Staff Attorney

The Native American Rights Fund (NARF) is a non-profit national Indian law firm representing Indian tribes, organizations, and individuals in Indian law matters of major significance. NARF’s main office is in Boulder, Colorado, with additional offices in Washington, D.C., and Anchorage, Alaska. NARF is an Equal Opportunity Employer. American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians are encouraged to apply.

NARF is looking for an experienced Staff Attorney with excellent research and writing skills to assume a litigation and issue advocacy campaign docket. The Staff Attorney position provides legal representation for clients, conducts legal research, drafts legal documents, attends court appearances, manages litigation docket, engages in relevant legal programs and activities, and provides assistance to the Case Selection Committee (CSC) in considering RFAs.

CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Legal Representation. Represent clients in various legal matters, as requested by the CSC. Assume all the professional responsibilities of the attorney-client relationship. Manage assigned litigation docket and appear at relevant court proceedings.
2. Legal Research and Analysis. Conduct thorough research on legal issues and analyze relevant laws and regulations to provide thorough, informed legal advice.
3. Document Drafting. Prepare and review legal documents, including briefs, pleadings, formal comment letters, and contracts, ensuring accuracy and compliance with legal standards.
4. CSC Support. Respond to and investigate requests for assistance (RFA), as directed by the CSC, and make recommendations to the CSC.
5. Fundraising, Accounting, and Communications Support. Draft case updates and provide other relevant information necessary for grant applications, grant reports, and funder interactions. Collaborate with other departments to ensure that NARF’s work is promoted and supported.
6. Program Support. Coordinate and manage specific NARF programs (e.g., Tribal Supreme Court Project, Tribal Water Institute, etc.), as required.
7. Legal Programs and Activities. Prepare board reports, conduct workshops, participate in panel discussions or other activities as requested by the CSC.
8. Time Tracking. Enter time records as required by NARF policies and practice.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• JD degree from an ABA-accredited school of law and admission to a state bar.
• Must have experience and knowledge in federal Indian law, experience with and knowledge of Alaska Native communities and cultures, and experience with federal and/or state court litigation.
• Minimum seven (7) to ten (10) years of relevant experience as a practicing attorney.
• Experience in working in coalitions, natural resources law, subsistence law, or voting rights law is a plus.
• The successful applicant must be licensed to practice in Alaska or be able to secure admission to the state bar as soon as reasonably possible.

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

The salary range is $185,107 to $274,276 annually. This salary range is based on seven (7) to twenty-four plus(24 ) years of experience in the Denver Metro market. Actual salary will depend on years of experience and NARF office locality. Generous benefits package includes health, dental, and vision insurance, and paid time off including vacation leave, sick leave, family leave, and medical/disability leave. Additionally, there is an employer contribution to employee 401K plan, employer paid group life insurance, accident insurance, and short-term and long-term disability insurance.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Upload the following documents 1) a cover letter, 2) complete resume (including representative sample of litigation matters), and 3) writing sample. Submit the names, contact information, and job titles of three professional references.