In House Attorney

In-House Attorney PositionThe Standing Rock Sioux Tribe (SRST) is a sovereign tribal nation located on the Standing Rock Reservation, which spans approximately 2.3 million acres across present-day North Dakota and South Dakota. The Tribe is home to the Lakota and Dakota people and operates under its Constitution adopted in 1959, Code of Justice, and inherent sovereign authority recognized through federal law and treaty rights, including the 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty.The Tribe's government structure includes the Tribal Council, Executive Committees, Tribal Court system, and a broad administrative network overseeing governmental, health, education, economic development, public safety, land management, social service, and cultural preservation programs. SRST administers a large and complex governmental operation serving approximately 16,646 tribal citizens across multiple districts and communities.The Tribe is currently seeking a full-time, on-site In-House Attorney who will provide direct legal counsel and strategic guidance to Tribal Leadership, Tribal Council, Executive Committees, Tribal Administration, and Tribal Programs.

This position is expected to work Monday – Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM; holidays and leave are available. This position serves as a key governmental advisor responsible for protecting tribal sovereignty, advancing the Tribe's legal and policy interests, and ensuring compliance with applicable tribal and federal laws.Standing Rock currently operates approximately seventy tribal departments, programs, and service entities, including:Tribal AdministrationTribal Court and Judicial ServicesTribal HealthHuman ResourcesTribal Education Department and (Iyapi – Language & Culture Institute)Child Protection Services and ICWALand Management and Reservation ResourcesTribal Historic Preservation Office (THPO)Housing and Community DevelopmentEconomic Development and Tribal EnterprisesEmergency Management, Public Safety and MMIWGaming and Regulatory ProgramsTransportation and InfrastructureEnvironmental and Water Resources ProgramsThe Tribe maintains and administers numerous tribal laws, ordinances, and regulatory codes, including approximately 45 active tribal codes and ordinances covering areas such as:ElectionsEmployment and Personnel Code of EthicsHousingChildren and Family LawICWA ComplianceGamingTEROLiquor ControlTaxation and Motor Fuels TaxLand Use and LeasingCriminal and Civil ProcedurePublic SafetyProbate and EstatesEnvironmental and Water ProtectionCannibisThe attorney will support governance initiatives, code development and revision, employment and personnel matters, contracts and negotiations, litigation management, land and natural resource matters, ICWA support, regulatory compliance, and representation in tribal, state, and federal forums. The position requires strong knowledge of federal Indian law, tribal governance, and intergovernmental relations, along with the ability to work collaboratively across departments and leadership structures.Recent legal and governmental priorities for the Tribe have included:Protection of tribal sovereignty and treaty rightsBlack Hills Exploratory MiningOngoing legal matters involving the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL)Strengthening public safety, housing, and community wellness initiativesExpansion of land, environmental, and buffalo restoration programsEducation and federal consultation advocacyUpdating and modernizing tribal laws and administrative codesEconomic development and infrastructure planningProtection of culturally and spiritually significant lands and resourcesThe Tribe seeks an attorney who can serve as a visible and trusted on-site legal partner, capable of supporting day-to-day governmental operations while also assisting leadership with long-term strategic legal planning and protection of tribal interests.