Staff Attorney

About the Position
The Palau Senate is one half of a national bicameral Congress with fifteen Senators. The position is an associate position with the Senate Legal Counsel's office. The Legal Counsel's office includes the following responsibilities:
• To perform legal research and rendering legal opinions on issues as requested by the Senate, its committees and members.
• To draft bills, resolutions, committee reports, speeches, and correspondence as requested.
• To advise Senate committees, assist with Senate litigation, and advise members of the Senate.
• To performing other duties as may be assigned by the presiding officers of the Senate.
Benefits
POSITION AND SALARY: One Attorney to serve as Staff Attorney in the Office of the Senate Legal Counsel. Salary $47,000 -$65,000, inclusive of untaxed housing allowance. Travel and relocation expenses will be reimbursed. Minimum two (2) year contract required. This position qualifies the holder for Public Service Loan Forgiveness under regulations issued by the United States Department of Education.
ABOUT PALAU
Set in the Micronesian region of the western Pacific Ocean, Palau is an independent country of approximately 20,000 people. Although the country's land mass is spread out over several hundred islands, the vast majority of people live in Palau's main city, Koror, and on the neighboring island of Babeldaob. One of Palau's most significant assets is its unspoiled natural environment. In addition to the Rock Islands (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), beautiful ocean water, and pristine beaches, Palau boasts some of the best snorkeling and scuba diving sites in the world. Palau is also a popular destination for those interested in World War Il, as one of the bloodiest battles in the Pacific theater occurred at Peleliu, in Palau. Relics from the war are still visible to tourists both on the land and under the water.
This year marks Palau's 31st year of independence, it is a stable, democratic country using a legal system derived from United States law. Although it is sovereign, Palau has a special relationship with the United States through a Compact of Free Association. This compact guarantees the rights of United States citizens to freely enter and work in Palau without a visa, and obligates the United States to provide for Palau's national security. Palau's close relationship with the United States is also reflected in the nation's use of English as a national language, and the U.S. dollar as its official currency. Per the Compact of Free Association, United States Citizens can represent the government of Palau without prior approval and are eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. Presently, tourism is Palau's primary economic industry. In 2019, Palau welcomed a little under 100,000 tourists; given its location, the make-up of Palau's tourists is dominated by Asian countries, particularly Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and China.
The Palauan legal system is closely related to that of the United States, and lawyers licensed or trained in the United States generally do not experience difficulty in transitioning to practice in Palau.