The Tulalip Tribes is a federally recognized tribe
and successors in interest to the Snohomish,
Snoqualmie, Skykomish, and other allied tribes and
bands that signed the 1855 Treaty of Point Elliott.
The Tulalip Tribes is a federally recognized tribe
and successors in interest to the Snohomish,
Snoqualmie, Skykomish, and other allied tribes and
bands that signed the 1855 Treaty of Point Elliott.
The Tulalip Office of Civil Legal Aid (TOCLA), under the jurisdiction of the Tulalip Tribal Court, provides free legal assistance to Tulalip Tribal members with general civil legal issues. Members can receive aid that includes issues that affect safety, family integrity, health, access to public benefits and education. Eligibility for representation by TOCLA will depend on the type of advocacy that is being sought. TOCLA provides culturally sensitive, holistic, and competent legal representation by connecting and working with other legal and social services within Tulalip. Together, TOCLA’s team assists clients in identifying legal and non-legal needs and addresses barriers to accessing services with care and consideration to the community. TOCLA operates under applicable Tulalip tribal law, court rules and federal and state law specific to the areas of advocacy that they provide legal assistance. As civil legal aid and TOCLA expands, tribal members gain greater access to the Tulalip judicial system.
TOCLA has seven (7) different division to serve the legal needs of the Tulalip community. Each division has different eligibility requirements in order to receive services. These divisions are:
If you are self-represented in a civil case within the Tulalip Tribal Court, you may seek aid from TOCLA’s Pro Se Navigator who may be able to assist with:
Eligibility:
Available to the public Monday-Friday 8:00-4:30 (closed for lunch), by phone at 360-716-4514, or by email at: TOCLA_psn@tulaliptribes-nsn.gov.
TOCLA’s civil legal aid attorney provides legal guidance and counseling to Tulalip Tribal members in general civil legal matters at the Tulalip Tribal Court. The attorney can provide legal guidance on a large number of civil legal issues, such as:
When both parties are Tulalip members, TOCLA can provide only basic services through an explanation of the law and procedures; if one of the parties is or was a victim of domestic violence, more comprehensive services may be available through a referral by the Tulalip Legacy of Healing Program (See the Victim Attorney division below).
If the issue is against a tribal entity, TOCLA can only provide only basic services through an explanation of the law and procedures. Tribal entities include, but are not limited to, the Tulalip Tribes, the Tulalip Gaming Agency and the Tulalip Housing Department.
Representation is not expected from the attorney as to better provide this service to the community.
Eligibility Requirements:
1. Enrolled Tulalip Tribal Member
2. Needs assistance in a variety of civil matters at the Tulalip Tribal Court or in local state legal matters.
TOCLA’s Re-Entry and Consumer Law attorney is able to represent Tulalip tribal members in resolving barriers related to past criminal convictions in Washington state or tribal courts located in Washington state. These services include:
Eligibility:
Must be a Tulalip Tribal member, or an individual referred by a Tulalip Tribal Court affiliated program.
TOCLA’s Consumer Protection Attorney provides full or limited representation in defending eligible Tulalip tribal members from debt collection companies, through either litigation to combat illegal collection practices; through negotiation with debt collection companies to reduce the overall amount owed; or to create payment plans or other methods of resolving the debt.
Eligibility:
Must be a Tulalip Tribal Member
TOCLA’s parent attorneys provide full representation to parents of Tulalip Children or Tulalip Guardians who are involved in a Youth-in-Need-of-Care (YINC) case or to Tulalip parents in a YINC Guardianship case through the Tulalip Tribal Court. Parent attorneys advocate for the legal rights and stated interests of parents and some guardians in eligible cases with a goal of family reunification, healing, and safety.
Eligibility:
Parents of Tulalip children or Tulalip Guardians involved in a YINC case, or Tulalip Parents in a YINC Guardianship case. Parents and guardians are ineligible if they have killed or injured a child; if they have felony charges related to intimate partner violence; or if they have perpetrated sexual abuse against a child.
TOCLA’s Youth Attorneys represents children and youth ages 0-21 in Youth-in-Need-of-Care (YINC) and Guardianship cases through the Tulalip Tribal Court. Youth attorneys are specifically trained as lawyers for children and provide holistic representation to advocate for a child’s legal rights and stated interests within the Court system. Youth attorneys work towards a goal of a child’s wellbeing, connection to family and tribal community, and happiness. Anyone, including youth themselves, may refer a child/youth for representation.
Eligibility:
Tulalip youth involved or at risk of involvement in a YINC or Guardianship case in the Tulalip Tribal Court.
TOCLA’s Victim Advocate Attorney represents individuals referred by the Legacy of Healing (LoH) who are victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, trafficking, and in some cases, family violence. If you are a victim and you are seeking assistance with a protection order, please contact LoH at (360) 716-4100. LoH will conduct an intake, provide victims with a Domestic Violence Advocate, and refer victims to the Victim Advocate Attorney. Clients of the Victim Advocate Attorney must be referred by Legacy of Healing. If you are in danger or in need of immediate assistance, please contact the Tulalip Police Department at 360-716- 9911.
Eligibility:
Must be referred by the Tulalip Tribes’ Legacy of Healing Program.
TOCLA’s Education Attorney represents Tulalip students in cases where there is a legal issue or suspected discrimination related to a student’s education based on a protected class, like sex or gender, race and national origin or political classification, age, or disability. Examples of these areas are:
Eligibility:
TOCLA’s Education Attorney only represents Tulalip students and/or Tulalip families, and does not represent the Tulalip Tribes or school officials or representatives.