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How to Use This Guide
Descriptions of Types of Legal Resource Groups
Bar Associations (Indian, National, Regional, State, Local)
Legal Aid and Pro Bono Services Directories
Legal Help Guides
Lawyer and Law Firm Directories
Indian Law Clinics
Dispute Resolution
Indian Child Welfare - Adoption
and Custody
Estate Planning and Probate
Requesting Legal Assistance from NARF
How to Use This Guide
This
guide provides information about legal assistance resources available
on the Internet. If this guide has been mailed to you, use the web site
address printed at the bottom of the page to access the guide on the Internet.
If you do not have access to the Internet at home, contact your local
libraries and ask about free Internet access.
The
web sites highlighted below are organized into several groups, but many
provide a wide variety of resources. Therefore, explore what the
web sites have to offer, beyond what has been highlighted on this web
page. This web page does not represent a complete list of all such
legal assistance aids available. If you think an additional site should
be linked, please let the library know. You can send an Email
(mmartens@narf.org), call, or write.
Disclaimer:
The library's web site contains links to information created and maintained
by other organizations. Should you leave this web site and enter an
external link, the library does not control and cannot guarantee the
accuracy, relevance, or timeliness of information provided by linked
sites. Providing a link to a web site does not constitute an endorsement
by the Native American Rights Fund or its library, any of its employees,
board of directors, funders or National Support Committee of the information
provided by that web site. These web pages do not constitute, in any
way, shape or form, legal advice, and should not be construed as a replacement
for direct legal counsel. If you desire legal advice, you should consult
competent legal counsel. NARF's
disclaimer.
Finally,
your local libraries can be a helpful source of information and might
be able to provide you with local directories of information about legal
aid and lawyers. Your area might have a local bar association, for instance.
(Check the business listing of your phone book.)
If you need guidance on how to perform legal research on your own see
the library's research
guides.
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Descriptions of Types of Legal Resource
Groups
1. Lawyers and Law Firms certain law
firms specialize in Native American issues. While law firms may charge a premium
for some services, they may also allow discounted, or even free, support for
some services. Discounted or free service availability will generally depend
on (1) the type of service, (2) situation of the client, or (3) availability
of attorneys practicing pro bono work.
2. Pro Bono is a Latin term meaning done
without compensation for the public good. Lawyers are encouraged to provide
free legal service by volunteering their time. Lawyers practicing pro bono
work can be found through pro bono service directories.
3. Legal Aid every state should have a legal aid service. These services are funded with federal, state, and private contributions. The support provided may vary from free (for some services) to affordable/discounted rates for other services. Colorado Legal Services, for instance, does not charge a fee so long as the client meets certain federal income guidelines.
Income eligibility for legal assistance:
To find out if you may qualify for legal aid, check out the legal
aid requirements set by the Legal Services Corporation. They establish
maximum income levels for individuals eligible for legal assistance
based on current Federal Poverty Guidelines. In addition the Legal
Services Act provides that other specified factors shall be taken
into account along with income. See the "Income
Level for Individuals Eligible for Assistance" published
in the Federal Register (January 31, 2006 (Volume 71, Number
20).
4. Indian Law Clinics exist at some law
schools. The clinics provide law students with experience in Native American
law, and at the same time provide legal services to tribes and low-income Native
clients. Some clinics will work with tribal governments, courts, organizations
and attorneys. Other clinics will work with Native clients on Native issues,
representing them in state, federal, tribal, and government hearings. Check
the clinic near you for their practice guidelines.
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Bar Associations
Indian Bar Associations:
American
Bar Association, State and Local Bar Association Directory - Some state
bar associations have Indian law "sections."
http://www.abanet.org/barserv/stlobar.html
American Bar Association
http://www.abanet.org/
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Legal Aid and Pro Bono Services Directories:
What is "legal aid" and "pro bono"?
Findlaw.com -- State Legal Aid Resources
http://public.findlaw.com/library/state-legal-aid.html
Legal Services Corporation -- Get Legal Assistance
http://www.rin.lsc.gov/rinboard/rguide/pdir1.htm
National
Association of Indian Legal Services (Wisconsin Judicare, Inc. Indian
Law Office)
http://www.judicare.org/nails.html
Neighborhood Legal Services, list of legal services by state
http://www.nls.org/lsclist.htm
Pine
Tree Legal Assistance -- Links to Other Legal Services Organizations
http://www.ptla.org/links.htm
The book The Directory of Legal Aid and Defender
Offices in the United States and Territories from
the National Legal Aid and Defender Association (2002) provides lists of
"civil legal service offices," "defender offices," and
"legal support services." Contact the library for assistance accessing
this material, or ask your local libraries if a copy of this book is available.
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Legal Help Guides:
American Bar Association, Consumers' Guide to Legal Help
http://www.abanet.org/legalservices/findlegalhelp/home.cfm
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Lawyer and Law Firm Directories:
More about lawyers and law firms.
Colorado:
Guide
to Colorado Legal Resources for Native Americans - (Indian Law Clinic,
University of Colorado School of Law)
http://www.colorado.edu/law/clinics/ilc/ColoradoLegalGuide.pdf
Washington:
Tribal Referral List (January 2006,
2nd Edition) - (Northwest Indian Bar Association and Washington State Bar Association,
Indian Law Section)
This guide is placed on the library's web site as a courtesy to these organizations and for the benefit of the public who needs Internet access to this information. The information contained in this publication is the sole responsibility of the NIBA and WSBA.
FindLaw
Lawyer Directory -- Scoll to the bottom
of the web page and click on "Native Peoples Law" under
the "CIVIL & HUMAN RIGHTS" topic. This link will take
you to a page that will allow you to pick a state. After you have
picked a state, there will be links which allow you to browse "Native
Peoples Law" lawyers by location. If a native peoples law firm or
lawyer is listed, a link will be provided to the attorney or law
firm profile, with contact information and a full description of
their practice areas.
http://lawyers.findlaw.com/lawyer/practice.jsp
Martindale.com, Lawyer Locator -- Under "areas of practice "
choose "Indians and Native Populations"
http://www.martindale.com/
State Affiliates of the American Civil Liberties Union
http://www.aclu.org/affiliates/index.html
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Indian Law Clinics:
What are "clinics"?
An Internet directory of Indian Law Clinics does not exist,
so clinics are listed below. These organizations are associated
with university law schools; therefore, descriptions are often written with
the "prospective
student"
in mind. If a clinic is missing from the list, please alert the library.
Arizona: Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy Program, Advocacy and Clinical
Projects
http://www.law.arizona.edu/Depts/iplp/advocacy/index.cfm?page=advoc
California: Tribal Legal Development Clinic, UCLA American Indian Studies Center
http://www.aisc.ucla.edu/textonly/tldc.html
Colorado: American Indian Law Clinic, University of Colorado Law School
http://www.colorado.edu/law/clinics/ilc/index.htm
Intake phone number: (303) 492-8126
Michigan: Indigenous Law Clinic, Indigenous Law & Policy Center, Michigan State University College of Law
http://www.law.msu.edu/indigenous/center-clinic.html
Minnesota: Indian Child Welfare Act Clinic, University of Minnesota
http://www.law.umn.edu/prospective/coursedetails.html?course=43
Montana: Indian Law Clinic, University of Montana
http://www.umt.edu/law/clinics/indian_law.htm
New Mexico: Southwest Indian Law Clinic, University of New Mexico
http://lawschool.unm.edu/indian/indian-clinic.php
New
York: Center for
Indigenous Law, Governance and Citizenship,
Syracuse University College of Law
http://www.law.syr.edu/academics/centers/ilgc/
North Dakota: Native American Law Project, University of North Dakota
http://www.law.und.nodak.edu/npilc/nalp/
And: Tribal
Environmental Law Project, Northern Plains Indian Law Center
http://www.law.und.nodak.edu/npilc/telp/index.php
Vermont: Indian Country Environmental Justice Clinic, Vermont Law School
http://www.vermontlaw.edu/elc/index.cfm?doc_id=164
Washington: Northwest Indian Law Clinic
http://www.nwjustice.org/NWILC/html/mission.html
Tribal Court Criminal Defense Clinic, University of Washington
http://www.law.washington.edu/clinics/tribal.html
Wisconsin: Great Lakes Indian Law Center, University of Wisconsin
http://www.law.wisc.edu/glilc/
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Dispute Resolution
Indian
Dispute Resolution Services
http://indiandispute.com/
Estate Planning and Probate
Institute for Indian Estate Planning and Probate with the Indian
Land Tenure Foundation and the Seattle University, School of Law
http://indianwills.org/
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