Trial Attorney – Tribal Resources Section

Summary

The Tribal Resource Section litigates to uphold the United States’ trust responsibility to Indian tribes, including defending agency decisions in furtherance of tribal interests and bringing affirmative actions to protect tribal lands, rights, resources, and jurisdiction. The litigation promotes tribal sovereignty and protects tribal land bases and other treaty and reserved rights, such as water rights, reservation boundaries, hunting and fishing rights, and federal and tribal jurisdiction.

Duties

• One or more positions may be filled in either Washington DC or Denver.
• The first cut-off date for referral of applicants will be 7/27/2026.
• The second cut-off date will be on the closing date of 8/17/2026.
• The Tribal Resource Section (TRS) litigates to uphold and fulfill the United States' trust responsibility to the nation's 575 federally recognized Indian tribes.
• This includes defending the decisions of the
• Department of the
• Interior and other federal agencies under the
• Act in furtherance of tribal interests, as well as bringing civil affirmative actions to protect tribal lands, rights, resources, and jurisdiction.
• This litigation furthers the
• States' government-to-government relationships with tribal nations and generally promotes tribal sovereignty, protects tribal land bases, and ensures legal rights guaranteed by treaties and other reserved rights, such as water rights, reservation boundaries, hunting and fishing rights, and federal and tribal jurisdiction.
• The litigation handled by the Section is of vital interest to Indian tribes and often addresses issues of first impression.
• Consistent with the Tribal Resources Section's practice, the individual selected will be responsible for handling a range of matters, including some of the most complex and important cases currently arising in this area of the law.
• This position will allow the individual to utilize his or her superior legal research, writing, and oral advocacy skills in all aspects of negotiation, motions practice, and trial.

Education

All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, see www.ed.gov. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to timely provide such evidence by submitting proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency with your application materials. More information may be found at https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. All documentation must be in English or include an English translation. https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Required Documents

• To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes the following:
• Resume (not to exceed two pages) demonstrating relevant experience and month/year the experience was obtained
• Cover letter with brief statement of interest. Writing sample Copy of
• J.D. degree transcripts
• DD 214 Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active
• Duty and other supporting documentation, if applicable Your resume
• MUST include full employment information such as periods of employment with month/year started and ended, title of position(s), part time hours worked, and description of duties. If you have
• Federal employment, you must include the grade of the position(s).