SUMMARY To Assist in the work of the GTB Legal Department. The Department represents a Tribal Council that has the combined executive and legislative authority under the Tribal Constitution. The legal work primarily ranges across environmental law, administrative law, federal Indian law, the development of tribal law. This includes litigation in tribal, state, and federal courts, as well as research, code development and negotiations on behalf of the Tribe, as directed by Tribal Council. While it is anticipated that the successful candidate will not have exposure and proficiency in all the anticipated essential duties and responsibilities set forth herein. The candidate will need to be open minded, flexible, willing to take direction and learn areas of law that are beneficial to the Tribe.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- J.D. from an accredited law school required.
- Michigan State Bar license or ability to obtain within 1 year.
- Must have a valid unrestricted Driver's license and be insurable by the GTB insurance carrier.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Draft resolutions, motions, and ordinances for tribal law executive and legislation acts of the Tribal Council
- Advice and memoranda services related to regulatory, environmental law, tribal law, civil works planning, federal procurement law, non-contractual or contractual claims, personnel and discrimination law, and litigation matters.
- Work effectively with other departments within GTB, including our HR department and Housing Department, Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) established GTB Gaming Commission.
- Reviews, analyzes, and furnishes legal advice on Tribal executive regulatory action and decisions.
- Interprets regulations, laws, and policies from federal, state, and tribal sources.
- Prepares tribal submission in federally defined areas such as, fee-to-trust, Annual Funding Agreements, Indian Housing Plans, Road inventories, Low Income Housing Tax Credits submissions to applicable agencies. Assist in the development of GTB procedures on federal submissions under the CARES Act (2020), American Rescue Plan (ARP) (2021), Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (2021) (BIL) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) 2022 and One Big Beautiful Bill (2025) line-item federal omnibus appropriation acts.
- Participates in public hearings representing the Tribal Council in both its legislative and executive capacity.
- Prepares litigation reports, as directed by the General Counsel, to assist the Tribal Council in all aspects of federal court litigation and defense actions involving the tribe.
- Negotiates with federal, state, or local officials to resolve regulatory disagreements, as directed by the General Counsel.
- Provides legal advice and performs the full scope of legal services associated with civil works planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance, as directed by the General Counsel.
- Reviews civil works project documents and provides advice regarding adherence to governing laws, including but not limited to environmental laws, hazardous/toxic materials requirements, project authorization, cost sharing and other fiscal laws, and non-federal cooperation requirements, as directed by the General Counsel.
- Identifies potential conflicts and issues; conducts necessary legal research and recommends solutions.
- May attend public meetings, participate in the Alternative dispute resolution (ADR)process, and negotiate with other federal, state, tribal, or local officials to resolve legal issues, as directed by the General Counsel.
- Provides legal advice and performs the full scope of legal services associated with Tribal procurement activities, as directed by the General Counsel.
- Ability to understand small to extremely large construction process documents and associated construction arbitration process if necessary.
- Reviews, analyzes, and advises on contractual disputes, claims, appeals, and litigation, as directed by the General Counsel.
- Ability to understand grant accounting, fund accounting, financial accounting for enterprises and to translate accounting standards, GAAP and GAAS rules into Executive and Legislative functions of the Tribal Council.
- Ability to interpret GAAP and GAAS into appropriate Council action consistent with the accounting rules.
- Ability to understand investment theory, investment account management and to advise and draft appropriate investment documents for Council Executive action as directed by the General Counsel.
- Provides legal advice for all domestic assistance programs in federal law, particularly COVID-19 related federally enacted statutory opportunities, Cares Act (2020) American Rescue Plan (2021-2022), Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (2022), Inflation Reduction Act (2022) opportunities as directed by the General Counsel.
- Provides legal advice for statutorily based tribal authority , Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), Indian Law Enforcement Reform (ILER), Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Protection Act (ICPFVP), Indian Education Programs related programs ( Higher Ed., Title 6 & Impact Aid), Native American Housing Assistance and Self Determination Act (NAHASDA), Indian Health Care (IHC), and Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (ISDEA).
- Monitor federal legislative and implementation of federal regulations that impact Indian Tribes.
- Serves as trial attorney as directed by the General Counsel.
- Analyzes and advises on contract performance or termination actions , as directed by the General Counsel.
- Provides legal support for post-contract actions such as architect-engineer responsibility or warranty actions, as directed by the General Counsel.
- Advises Tribal Council on matters of personnel and discrimination law, as directed by the General Counsel.
- Prepares pleadings, interviews, and selects witnesses, prepares witnesses, conducts direct and cross examinations, research and briefs legal issues.
- Provides legal support to the Tribal Council in various areas of general law, including tort claims, Native American law, Great Lakes law (including removal of sunken vessels, wetlands restoration), Freedom of Information Act, Privacy Act, fiscal law, taxation, and reports of survey, as directed by the General Counsel.
- Represents the department and the tribe at meetings that relate to Department programs, as directed by the General Counsel.
OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES
- Use of Microsoft Office, Professional, Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint, Westlaw, Lexis, and other legal software, Excel, Adobe for litigation, and other computer software, such as developing A.I research records.
- Duties, responsibilities, requirements, and expectations pertaining to this job are subject to change as needed.
- Advanced knowledge of applicable law, regulations, rules, procedures, and administration is required.
- Advanced proficiency in computers, including Microsoft Office products and database applications, e-mail, and Internet.
- Excellent research, writing, and analytic skills.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to work well collegially both inside and outside the organization.
- Exceptional detail and follow-up skills, and work ethic.
- Able to effectively establish priorities and meet deadlines independently.
- Acceptable background and employment history investigation results.
- Current driver's license and an acceptable driving record.
- Other duties as directed or assigned.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
None
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE
J.D. from an accredited law school required and admittance within one year into the Michigan State Bar to practice law.
EQUIPMENT TO BE USED
Computer, copier, fax machine, and phone.
TYPICAL PHYSICAL DEMANDS
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or listen. The employee is frequently required to sit. The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
TYPICAL MENTAL DEMANDS
Must be able to deal effectively with employees, court personnel, and consultants at all levels.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Work is performed in an office setting. Some travel may be required. While generally work hours will fall within normal 8-5, Monday - Friday schedule, there may be rare circumstances that require availability in the evenings and/or the weekend.
COMMENTS
Native American Preference will apply. Must be willing and pass a background investigation and a drug and alcohol urinalysis as a condition of employment. Extreme confidentiality must be always adhered to due to access of such private and personal client information. No past or existing disciplinary actions in the State Bar.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified. Management retains the right to add or to change the duties of the position at any time. Any qualifications to be considered as equivalents in lieu of stated minimums require prior approval of the Director of Human Resources.
This is position is subject to a G1 background investigation, motor vehicle check and be insurable by GTB insurance carrier.
