Public Defender-Legal Aid Services Lead Attorney Program Manager

Announcement #

2024-184

Issue Date:

06-18-24

Closing Date:

07-10-24

Public Defender-Legal Aid Services Lead Attorney Program Manager

Public Defender-Legal Aid Services

Department of Justice Services

Hourly Wage: $56.04-$63.07/Regular/Full-Time/Supervisory

Employee serves as Lead attorney and Program Manager for the Yakama Nation Public Defender-Legal Aid Services Program and is responsible for providing professional legal representation and advice to Tribal member clients in Tribal Court as well as being responsible for administrative management of the Program. Employee is responsible for evaluating intakes and assigning staff (including self) to represent Tribal members in a full range of legal services in areas of criminal, dependency, children's court, fish, and game, civil, family and Federal Indian Law matters, through legal research, evaluation of potential cases, analysis and preparation of accepted cases, motions, hearings, trials, and appeals.

The employee may be appointed by the court(s) as a Guardian Ad Litem in custody matters. The employee is responsible for establishing goals and objectives, budgets, monthly, quarterly, and annual reports, staff supervision and development. The employee participates in meetings or projects relative to the Yakama Tribal justice system.

Examples of Work Performed:

Provide day-to-day supervision of all staff within the Program, including delegation of assignments and duties.

Responsible for providing legal representation required by the Tribal membership, including representation before Tribal Court.

Provide intake and screening of potential clientele to avoid conflicts of interest and ensure ethical representation of clients.

Provide preliminary formal and/or informal consultation and legal advice to clientele.

Provides legal advice on question of Federal, State and Tribal law, treaty and constitutional rights, Indian lands, and Tribal sovereignty, when necessary.

Must be capable of demonstrating and utilizing knowledge of Indian law, and handle legal issues related to jurisdiction in Indian Country.

Must have the ability to conduct legal research, evaluation of legal complexities concerning cases, and the analysis and preparation of cases, briefs, reports, resolutions, narratives, and testimony.

Must demonstrate sufficient trial experience to be able to immediately try cases before juries and on the bench.

Must be familiar with traditional Yakama Tribal laws and practices as they pertain to the Yakama Traditional hearings and Tribal Court practices.

Must be able to formulate and drafts complex legal documents required in litigation and general legal services for individual Tribal membership.

Develops program Mission statement, goals, and objectives annually.

Prepares annual budgets, and budget modifications as necessary.

Completes monthly, quarterly, and annual reports.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge of standard court procedures, rules of evidence, and application of legal principles relative to practicing law.

Knowledge of Tribal, federal, and state law and regulations.

Knowledge of the Revised Law and Order Code of the Yakama Nation.

Knowledge of Tribal Court procedures and rules of evidence.

Knowledge of Yakama Nation administrative manuals (Personnel Policy Manual, Supervisor's Handbook, etc.).

Knowledge of Tribal governmental operations.

Knowledge of administrative office management.

Knowledge of management principles, practices, and processes.

Knowledge of supervisory principles, practices, and procedures.

Knowledge of basic accounting principles and practices.

Skills in communications, both oral and written.

Ability to be culturally sensitive to traditions and customs of the Yakama Nation.

Minimum Requirements:

Graduation from an accredited School of Law with a Juris Doctor and minimum of five years of experience

in professional legal work.

Must sign a waiver to allow the Tribe to perform criminal background checks and must successfully pass an extensive criminal history background inquiry.

Attorney must be an active member in good standing of the Washington State Bar or certified and eligible to practice before the Yakama Tribal Courts and any other State of the United States.

Sworn statement by candidate that his/her conduct or fitness to practice law has never been challenged in any jurisdiction; must not have any felony convictions or extensive misdemeanor record.

Required to pass a pre-employment drug test.

Must possess a valid Washington State Driver's License with the ability to obtain a Yakama Nation Driving Permit.

Enrolled Yakama Preference, but all qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.