Tulalip Tribal Court Needs You

Did you know that you can become barred with the Tulalip Tribal Court? Attorneys do not need to be Tulalip tribal members to serve as counsel at the Court, but they do need to pass the Tulalip Tribal Court’s separate bar exam. The Court’s website provides study materials and the bar exam application. Once you’ve filed the application, you will sit for the exam. According to the Court’s website, “[t]he Tribal Bar Exam consists of 28 multiple choice questions. It’s an open book test, or you can use a laptop with the tribal court’s WI-FI to access the study materials. The exam must be completed within two hours.” It is free to take the exam the first time; subsequent tries are $25.

The Court is currently looking for criminal defense attorneys to represent low-income misdemeanor and felony defendants where the public defenders cannot provide representation due to conflicts. You must become barred with the Tribal Court before signing an engagement letter with the Court, but it is not necessary to have already joined the bar prior to applying. Attorneys may request a 30-day provisional license to practice law when they submit their application to join the bar.

The court has established professional fees and attorney responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Providing legal representation and advocacy to low-income clients;

• Working with clients struggling with mental illness, drug addiction, or other issues;

• Initiating and maintaining the lawyer-client relationship;

• Investigation and case preparation;

• Attending all hearings;

• Preparing pleadings, motions, and correspondence;

• Plea negotiation;

• Trial preparation and trial or disposition without trial; and

• Sentencing recommendations.

Interested attorneys should email a letter of interest and current résumé to: Jehrad Kimble, Interim Tulalip Tribal Court Director, jkimble@tulaliptribes-nsn.gov and Stephanie Cultee, Executive Assistant for the Tulalip Tribal Court, scultee@tulaliptribes-nsn.gov. For more information, please contact Jehrad and Stephanie via email or at 360.716.4778.