NATIONAL TRIBAL TRIAL COLLEGE

Through NTTC, the Southwest Center for Law and Policy provides legal training and technical assistance to Tribal communities and to organizations and agencies serving Native people across the lower 48 states and Alaska. NTTC provides on domestic and sexual violence, stalking, abuse of persons with disabilities, elder abuse and more. NTTC also provides free certificate training for Tribal advocates, law enforcement and prosecutors.

Certificate in Tribal Court Legal Advocacy

Since 2015, over 100 students have earned a Certificate in Tribal Court Legal Advocacy. This free 6-month certificate program is comprised of 20 weeks of online study and coursework and 1 week of interactive in-person, skill building sessions that take place at the University of Wisconsin Law School in Madison, WI. Weekly course topics include but are not limited to legal representation of AI/AN victims of sexual violence in Tribal Courts, civil and criminal jurisdiction, historical and personal trauma, victims with special considerations, and more. If you are a domestic violence shelter advocate, Tribal prosecutor, law enforcement personnel or any other related position, please consider becoming a 2020 NTTC graduate.
 

  • Who should attend?

    Priority admission is reserved for advocates who work with American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. Other individuals who show a connection to working with AI/AN sexual assault or domestic violence survivors will also be considered.

  • How is the course taught?

    This 6-month course is taught in two sections. The first part of the course consists of 20 weeks of online instruction taught through the online learning platform, Canvas. The second part of the course consists of 40 hours of in-person training at the University of Wisconsin Law School in Madison, Wisconsin. 

    Students will be provided with all online course work and most reading assignments through the Canvas platform. Accepted students will need to purchase the course textbook in order to complete the first few weeks of reading assignments. Additional information will be provided upon acceptance into the program.

  • How much does it cost to enroll?

    There is no tuition for qualified participants to take the online course. However, students are required to fund their travel, lodging and meals while attending the required on-site portion of the course.

  • Who are the instructors?

    Nationally prominent Tribal judges, attorneys, and law professors from across the country instruct the Legal Advocacy course. The 2020 list of course instructors is still being finalized, but below is a list of the course instructors from previous NTTC Courses:

    • Hallie Bongar White (Attorney at Law/Executive Director - Southwest Center for Law and Policy)
    • Hon. Montie R. Deer (Muscogee Creek Supreme Court)
    • Hon. Melvin R. Stoof (Pascua Yaqui Tribal Court Judge)
    • Hon. David Voluck (Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska Tribal Magistrate/Judge)
    • Sarah Deer (Professor of Law - William Mitchell College of Law)
    • James Diamond (Former Director, IPLP Tribal Justice Clinic; Professor of Practice, University of Arizona – College of Law)
    • Hon. James White (Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Former Supreme Court Justice for Citizen Potawatomi Nation)
    • Jeff Davis (Former Assistant United States Attorney)
    • David Adams (Former Assistant United States Attorney)
    • Sarah Henry (Attorney Advisor, National Center on Protection Orders and Full Faith & Credit)
    • Daniel Goombi (2015 National Tribal Trial College Graduate)

  • Important Dates & Deadlines

    2020

    Applications Due:  January 15, 2020

    Online Course Begins:  February 3, 2020

    Online Course Ends:  June 28, 2020

    On-site Course:  July 13-17, 2020

     

  • Application Requirements

    1. Personal Statement. Please answer the following.
      • Why do you want to complete this course in Tribal Court Legal Advocacy?
      • How will this course benefit you and your community?
      • Please note that this personal statement will be considered a writing sample. 
    2. Current Resume or CV
    3. A signed letter from the clerk of your Tribal Court or current sitting Tribal Court Judge (written on a Tribal Court letterhead) certifying that you will be allowed to practice in teh specified Tribal Court once you complete the Certificate in Tribal Court Legal Advocacy.
Begin Application

Faculty

Meet our on and off site team members.

Media

View the gallery of our recent NTTC graduates.

Students

Log into your Canvas account.

Contact NTTC

4015 E. Paradise Falls Dr. Suite 131, Tucson, Arizona 85712

Phone: (520) 623-8192
Fax: (520) 623-8246

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*National Tribal Trial College is a project of the Southwest Center for Law and Policy (www.swclap.org)
This project was supported by Grant No. 2017-TA-AX-K024, awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women.