Pine Tree seeks a full-time attorney to staff its statewide Native American Unit, which serves members of four federally recognized tribes and other low-income Native Americans. The position will be housed in either the Machias or Bangor PTLA office locations to be accessible to the Penobscot Indian Nation and Passamaquoddy Tribe, with outreach to Aroostook County where the Houlton Band of Maliseets and Aroostook Band of Micmacs are based. The attorney also provides more limited support to tribal communities in Connecticut, pursuant to a small LSC grant to serve that client population.
This is primarily a litigation position: the attorney should expect to be in court or appearing in administrative proceedings on a regular basis. Cases will include issues specific to the client’s status as Native Americans and/or which raise Indian law issues, including tribal/state jurisdiction, tribal benefits, tribal housing, race discrimination, the Indian Child Welfare Act, the Indian Civil Rights Act, and/or border crossing issues. They may also involve general poverty law issues. Where funding allows, the attorney will also handle juvenile or criminal court appointments and/or civil cases in tribal court. The attorney is also responsible for community engagement and networking to strengthen Pine Tree’s reputation and access to legal services by eligible Native Americans, including regular outreach and work on newsletters and website resources for Native Americans in Maine and Connecticut. The attorney will be expected to maintain active contacts with the national Indian Legal Services community and to engage appropriately with local and statewide tribal community organizations and initiatives that impact access to justice.
Specific decisions about how to prioritize between these time commitments are made in consultation with other colleagues and the attorney supervisor. All work must be carefully managed and documented to meet funder expectations and must be delivered in a timely manner. The attorney is expected to be a valued contributor and supportive colleague to other members of the office and to the program as a whole, consistent with Pine Tree’s core values. The complete job description for this position is available upon request.
The salary range for PTLA attorneys in 2020 is $52,750 -$89,750, depending on experience. The starting range for paralegals in 2020 is $38,750 - $60,750, depending on experience. Both attorneys and paralegals are eligible for a very generous benefit and leave package. Pine Tree staff attorneys are eligible to participate in a LRAP program administered by the Maine Justice Foundation in addition to other loan forgiveness programs for which they may be eligible, including the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.
Applicants who are Native American or who have lived or worked within a Native American community in Maine or elsewhere will be advantaged in undertaking this work. To maintain legal services to this client population, it would be desirable for the applicant to be already barred in Maine (or eligible to waive into the State) or to practice under Rule 89(c) of the Maine Rules of Civil Procedure. However, Pine Tree is willing to consider exceptional applicants who are currently in their third year of law school and prepared to move to Maine and take the July 2020 bar exam.
Applicants should provide a letter of interest, resume and contact information for three references via email to Native American Unit managing attorney Lisa Chase ([email protected]), Deputy Director Chet Randall ([email protected]) and Executive Director Nan Heald ([email protected]). Applications are encouraged by June 12, but will be accepted until the position is filled. We encourage women, people of color, people who identify as LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, or people who have experienced poverty or homelessness to apply. Pine Tree Legal Assistance is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from qualified candidates of all backgrounds