Job Summary:

An Honors Attorney is an entry-level position designed to provide recently graduated Tribal members an opportunity to acquire the knowledge, experience and skills necessary for advancement to the position of Staff Attorney. The position will include learning experiences, mentoring and progressively increasing levels of responsibility. On-the-job training is performed under immediate supervision of a higher level attorney; however, as skill and experience are gained, increasingly independent action and decisions as well as the ability to handle increasingly difficult assignments is expected.

Essential Functions:

• Stay abreast of laws, statutes and regulations affecting the Tribe and its enterprises.
• Conduct research and collect information relevant to legal matters, analyze findings, prepare reports and memorandums and make appropriate recommendations.
• Draft legislation and amendments to legislation that are legally correct, are clear, written comprehensibly in grammatically correct plain English and adhere to all other office style and format requirements.
• Review and prepare contracts and agreements, prepare drafts of court pleadings, ordinances and resolutions.
• Handle Indian Child Welfare matters as assigned.
• Assist with the conduct of litigation.
• Consult with departments and arms of Tribal government to answer questions and advise them on legal matters affecting their work.
• Complete special projects and other assigned tasks.
• Attend training necessary for continuing legal education, broaden personal legal background and keep abreast of court decisions and existing and pending legislation affecting the Tribe. 
• Performs a variety of other duties as assigned by the Tribal attorney and senior attorneys.

Education, Experience, and Licenses:

• Requires a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from an ABA accredited law school.
• Must be admitted to the Oregon State Bar or another state bar if that state allows for comity admission to Oregon (however, employment will be contingent upon licensure by the Oregon State Bar).

Driving Requirements:

• This position may require driving.

Qualifications, Registrations, and Certifications:

• Must be an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon.
• An Honors Attorney is expected to meaningfully contribute to the work of the department immediately upon being hired and to demonstrate a consistent commitment to developing the preferred skills and subject-matter expertise needed to increase the extent and quality of his or her contribution to the department and the Tribe.  It is expected that upon completion of the 24 month Honors Attorney assignment, the Honors Attorney will, in the judgment of the Tribal Attorney, have developed the skill and expertise required to advance to the position of Staff Attorney.  If, in the judgment of the Tribal Attorney, the Honors Attorney is not qualified to advance to the position of Staff Attorney at any time within the 24 month assignment, then the Honors Attorney assignment and employment shall end.
• Must obtain membership in the Tribal Court bar within six (6) months of employment.
• Requires basic knowledge of Indian and Tribal law, and applicable federal and state laws.
• Requires knowledge of and sensitivity to Native American culture.
• Requires excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to conduct research and analysis of legal issues.
• Requires a general understanding of how to handle litigation.
• Must be self-directed and have the ability to work at times with minimal supervision, must be willing to ask questions, and work in a fast-paced environment. 
• Must have the ability to balance competing priorities and meet deadlines. 
• Requires working knowledge and proficiency in use of office equipment and computer software such as Microsoft products.
• Must have excellent organizational skills, attention to detail and record-keeping skills.
• Must have ability to respond courteously and tactfully to complaints and client requests, and to maintain confidentiality.

Environmental Factors and Conditions/Physical Requirements:

• Continually requires the ability to express or receive detailed information or important instructions through oral communication.
• Continually requires working with fingers rather than the whole hand or arm. Requires repetitive movement of wrists, hands and/or fingers. Often requires walking or moving about to accomplish tasks.
• Requires standing and/or sitting for sustained periods of time, raising objects from a lower to a higher position and/or moving objects horizontally.
• Occasionally requires lifting of up to 40 pounds.
• Due to the nature of the interactions with other employees and the public we serve, employees may be required to provide documentation of, or receive, certain health vaccinations.
• This position is frequently subject to inside environmental conditions which provide protection from weather conditions, but not necessarily from temperature changes, and is occasionally subject to outside environmental conditions.
• May be called upon to serve as a Disaster Reservist during emergencies.
• Local travel is occasionally required. Travel outside of the state is infrequently required. 

Background Check:

Candidates for this position will be subject to criminal and character background checks and may be subject to fingerprinting.