Law Office - Tribal Code Writer and Law Clerk

The Puyallup Tribe of Indians is committed to protecting and exercising the inherent inalienable sovereign rights of the Tribe and Individuals in the interest of the Medicine Creek Treat Territories, as stewards to ensure preservation of our cultural and environmental integrity for common good and prosperity for all.

Position Summary:

Under the general supervision of the Director, this position conducts research and interviews to gather information for documenting policy and procedure manuals for departmental operations for all entities within the Tribe by performing the following duties.  Provides advice to the Tribal Government, the Tribal Council, and various departments and programs of the Tribe to ensure Code, Ordinances, Resolutions, are in compliance with the Tribe’s Constitution and By-Laws and implements the directives of the Tribal Council and Government.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1. Acts as a liaison and support to Tribal Council, Legal, Administration, and all Tribal Entities with regard to flow of information, understandability and application of policies to standard operating guidelines. 
2. Develops, writes and interprets instructions and policy/procedures for the Tribe’s various Administrative Departments or other Tribal Entities in a timely manner maintaining and using a writing style that is logical and clearly understood.
3. Works with the management team to update/maintain current internal control manuals in the established writing style.
4. Manages each project to completion by coordinating publication, printing and distribution.
5. Gathers information by interviewing management and subject matter experts.
6. Makes recommendations for change by using discretion and independent judgment to eliminate risk and legal exposure.
7. Writes and edits Standard Operating Procedures, Technical Reports, Process Descriptions and related documents in support of moving developed processes into implementation.
8. Receives policy resolution amendments from Tribal Council and implements them into appropriate policy and procedure manuals in a timely manner and makes sure that re-writes are distributed to appropriate personnel.
9. Maintains a history of all changes to policy and procedure manuals, etc., through a change control and documentation process.
10. Conducts legal research, as necessary, to assure that all Tribal Codes, regulations and policies are in compliance with applicable law.
11. Perform other job-related duties as assigned by the Law Office Director, including without limitation the work of a traditional law clerk working within a private or governmental law office.
12. The Code Writer shall not give direct legal advice unless admitted to practice as an attorney by the Washington State Bar Association, but may provide assistance and research support to an attorney of the Law Office.
13. All work of the Code Writer shall be performed in coordination with, and under the direction of, the Law Office Director and such attorneys of the Law Office as may be designated by the Law Office Director as the Director may designate on a case by case basis. 

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Qualifications and Requirements

Education and/or Experience

Position requires a Law Degree.  Ability to interpret and communicate technical information to all levels of experience is required.  Intermediate proficiency with Microsoft Word and Excel required.   

Language Skills

Employee must demonstrate the ability to interact tactfully and positively with Tribal members, all levels of staff and management. Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality. Ability to read, analyze and interpret common professional journals, financial reports, and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from staff and regulatory agencies. Ability to write reports and business correspondence. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions. Ability to effectively present information to management, employees and groups of people.

Mathematical Skills

Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions and apply them to practical situations.

Reasoning Ability

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Licenses or Certificates

Must have a valid Washington State Drivers License and proof of insurance required.

Other Skills and Abilities

Must pass a criminal background check; must not have any felony convictions.

Excellent writing and editing skills.

Organized and detail oriented.

Able to handle multiple projects simultaneously.

Strong, persuasive and clear verbal communication, customer service and interpersonal skills.

Motivated self-starter and able to perform under pressure.

Physical Demands

• Requires the ability to operate a personal computer, multi-line telephone, calculator, facsimile and photocopier.
• Requires the ability to read, write, communicate, and interpret information accurately in English.
• Requires the ability to concentrate and consistently produce accurate work.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.
• The employee occasionally is required to stand and walk.
• The employee is occasionally required to stand and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

• The noise level is low to moderate.
• The physical exertion is low to moderate.
• Work is performed in an office setting.
• There are frequent employee contacts and interruptions during the day.
• Position may be stressful at times due to the sensitive or confidential issues being addressed.

The Puyallup Tribe of Indians reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as the need arises. This position description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.

Indian Preference Employer as Required by Law

Native American preference applies and job placements are given on a competitive basis, using job related factors.  Because of the large number of applications received and limited job positions, your application will not guarantee employment.