General Counsel - Office of the President - Juneau

Juneau, AK   Office of the President

Description

General Counsel

 

Department: Office of the President

Location: Juneau, AK

Exemption Status: Exempt

Pay Grade(s): 17-19

 

Purpose: Provide professional legal counsel to Central Council Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska (T&H) in the areas of tribal government, federal-tribal relations, jurisdiction issues, environmental and natural resources law and policy, economic development, tribal business enterprise, and employment. Protect tribal assets and preserve tribal sovereignty. Fiduciary duties shall be exclusive to T&H.

 

Essential Functions. An individual in this role must be able to perform the following functions with or without reasonable accommodation:

• Review and recommend action on a wide range of complex legal matters for Tribal Administration, the governing body (Tribal Assembly and Executive Council), Tribal Court and Tribal enterprises.

• Provide legal advice, interpretation, and opinions on legal matters.

• Provide legal advice and services on rights, obligations, and privileges.

• Represent the Tribe at meetings and maintain clear lines of communication including but not limited to reporting legal matters, proceedings or transactions to T&H President and the governing body.

• Provide and oversee legal representation to T&H employees regarding Tribal operations and programs.

• Oversee, develop, and review legal instruments (e.g. policies, contracts, leases, regulations, etc.).

• Manage legal budget.

• Manage General Counsel employees, including but not limited to hiring, training, supervision, corrective action, and evaluations. Review and recommend updates to the T&H governing documents.

• Oversee the engagement and performance of outside legal counsel, including management of contracts, scopes of work, workflow coordination, and invoice review and approval, to ensure effective legal representation, fiscal accountability, and protection of Tribal sovereignty and assets.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities. A comprehensive set of capabilities required to perform job tasks effectively:

• Familiar with Tlingit & Haida law, federal Indian law, employment law, natural resources law, and business law. 

• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with management, coworkers, tribes, tribal organizations, federal, state and local officials, and public and private groups.

• Familiarity with the legal needs of the T&H recognized communities, service areas and citizens.

• Must be a skilled communicator, capable of analyzing complex issues in a manner meaningful to all levels of employees.

• Knowledge of legal research methods.

• Knowledge of contracts and grant preparation and analysis.

• Knowledge of Tribal State, and Federal court procedures.

 

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications (education, experience, skills):

• Juris Doctorate from American Bar Association (ABA) accredited law school.

• Member in good standing of the Alaska Bar Association, or the ability to become a member.

• Eight (8)  years’ experience practicing law including at least 2 years supervising attorneys, legal staff, or comparable professional personnel.

 

Preferred Qualifications (education, experience, skills):

• Two (2) years experience in Indian Law, Tribal courts, federal and constitutional law, litigation, environmental and natural resources, employment law, and other tribal interests.

 

Physical Requirements. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job with or without reasonable accommodation:

• The majority of work is performed in a professional office setting and is generally sedentary, requiring routine walking, standing, bending, and carrying of items weighing less than 40 lbs.

 

Work Environment. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job:

• Travel on small aircraft or ferry may be required.