Tulalip Office of Civil Legal Aid (TOCLA)

Victim Advocate Attorney

Renee Ambacher is the Victim Advocate Attorney with the Tulalip Office of Civil Legal Aid where she provides zealous representation to survivors of domestic violence, family violence, dating violence, and sexual assault in civil protection orders matters. Renee primarily represents clients in the Tulalip Tribal Court but, when jurisdiction demands, also appears in the Snohomish County Superior Court and is barred in the Muckleshoot Tribal Court. Renee's practice emphasizes a trauma informed, culturally rooted, and holistic approach to ensure her clients feel seen, heard, and valued. Renee works closely with the victim advocates from the Tulalip Tribes Legacy of Healing Advocacy Center to provide integrated victim services to help clients achieve safety, stability, and (ultimately) healing.

Prior to this role, Renee left her job in corporate law to practice as a staff attorney with the University of Washington, School of Law's Tribal Defense Clinic where she provided criminal defense representation to indigent defendants charged in the Tulalip Tribal Court and oversaw clinic law students assisting with clients' cases. Renee received her J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law (where she was a student in the Tribal Clinic) and received bachelors in Spanish and Political Science from the University of Portland.

Renee was born and raised in Edmonds, Washington and loves being able to live in the Pacific Northwest and to use her law degree in service of the Tulalip Tribal community. When not working, Renee enjoys paddle boarding, reading, traveling, and engaging in all types of art.

Civil Legal Aid Attorney

Jen Dana Farley is the General Civil Legal Aid Attorney at the Tulalip Office of Civil Legal Aid (TOCLA), where they provide brief legal services to Tulalip Tribal members in areas like family law, protection orders, housing, small claims, and public benefits. If a civil legal issue comes with a stack of forms or is confusing or time sensitive, Jen is probably the right person to call.

Jen earned their J.D. from Seattle University School of Law. During law school, they interned with both the Tulalip Tribal Court judges and TOCLA. After passing the Bar, they returned to TOCLA as a coverage attorney, assisting community members with protection orders, dependency cases, and general civil matters. They later joined the Northwest Justice Project's Eviction Prevention Unit, where they defended tenants in Snohomish County who were at risk of losing their housing. In 2024, Jen rejoined TOCLA full-time because sometimes one really is fortunate enough to get to do the work they love in a community they love.

Prior to practicing law, Jen earned her degree in Criminal Justice and Women's Studies from New Mexico State University and researched ways to expand STEM C pathways for women and minorities. Why tackle just one systemic inequity when one can juggle a few? They also spent seven years in nonpartisan research roles in the New Mexico and Washington legislatures, where they learned the fine arts of organizing stakeholder meetings and writing policy memos.

Outside of work, Jen enjoys spending time with their family and two excellent dogs, Judy and Bailey. Jen runs ultramarathons for fun (yes, really) and can usually be found on the trail, at their craft table, or knitting just one more row before bedtime.

Education Attorney

Alexis M. DeLaCruz is the Education Attorney at TOCLA. In this new role, Alexis provides direct representation to Tulalip tribal members in a variety of education matters, including special education, school discipline, and equal access to education. Alexis also provides community education and training on student rights and advocacy strategies to families, stakeholders, and tribal departments. Alexis began serving in this role in November 2024. Before coming to TOCLA, Alexis was the Senior Attorney at the Native American Disability Law Center in Farmington, NM, where she represented Indigenous students with disabilities and their families in tribal, state, and federal court, education, civil rights, and child welfare matters. Alexis was a co-architect of Stephen C. vs. Bureau of Indian Education (D. Ariz. 2017), a landmark federal education civil rights lawsuit that confirmed the federal government has legal obligations to provide equal access to education to Indigenous students attending BIE schools. Alexis loves working with Indigenous students and families and encouraging young people to become strong self-advocates for themselves both inside the classroom and out!

Alexis is originally from Denver, CO, and obtained her undergraduate degrees in Journalism and Spanish Language and Literature with a minor in Ethnic Studies from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 2005. After working as a journalist at a newspaper in a Colorado ski town, Alexis returned to law school to pursue her deep passion for disability justice. Alexis obtained her juris doctorate, cum laude, from Seattle University School of Law in 2013. Alexis also serves on the board of directors for the WA-based non-profit organization Attorneys for Education Rights.

When not working or volunteering, Alexis can be found mountain biking, exploring the hiking trails of the PNW with her family, or at the library checking out more books than she can possibly read.

Supervising Attorney

Chorisia "Chori" Folkman is the Supervising Attorney at TOCLA and also represents Tulalip youth. Chori is an enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma and a descendant of the Chumash people, and is from Southern California. Chori earned her JD and Master's in Social Work from the University of California, Berkeley in 2006 after graduating from Reed College in Portland, OR. She earned her National Association of Counsel for Children Child Welfare Law Specialist Certification in 2020.

Chori served as an Equal Justice Works Fellow at TeamChild after graduation. In 2008, Chori became the Parent Attorney at the Tulalip Tribal Court, where she helped to develop TOCLA in 2010. In 2009, Chori helped develop Legal Counsel for Youth in Children (LCYC) in King County. Chori left Tulalip in 2014 to work at LCYC until 2017, when she returned to TOCLA to represent Tulalip children and started TOCLA's Children's Representation Unit. In 2021, Chori began managing TOCLA in addition to her work as a youth attorney, and she became TOCLA's Supervising Attorney in 2024.

Chori has also served on the executive committees of the WSBA Indian Law and Juvenile Law Sections, and has been appointed twice to serve as the Northwest Intertribal Court System Representative of the Washington Supreme Court Commission for Children in Foster Care. She also serves in the parent advisory committee of the Shoreline School District's "Tide to Tradition" Title VI Native Education Program.

Chori feels that devoting a majority of her legal career to the Tulalip community has been an honor and a privilege. She is thankful to help TOCLA grow as an example of how holistic civil legal aid can provide critical assistance to Native Americans in Indian country. Chori loves being excited, goals and plans, music, holidays, animals, excellent coffee and food, singing and/or roller skating, travel, and spending time and having fun with her friends and family (especially her two incredible kids).

Parent Attorney

Sylvia Hanna has served as a dedicated attorney within the Tulalip Office of Civil Legal Aid since 2016. Sylvia has served as a Parent Attorney since 2021, assisting parents and guardians involved in dependency matters in Tulalip Tribal Court. Within TOCLA in the past, she has held the role of Victim Advocate Attorney. In her capacity within TOCLA, past and present, Sylvia has provided steadfast legal support to victims of domestic violence and abuse, as well as to parents navigating complex dependency and family law matters. Prior to this, Sylvia worked with the Lummi Victims of Crime Office beginning in 2013, where she advocated on behalf of victims of domestic violence and elder abuse.

Throughout her legal career, Sylvia has represented clients across a broad spectrum of civil legal matters, including protection orders, dependency proceedings, family law cases, and other related issues affecting vulnerable populations. Sylvia's practice reflects a deep commitment to social justice and community-centered advocacy, particularly within tribal communities.

Outside of work, Sylvia enjoys spending quality time with family and exploring the outdoors through hiking.

Parent Attorney

Eric Kushman is a passionate attorney who has dedicated his legal career to defending parents and children in the child welfare system. Eric joined TOCLA in March 2023. Eric is a Parent Attorney representing Tulalip parents or the parents of Tulalip children when they are involved with child protection services or beda?chelh. Eric is thankful to work in the Tulalip community and cares deeply about providing legal services to parents navigating the complex child welfare system. Before working with TOCLA, Eric worked at Legal Counsel for Youth and Children (LCYC), representing children with open dependency cases in King County for eight years. Prior to LCYC, Eric spent three years with the Bronx Defenders as a Parent Attorney representing parents in abuse and neglect matters.

Eric received his juris doctorate from City University of New York School of Law, where he attended because of its focus on public interest lawyering. Before law school, Eric taught in the South Bronx for five years as a special education teacher while also obtaining a Master's of Science in Teaching from Pace University in New York City. Eric also graduated from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, with a degree in Business and a minor in History.

When not working, Eric enjoys spending time with his two children and wife. The family enjoys hikes and spending as much time outside as possible doing activities. Eric's favorite holiday is Halloween and carving pumpkins, but he does love putting up winter holiday decorations. Most importantly, Eric's value of family and the recognition that there are hard times with the good times helps him continue to reflect and grow on the work he does in the child welfare system.

Re-Entry / Consumer Law Attorney

Jacob Kuykendall is an attorney with the Tulalip Office of Civil Legal Aid, practicing a mix of criminal justice reentry and debt defense legal work. Jacob is an enrolled member of the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma and graduated from Seattle University in 2013. In 2016, Jacob left a career in private practice to help provide legal services to people impacted by the criminal justice system after their convictions.

Jacob was the senior staff attorney for the King County Bar Association's reentry program, and recruited and trained hundreds of attorneys on how to remove barriers to individuals who were denied housing or unemployment as a result of a criminal conviction. Jacob went to Civil Survival, where he worked with his team to expand reentry services across the state. For the past three years, Jacob has brought those skills to the Tulalip Tribes community, helping tribal members with their criminal records and outstanding private debts to help them find housing, employment, and stability in their lives.

Jacob loves helping wipe out people's criminal records and court debts, and especially loves work where he gets to fight with national debt collection companies. In his free time, Jacob spends his time reading, watching movies, and renovating his house.

Paralegal

Sheniece Lane is a proud enrolled member of the Tulalip tribes with familial and cultural ties to the Lummi Nation. She currently serves as a Paralegal at TOCLA and specializes in Family Law, Youth Dependency, Guardianships, and Protection Orders. She joined TOCLA in May 2024 but has been working in the Tulalip Tribal Court system for over four years.

Before becoming a paralegal, she worked as a Court Clerk for nearly three years. It was in that role that she discovered her passion for civil law, learning tribal codes, observing courtroom procedures, and hearing oral arguments, which inspired her to pursue a deeper role in legal advocacy. She is currently enrolled in the Paralegal Program at Edmonds College to continue building her skills and knowledge in this field. Her work is driven by a deep commitment to supporting Indigenous families and honoring the unique needs of her tribal communities. She strives to bring compassion, cultural awareness, and clarity to every case she supports.

Outside of work, she enjoys traveling and spending time outdoors with her two children and their puppy. Advocating for them inspires the same dedication she brings to the clients and communities she serves.

Youth Attorney

Jessica Pouley is a direct descendant of the Colville Confederated Tribes and the First Nation Band of Sinixt Indians. She started with TOCLA in September 2023 as a Child Advocate Attorney serving Tulalip youth involved in dependency and guardianship cases. Jessica loves connecting with Native youth to help them achieve their goals and dreams. Additionally, Jessica teaches as an Associate Faculty member in the Edmonds College Paralegal Program and the Whatcom Community College Paralegal Program and serves on the Board of Directors for Skagit Legal Aid.

Jessica graduated Magna Cum Laude from Seattle University School of Law in May 2023. She is a recipient of the Douglas R. Nash Native Law Scholarship. As a law student, she served as the President of the Native American Law Student Association and the Editor in Chief of the American Indian Law Journal. Jessica received her undergraduate degree in 2014 from Western Washington University, Fairhaven College, with a focus on Advocacy for Native Women and Youth. She went on to obtain a Master of Jurisprudence in Indian Law from the University of Tulsa College of Law in 2017, with research focused on Native youth involvement in the Federal legal system. Prior to beginning her career as an attorney, Jessica spent seven years serving as faculty with Northwest Indian College, teaching courses in Tribal Governance. When she is not working, she loves to play video games, read books, and spend time with her family and pets!

Pro Se Navigator

Taylor Ward is one of the Tulalip Office of Civil Legal Aid's (TOCLA) non-attorney staff members who started in February 2023 as a Pro Se Navigator. He graduated in 2015 from Florida Gulf Coast University with a Bachelor of Arts in English. He became a certificated paralegal in 2018, specializing in commercial and private real estate litigation after completing his coursework at the University of Miami. This lasted until COVID, when he decided to relocate to Washington in 2020 and found his way into Family Law. Since being at TOCLA, Taylor has expressed that he has gone from liking the work to loving the work.

People can find him in his office, at events like the Tulalip Health Fair, and collecting updated resources for his community resource wall. All TOCLA guides were his own project, and that is the energy he wants to continue forward. As of 2025, he has become even more specialized in helping those who are Pro Se (self-represented) by attending conferences and helping build connections with other legal aid organizations. If Taylor is not in the office, he is wearing his self-appointed titles of "Office Geek" or "Forever DM," plotting stories for his friends and peers, playing video games, or looking for an empty notebook to write in.

Youth Attorney

Lindsay Zerfas has spent most of her career serving children and has been a Youth Attorney with TOCLA since November 2024. Prior to her current role, Lindsay was a public defender in Snohomish County, where she represented at-risk youth, children in need of services, and truancy proceedings. She also briefly worked on the plaintiffs' side of employment and civil rights litigation. Lindsay earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Syracuse University, where she graduated summa cum laude with degrees in Religion and Philosophy, and earned her Juris Doctor at the University of Minnesota. While in law school, Lindsay represented youth charged with crimes and helped file a writ of certiorari to the United States Supreme Court on an issue concerning mandatory sentencing guidelines for young people.

Lindsay's favorite part of her current job is the interactions she has with young people and the ability to form relationships with children at a critical time in their lives. She also loves working on unique projects and figuring out legal problems that have not yet been brought before the court.

Outside of work, Lindsay is a proud Snohomish County resident who loves all things crafting, but especially knitting, puzzles, and pottery. She is a recovering Minnesotan who is thankful to be able to enjoy the outdoors in all of the PNW seasons, a huge fan of the Everett Farmers' Market, and adores hanging out with her 12 year old toothless chihuahua, Yoda.