing, and advocacy. This position will work with colleagues, clients, and partners to achieve shared goals in support of the Tribal Water Institute, a project designed to develop policy and law, and increase capacity, education, and collaboration on tribal water issues. The work may include aspects of water rights litigation, including factual and legal research, discovery, motion practice, trials, appeals, amicus briefs, and other client-driven needs.
CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Legal Support. Work with Staff Attorneys, clients, and partner organizations on tribal water issues, including litigation, water settlements and implementation, policy research and development, and collaboration with tribal and non-tribal entities to address opportunities for tribal inclusion on water-related legal decisions and policy issues. Legal Research. Conduct research on legal issues, statutes, and case law to inform legal arguments and decisions. Support the staff attorneys by identifying, researching, and drafting memoranda and other materials. Advocacy. Support the staff attorneys in the representation of the organization and the clients before various community and stakeholder groups and before federal and state agencies and in regulatory proceedings Collaboration. Build and help lead coalitions with diverse stakeholders, and work in partnership with other organizations. Other duties as assigned by the supervising attorney.
SUPERVISORY DUTIES: None.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:
J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school. A license to practice law in any state, or the ability to sit for the bar exam during the first six-months of the fellowship term and be licensed within the first year of the fellowship, unless another arrangement is made with NARF management. Knowledge of Native American or Alaska Native culture and history, experience and/or committed interest in working with tribes. Ability to fully complete assigned tasks and meet deadlines with minimal supervision. Excellent writing, research, and analytical skills. Critical and creative thinking, and problem-solving skills. Ability to proofread and edit written material for contextual, grammatical, typographical, spelling, or legal citation errors. Ability to accurately maintain records and case files. Understanding of attorney ethics rules and ability to work with and protect confidential information. Strong computer skills, including working knowledge of Microsoft Office (especially Word, Excel, Teams, Outlook, etc.). Ability to organize and prioritize numerous tasks and complete them under time constraints. Work may occasionally require a high level of mental effort and strain when performing a high volume of tasks and other essential duties. Ability to foster, work within, and support a collaborative, team-based environment, including within large and diverse coalitions. Interpersonal skills necessary to communicate and follow instruction effectively from a diverse group of people; ability to provide information and assistance with ordinary courtesy and tact. Occasional travel required. The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of essential functions, responsibilities or requirements.
SALARY AND BENEFITS: The salary is $100,000 per year. Generous benefits package includes vacation leave, health, dental and vision insurance, and paid time off including sick leave, parental leave, and medical/disability leave. Additionally, there is an employer contribution to the employee 401K plan (eligible after one year of service), employer paid group life insurance, accident insurance, and short-term and long-term disability insurance.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE: Submit a cover letter, resume, writing sample, complete law school transcript, and contact information of three professional references via the NARF Career Center.
