The Tulalip Tribes of Washington Office of Reservation Attorney

Legal Disclaimer

I. Mission Statement. The mission of the Office of Reservation Attorney is to support, defend and advance the interests of The Tulalip Tribes of Washington by providing quality legal services to tribal policy makers and staff.

II. Scope of Services. The Tulalip ORA serves as chief legal representative and advisor to the Tulalip Board of Directors. Under the policy direction of the Board, the ORA provides timely and efficient legal services to directors, officers, employees and staff of tribal government and tribal business enterprises, including subordinate tribal entities. The ORA also acts as liaison to federal, other tribal, state and local governments, court systems, officials, professional associations, and interest groups on matters of interest to the Tulalip Tribes.

III. Practice Areas. Under the technical supervision of the Reservation Attorney, the ORA provides legal services on a wide range of issues. Practice areas include natural and cultural resources, land use, child support/ welfare, real property, treaty rights, procurement, preference, tort, contract, constitutional, gaming, municipal, environmental, intellectual property, natural resources and employment law and litigation.

IV. Major Functions. The major functions of the Office are to:

• Represent the Tulalip Tribes and its representatives in judicial, legislative, executive and administrative proceedings;
• Provide legal advice to tribal policy makers, executives, managers and staff on issues of concern to the Tulalip Tribes;
• Provide information, referral and legal assistance to Tulalip tribal members on minor matters where the assistance does not present an apparent conflict with the ORA's primary duty to provide legal counsel to the Tulalip Tribes.
• Coordinate with federal agencies that have responsibilities in Indian country, such as the Department of Health and Human Services, the Departments of Interior, Housing and Urban Development, Agriculture, Education, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Indian Health Service.