Tribal Law Schools

Law students specializing in tribal law train to protect the rights of dwindling Native American populations. The 2000 Census counted only 2.4 million Native Americans and Alaska natives in the United States. The National Congress of American Indians notes 580 federally recognized tribes as of May 2010. These tribes need legal assistance in working through the complexities of state and federal laws dating back to the 18th century.
  1. University of North Dakota

    • The University of North Dakota School of Law offers courses in federal Indian law, Indian gaming laws and tribal law. The school features financial aid options including the Marvin D. Sanders Scholarship and the William Depuy Memorial Scholarship. The Thormodsgard Law Library at the University of North Dakota houses journals and archives dealing with tribal law issues. Students assist tribal gaming businesses as part of clinical work with the Tribal Gaming & Policy Institute. The Tribal Environmental Law Project features events and publications dealing with environmental issues on reservations.

      University of North Dakota
      215 Centennial Drive
      Grand Forks, ND 58202
      701-777-2104
      und.edu

    University of Kansas

    • The University of Kansas School of Law operates a Tribal Lawyer Certificate Program for aspiring tribal lawyers. The law curriculum includes courses on Indian gaming and Native American natural resources. Advanced law students spend their time assisting tribal members through the Tribal Judicial Support Center. The School of Law also houses the Tribal Law & Government Center, which supports tribal law students and faculty in researching Native American affairs. Students interested in writing about tribal law submit articles to the Kansas Law Review.

      University of Kansas
      1535 W. 15th St.
      Lawrence, KS 66045
      785-864-4550
      ku.edu

    University of New Mexico

    • The School of Law at the University of New Mexico hosts classes on Indian tax policy and Indian water law. The UNM School of Law Library maintains extensive collections of tribal records and publications. Tribal law students find scholarships geared toward this legal field including the Myrtle Okey Scholarship and the Robert Hammond Scholarship Fund. The Southwest Indian Law Clinic allows law students to gain professional experience while providing pro bono aid to tribal members. Faculty and students researching Native American legal issues submit their articles to the university's Tribal Law Journal.

      University of New Mexico
      1117 Stanford Drive NE
      Albuquerque, NM 87131
      505-277-2146
      unm.edu

    University of Montana

    • Students at the University of Montana School of Law learn tribal law through courses on tribal courts and Indian religious freedoms. The American Indian Summer Law Program helps students complete tribal law courses in two-week sessions. This law school also offers an Indian Law Certificate to narrow the focus for tribal law students. The Indian Law Clinic assigns law students to answer legal questions from area tribal residents and leaders. The University of Montana provides funding for the Native American Law Students Association, which plans events and lectures to increase public awareness of tribal law issues.

      University of Montana
      32 Campus Drive
      Missoula, MT 59812
      406-243-0211
      umt.edu

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