Tribal Attorney at Law Lead

The Director for the Legal Department serves as the lead Tribal Attorney, supervises in-house legal counsel and support staff, manages external legal contracts, and serves the Tribe consistent with priorities determined by the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribal Council.

The Legal Department helps the Tribe exercise jurisdiction to the fullest extent and aims to protect and strengthen the Tribe’s sovereignty over its land and resources to help the Tribe promote the health, safety, and welfare of its members.

Duties Include:

• Attend Tribal Council, Executive Team, Department Director, lobbying and other meetings and advise in real time (or assign another legal team member in the director’s absence).
• Reviews all Tribal Council agenda request submissions with a team to ensure compliance.
• Represent the Tribe in litigation when directed to do so.
• Draft and amend tribal law.
• Draft and amend tribal policy.
• Comment and testify on federal and state law.
• Review, draft, and negotiate contracts.
• Supervise in-house tribal attorneys and support staff.
• Manage contracts of several external legal counsel firms, including civil legal attorneys who provide direct assistance and advice to individual tribal members.
• Develop and manage legal department budget.
• Develop the legal department’s strategic plan and annual report.
• Review documents and provide legal advice and information to tribal departments, committees, and entities including subject matters areas of gaming, environmental protection and management, treaty rights protection, land acquisition, economic development, personnel, administrative efficiency, etc. 
• Serves as an Executive Team member to help the Tribe with strategic planning, risk management, and government efficiency.
• Collaborates with departments and entities to acquire land, develop regulations and management plans.
• Provide limited legal advice, information and referrals to individual tribal members but does not represent tribal members in legal proceedings.
• Represent the Tribe with external entities at speaking engagements and presentations when requested.
• Ability to work remotely, unsupervised occasionally.

Education and Certifications

• Juris Doctor required.
• Admission to the Washington State Bar required.
• Good Standing with the State Bar.
• Admission to the Port Gamble S’Klallam Community Court Bar required.
• Driver’s license required.

Experience

• Knowledge of federal Indian law required.
• Knowledge of and experience with tribal law and tribal communities highly desirable.
• Supervisor and budget experience required.
• Substantial experience in multiple substantive practice, including: natural resources/environmental law, treaty rights, grants and contracting, tribal taxation, employment and administrative law is highly preferred.
• 10+ years of practice is highly preferred.
• Ability to work in fast-paced, demanding work environment.

Physical Requirements:

• Regularly required to finger, handle, reach with hands and arms
• Frequently required to walk, sit, stand
• Normal audio and visual acuity
• This position is eligible for routine remote work of up to one day per week. The schedule must be discussed with and approved by supervisor and director and may be subject to change depending on role and department need.
• This position is eligible for situational remote work as needed. The schedule must be discussed with and approved by supervisor and director and may be subject to change depending on role and department need.

Travel Requirements:

Local, statewide and out of state travel may be required