Cacti and pink sunset hitting the mountains in the Saguaro National Park.

Indian Gaming and Tribal Self-Governance

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ASU Law is supporting tribal-driven initiatives by developing advanced degrees focused on Indian gaming and tribal-self governance for professionals who desire an advanced, concentrated curriculum in these areas. These degree programs build on ASU’s world-class Indian Legal Program and experienced faculty to offer degrees with the first of their kind emphasis and the real-world experience that employers value.

  

1st

Law school to offer an MLS focused on Indian Gaming and Tribal Self-Governance

 

30

Total credit hours to complete the MLS degree

 

50+

Years of faculty experience in Indian Country

 

 

The Indian gaming and tribal self-governance emphasis programs will equip professionals with a background in federal Indian law and comprehensive courses designed to help graduates seamlessly integrate into the job of their choice. Graduates may serve as senior or mid-level executives for tribes or tribal entities, tribal elected officials responsible for overseeing these aspects of their tribal operations, and other professionals with careers such as congressional staff and federal, state and local employees.

Degree programs

Student opportunities

Externships

Externships are electives that allow you to combine concepts learned in the classroom with real-world employment experiences. Examples of externships include working for Tribes, tribal enterprises, inter-tribal organizations such as the National Indian Gaming Association, and federal agencies.

National conferences and lectures

Each semester the Indian Legal Program invites top scholars and attorneys to present contemporary legal issues in Indian country.

Sample coursework

  • American Indian Law
  • Advanced Topics in Indian Law
  • Indian Gaming I and II
  • Tribal Self-Governance I and II
  • Civil Jurisdiction 
  • Economic Development in Indian Country
  • Contemporary Issues in Tribal Economic Development
  • Indian Law and Taxation
  • Federal Advocacy for the Tribal Client
  • Environmental Law
  • Natural Resources Law
  • Water Law
  • Tribal Energy

Hear from our students

Angela Salazar-Willeford, MLS Student, Indian Legal Program

Francisco Olea, LLM Student, Indian Legal Program

Videos and webinars

Betting on Arizona: The Future of Indian Gaming & Sports Betting

Choose where you want to study with ASU Law

Expertise

  

 

Kate Rosier

Kate Rosier
Comanche
Assistant Dean, Community Engagement and Executive Director, Indian Legal Program

Patty Ferguson-Bohnee

Patty Ferguson-Bohnee
Pointe-au-Chien
Associate Dean for Inclusive Excellence, Charles M. Brewer Professor of Trial Advocacy; Faculty Director, Indian Legal Program and Director, Indian Legal Clinic

Robert J. Miller

Robert J. Miller
Eastern Shawnee
Jonathan and Wendy Rose Professor of Law

Trevor Reed

Trevor Reed
Hopi
Professor of Law

Jay Spaan

Jay Spaan
Cherokee
Faculty Associate

Michael Hoenig

Michael Hoenig
Faculty Associate

Lawrence S. Roberts

Lawrence S. Roberts
Oneida
Professor of Practice 

Paul Spruhan

Paul Spruhan
Faculty Associate

Derrick Beetso

Derrick Beetso
Navajo
Professor of Practice; Director, Indian Gaming and Self-Governance

Ann Marie Bledsoe-Downes

Ann Marie Bledsoe-Downes
Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska
Professor of Practice; Director, Indian Gaming and Self-Governance

Helen Burtis

Helen Burtis
Instructor

Stacy L. Leeds

Stacy L. Leeds
Cherokee
Willard H. Pedrick Dean and Regents Professor of Law