Legal Advocacy Skills Webinar Series

In this webinar, participants received information on the history and importance of Inherent Tribal Sovereignty and why that premise is so important to Tribes. The webinar then delved into Tribal civil and criminal jurisdiction in Indian country that is of paramount importance when providing legal assistance to Tribal clients in Indian country.

 

Recording link and materials: ​

• "Tribal Sovereignty and Jurisdiction" (PDF)

• "Tribal Sovereignty and Jurisdiction" (YouTube link)

• Tribal Law & Policy Institute: "Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction Sample Code" (PDF)

• Tribal Law & Policy Institute: "Tribal Code Checklist for Implementing VAWA 2022 Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction" (PDF)​​

In this webinar, participants received information on drafting enforceable protection orders. The discussion included the elements necessary to invoke the Full Faith and Credit mandate of 18 U.S.C.2265.  The webinar delved into drafting remedies tailored to meet the needs of the applicant for the protection order. The webinar concluded with a refresher of Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) 2022 covered crime of violation of a protection order committed by non-Indians in Indian country.

Recording link and materials:

• "Protection Orders, Full Faith and Credit" (PDF)

• "Protection Orders, Full Faith and Credit" (YouTube link)

• Tribal Law and Policy Institute's website, www.TribalProtectionOrder.org

​Presenter shared importance of attorneys and advocates working collaboratively for victims of domestic violence and sexual violence to promote victim safety and a holistic approach to service providing. The webinar explored the concepts of privacy, confidentiality and legal privilege. The webinar concluded with a discussion of the challenges presented and potential solutions to those challenges promoting privacy, confidentiality and privilege, featuring co-presentation by consultant Shelley Miller from the Native American Alliance Against Violence (NAAV) based in Oklahoma to discuss the experiences of the NAAV’s CIRCLE Project with these topics.

Recording link and materials:

• "Protecting Client Information: Privacy, Confidentiality, and Privilege with Comments from Native Alliance Against Violence’s CIRCLE Project" (PDF)

• "Protecting Client Information: Privacy, Confidentiality, and Privilege with Comments from Native Alliance Against Violence’s CIRCLE Project" (YouTube link)

​Navigating divorce and custody can be difficult; when domestic violence is involved, the stakes are even higher. In this session, the presenters discussed how to better meet a victim’s needs through collaboration between legal advocates/attorneys and victim advocates. Presenters covered the key elements of divorce and custody cases including a brief review of jurisdiction, physical and digital safety planning, and custody enforceability issues, visitation, empowering victims’ voices, and securing the safety of pets and animals.

Recording link and materials:

• "Working Together in Divorce and Custody Matters" (PDF)

• "Working Together in Divorce and Custody Matters"  (YouTube link)

Impacts of client trauma can affect every area of legal representation. Trauma-Informed lawyering includes respecting the client’s expertise and ensuring the client’s goals and objectives are met.  The attorney should strive for transparency, predictability, client-centered representation, reliability, proactive support and patience. This webinar delved into the different types of trauma responses, impacts of trauma on legal practices, benefits of lawyers utilizing trauma-informed practices, understanding the connection of confidentiality and privilege on victim safety. The webinar presented the six principles for trauma-informed practices and concluded with a discussion on participants’ strategies for implementing trauma-informed practices into their legal representation.

Recording link and materials:

• "Trauma-Informed Lawyering" (PDF)

• "Trauma-Informed Lawyering" (YouTube link)