Description:

The Native Law Pro Bono Project enables students to directly address legal issues that affect the daily lives of Native American people and communities.

We partner with California Indian Legal Services (CILS), a leading legal aid organization serving Native American individuals, tribes, and communities throughout California. CILS provides representation, legal advice, and advocacy on matters including tribal governance, child custody, voting rights, environmental regulation, treaty rights, property law, and constitutional issues.

We also partner with Hopa Mountain to connect Native-led organizations with student legal support tailored to their needs. Students respond to legal inquiries on issues such as environmental protection, land use, food sovereignty, economic development, language and culture, voting rights, veteran support, and missing and murdered Indigenous peoples.

Commitment Required of Members:

Most members complete one research assignment per quarter (~10 hours per quarter). Students working with Hopa Mountain complete two assignments: one in the fall; and one in either winter or spring (their choice). Projects may involve statutory or case law research, finding data to support policy proposals, or other legal research. We meet 1–2 times per quarter. Assignments are engaging but narrow — we don’t expect students to divert substantial time from coursework or other responsibilities.

Open Membership Spots: 20

Adv. Degree Student Participation: Permitted

Winter Start: Not Permitted; Fall Start Required

Eligible for Meeting NYS Bar Pro Bono Requirement: Likely

Language Ability Preference: Spanish helpful but not necessary

Project Leaders: Bastiaan Phair & Sydney Page