The Indian Legal Clinic provides law students with the unique opportunity to represent Native American and Alaska Native clients in various civil and criminal matters in Tribal, state, and federal courts. Participating in the Clinic allows students to become intimately familiar with Tribal Law and Federal Indian Law, as well as gain meaningful exposure to a variety of legal matters while providing high-quality legal services to Indian Country and the local urban Indian population. Clinic students routinely handle criminal matters in Tribal courts, represent clients in a variety of legal matters, and assist in Tribal legal development projects such as Tribal code drafting for Tribal governments and Tribal court rule drafting for Tribal courts. Additionally, the Clinic frequently represents individual Tribal members in civil actions, and devotes significant attention to federal policy issues affecting Tribes, such as federal recognition and voting rights.
Indian Legal Clinic
Resources and Links
If you are interested in volunteering on Election Day, November 5, 2024, sign up below (you can choose the time and location)
Training session: Training Sessions TBC
In person training session: Tuesday, October 29, 2024 from 6-8 p.m.
Virtual training session: Thursday, October 31, 2024 from 12:00-1:30 p.m. (Zoom link will be shared with registrants)
Indian Legal Clinic Impact
Success at the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals for the Indian Legal Clinic: The Indian Legal Clinic represented the appellants in the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (Case no. 21-35230, Newtok Village v. Andy Patrick) in an appeal from the United States District Court for the District of Alaska that involved defending tribal sovereignty from unlawful intrusion by federal courts. The Clinic successfully argued that federal courts lack jurisdiction to determine intra tribal disputes. Learn more about the case here.
Student Applications Dates for the Indian Legal Clinic:
Indian Legal Clinic
Spring 2025:
Applications open September until filled
Priority applications dates: TBD
Priority offers extended to students: TBD
Apply online at: law.asu.edu/ilcapp
Indian Legal Clinic – Estate Planning
Spring 2025, A and B sessions:
Applications open September until filled
Priority applications dates: TBD
Priority offers extended to students: TBD
Apply online at: forms.law.asu.edu/ilcep
**IMPORTANT!* - Externships and Clinics – Students who have applied for an externship or clinic and been accepted may decline upon offer without consequence. However, once a student has accepted an externship or clinic, any student who drops the externship or clinic without prior approval by the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs will be subject to the 12-month ban.
indianlegalclinic@asu.edu or 480-727-0420
Indian Legal Clinic Application Indian Legal Clinic Fact Sheet Estate Planning Application Estate Planning Fact Sheet
Expertise
Patty Ferguson-Bohnee
Director, Indian Legal Clinic, Associate Dean
of Inclusive Excellence, and
Clinical Professor of Law
Helen Burtis
Instructor
Honore Callingham
Program Coordinator
Joel Edman
Democracy Director
Jordan Garcia
Law Fellow