Child Support Attorney

PLEASE INCLUDE A COVER LETTER AND WRITTING SAMPLE WITH YOUR RESUME

JOB TITLE:              Child Support Tribal Attorney

DEPARTMENT:        Child Support/Office of Tribal Attorney

REPORTS TO:         General Manager/ Senior Tribal Attorney

STATUS:                   Contract

WAGE GRADE:       O

SUMMARY: 

At the direction of the Child Support Director, the Tribal Attorney will provide legal advice and representation in Tribal court on child support orders, modification and paternity establishments. The Tribal Attorney contracted services will include code writing, policy revisions, and legal research and writing. 

The Tribal Attorney performs general legal work, including, but not limited to, general legal advice to Nooksack Child Support Department; representation in other tribal, state, federal courts; code writing; and, legal research as needed.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:  

• Provide legal guidance and representation on Child Support Services. 
• Review, negotiate and draft contracts, resolutions and other legal documents, including but not limited to revising the Child Support Child support orders, modification orders, paternity establishments, comprehensive plan, policies and guidelines, codes, and policies. 
• Maintain effective working relationships with Tribal officials, employees and the community.
• Utilize best practice methods to perform legal research and writing in drafting memorandums, contracts and pleadings.   
• Continue professional development, including continuing legal education and/or training in the areas of Indian law, criminal law, law enforcement, Indian Child Welfare Act, Child Support Enforcement, and other issues relevant to job duties.
• As an attorney, provide legal representation of the department in tribal and state courts, including all Child Support cases (unless conflicted or out-of-town).
• Consult and provide legal advice to case workers and supervisors, as necessary.
• As an attorney, develop policies and ordinances pertaining to matters of this department.
• As an attorney, represent the Tribe in program agreements with the State and other entities.
• As an attorney, represent the Tribe in child support and dependency cases in Tribal Court, including filing pleadings2
• Perform other related duties as assigned by the Child Support Director.

REQUIRED EDUCATION, LICENSING AND EXPERIENCE:

• A Juris Doctor from an ABA accredited law school.
• Member in good standing of the Washington State Bar Association and a member in good standing of the Nooksack Tribal Court Bar or obtain membership within sixty (60) days of date of hire.
• Qualified applicants must have at least two (2) years’ experience or demonstrated experience in one or more of the following subject matter areas: civil procedure, trial practice; criminal law; Child Support Enforcement, Indian Child Welfare Act; legal writing, drafting and negotiating contracts, drafting statutes policies and procedures, litigation, constitutional or business law; and/or Federal Indian law. 
• Must demonstrate excellent legal research, writing and oral communication skills.
• Ability to organize and maintain clear, concise, and accurate records, and follow office procedures.  
• Experience in cross cultural working environments and cultural competency preferably with Federally recognized Indian tribes. 

OTHER REQUIREMENTS  

• Must pass alcohol/drug test(s) and criminal background check(s) at time of hire and throughout employment.
• Must have and maintain throughout employment a valid Washington State Driver’s License and meet the insurability requirements.
• Must pass all Nooksack Tribal hiring prerequisites.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit for long periods.
• Manual dexterity to operate a keyboard, calculator, and telephone system.
• Ability to lift up to 20 pounds without assistance.
• Read, write, speak and understand English.
• Be able to walk/drive between various office locations.
• Must be able to bend, reach, kneel, twist, and grip from assigned work areas.
• Sufficient clarity of speech and hearing or other communication abilities to enable the employee to communicate effectively.
• Sufficient vision or other powers of observation to enable the employee to review a wide variety of materials in electronic or hard copy form.
• Sufficient personal mobility and physical reflexes to enable the employee to safely lift, move, or maneuver whatever may be necessary to successfully perform the duties of the position.  
• Sufficient personal mobility and physical reflexes to enable the employee to efficiently function in a general office environment.

I have read and understand the position requirements as stated above I further understand that occasionally I may be instructed to perform duties that are not listed above but are relative to my position. 

The Tribe hopes that the employment relationship will be long and productive; however, the Tribe is an employer at-will; therefore, you may terminate the employment relationship at any time, and likewise, the Tribe may terminate the employment relationship at any time.  Neither you nor the Tribe needs to provide a reason for a decision to terminate the employment relationship.  This contract employment is valid through the duration of 1 year.

Salary : $175