Family Defense Attorney

1.         Must be a member in good standing of the State Bar of Montana, or the state bar association in which the applicant currently practices. Applicants to the Montana Bar waiting for admission may be considered on a contingency basis.  Two years law practice is preferred.  Those with other demonstrated experience with the subject matter and client group will be considered. 2.         Must have demonstrated ability to function in a courtroom and with clients.  Any experience in child protection cases is preferred but other transferrable experience will be considered. Criminal law experience is also preferred due to the overlap with child protection cases and to understand the collateral consequences to clients involved in the criminal justice system. 3.         Must have basic knowledge of Indian law and tribal statutes. 4.         Must have legal writing experience and experience with legal research. 5.         Must have knowledge of the social and cultural lifestyles of the reservation community and be able to communicate effectively with native clients and the native community. 6.         Must be prepared to work with individuals who experience mental health and substance use disorders and demonstrate interest or knowledge of services to clients that is trauma informed. 7.         Must be willing to prepare correspondence and court documents with limited assistance from clerical staff. 8.         Must have basic skills with case management software. 9.         Must be able to prioritize and manage a high volume of cases in an extremely fast-paced atmosphere.  This includes the ability to think on one’s feet in a pressured situation and to perform under stress, all with effective assistance to clients as a priority.  A sense of humor also goes a long way. 10.       Must be committed to the holistic defense model that is innovative, client-directed, and team based. 11.       Must have a demonstrated interest in working with the disenfranchised, the criminally accused, and those experiencing mental health and substance use disorders, knowing that clients of the Tribal Defenders Office are resilient and capable of change.