In House Attorney

The 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. More information about the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe can be found at https://www.standingrock.org/about/.

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. More information about our Tribal Council can be found at https://www.standingrock.org/about/tribal-council/.

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 but not limited to: https://www.standingrock.org/programs/

• Tribal Administration
• Tribal Court and Judicial Services
• Tribal Health
• Human Resources
• Tribal Education Department and (Iyapi – Language & Culture Institute)
• Child Protection Services and ICWA
• Land Management and Reservation Resources
• Tribal Historic Preservation Office (THPO)
• Housing and Community Development
• Economic Development and Tribal Enterprises
• Emergency Management, Public Safety and MMIW
• Gaming and Regulatory Programs
• Transportation and Infrastructure
• Environmental and Water Resources Programs

The Tribe maintains and administers numerous tribal laws, ordinances, and regulatory codes, including approximately 45 active tribal codes and ordinances covering areas such as: https://www.standingrock.org/titles-updated/

• Elections
• Employment and Personnel Code of Ethics
• Housing
• Children and Family Law
• ICWA Compliance
• Gaming
• TERO
• Liquor Control
• Taxation and Motor Fuels Tax
• Land Use and Leasing
• Criminal and Civil Procedure
• Public Safety
• Probate and Estates
• Environmental and Water Protection
• Cannibis

The 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 rights
• Black Hills Exploratory Mining
• Ongoing legal matters involving the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL)
• Strengthening public safety, housing, and community wellness initiatives
• Expansion of land, environmental, and buffalo restoration programs
• Education and federal consultation advocacy
• Updating and modernizing tribal laws and administrative codes
• Economic development and infrastructure planning
• Protection of culturally and spiritually significant lands and resources

The 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.