Native American Law Students Association
NALSA Constitution (pdf)
CHARTER AND CONSTITUTION:
The University of North Dakota School of Law Native American Law Students Association (NALSA) is a charter to the National Native American Law Students Association (NNALSA), which is based in Albuquerque, New Mexico and comprised of law students from across the United States.
The Association’s constitution was amended, approved by the Association, and Ratified by the UND Student Policy Committee in April 2008. Committee members include a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Sergeant at Arms, a 3L Representative, a 2L Representative, a 1L Representative, and a UND non-law Student Representative undergraduate/graduate position.
MISSION STATEMENT: NALSA’s main purposes are:
(1) Providing an organization for Native Americans and other law students which will promote unity and cooperation,
(2) Providing a basis for which work can be done for the advancement of Native Americans,
(3) Providing better communication between and among Native American and other law students and the Native American people, Native American lawyers, and the general public.
(4) Providing support and assistance to Native American law students, including tutorial programs, research projects, and scholarship development for law students whose goal is to practice law regarding Native American legal issues,
(5) Assisting recruitment of Native Americans into the University of North Dakota School of Law,
(6) Assisting Native Americans and other undergraduate students interested in Indian issues in their preparation and application to law school,
(7) Advancing a more comprehensive Native American law program at the University of North Dakota School of Law,
(8) Providing a forum for the discussion of legal problems relating to law affecting Native Americans.
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP:
The Association’s general membership is open to any law student at the University of North Dakota (UND), or to any undergraduate/graduate student of UND and has expressed interest in Indian law issues.
The Association’s voting membership is open to anyone who has paid their local membership dues of five ($5) dollars, and is either a current law student of UND, or is a non-law student of UND that has been admitted to the next incoming class of law students.
ANNUAL ELECTIONS:
This year, the Association will hold elections sometime in March of 2009 for a much smoother transition for the incoming 2009-2010 executive officers,
followed by a transitional meeting between the outgoing and the incoming executive officers in April, and
finally by the outgoing 2008-2009 executive officers relinquishing full power to the new executive officers by no later than May 1ST, 2009.
NNALSA:
Requirements/National Dues:
NATIONAL Native American Law Students Association.
The following individual and chapter dues must be paid prior to any members becoming eligible to attend the National NALSA Events:
(1) Individual Membership
General Members who are Native American Law Students is $10 per year.
Associate Members who are Non-Native American Law Students is $10 per year.
(2) Chapter Membership
Campus Chapter of NNALSA is $50 per year.
Each year, NNALSA members have access to the Annual Washington D.C. Job Fair where firms, government agencies, and non-profit legal advocacy agencies recruit our members; the Annual NNALSA Moot Court Competition, the Annual NNALSA Writing Competition, and the NNALSA Annual Conference held in conjunction with the Federal Bar Association's Indian Law Conference.
5TH Annual National Job Fair.
When: September 12, 2008.
Where: San Francisco, California.
Possible Funding sources may include the Indians Into Law grant, MAC, or SAC.
NOTE: For further information you may want to check out their website at http://www.nationalnalsa.org/
Annual NATIONAL NALSA MEETING and Federal Bar Associations 34th Annual Indian Law Conference.
Every April National NALSA holds a meeting that coincides with the Federal Bar Associations Indian Law Conference. During the annual meeting the board accepts nominations for the new Executive Board (members may also be nominated before the conference and post a personal statement). Members then vote for candidates during the conference. Other business that occurs during the meeting consists of members voting on the next host of the National NALSA Moot Court Competition and Writing Competition (chapters may submit bids prior to this), awarding the NALSA Chapter of the year, awarding the 1L of the year, awarding the 2L of the year, awarding the 3L of the year, and awarding the Alumni/Alumna of the year. This years meeting will take place during the Federal Bar Association's Indian Law Conference in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
The Area Representative elected for the 2008-2009 Executive Board is Shane Morigeau (2L) from the University of Montana. Shane is the Representative for the states of Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming.
Each year, the UND NALSA Chapter attempts to send as many interested members to the Annual National NALSA Meeting and Federal Bar Association's Indian Law Conference as possible. At this conference, members learn about the current legal issues facing American Indians. Another bonus is the networking with other members as well as making initial contacts with potential employers. Our chapter plans on sponsoring a table with information and raffle items. This fundraiser could ensure that next year's NALSA Excutive Committee would have a baseline of funding to at least initiate activities during the annual fall recruitment week.
When: April 1-3, 2009.
Where: Buffalo Thunder Casino and Resort located in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Possible funding sources may include: NAIL, MAC, SAC.
NOTE: For further information go to, http://www.nationalnalsa.org/
Annual National NALSA Writing Competition.
Every year, open to all current law students to include (1Ls).
When: New location every year.
Where: New location every year.
NOTE: For further information you may want to check out their website at http://www.nationalnalsa.org/
(below is a letter sent to the membership, 11/15/08)
NNALSA Members,
Attached please find the Announcement (pdf), Registration Form (pdf), and Official Rules (pdf) for the 2009 NNALSA Writing Competition (PDF). This year’s deadline is December 19, 2008 at 5:00 p.m. MST.
This year’s theme is Advanced topics in Tribal, Indian, or Indigenous law or policy. The author of the winning paper will receive $2,000 and will have his/her paper published in the Arizona Journal of International & Comparative Law. Cash prizes will be awarded for second and third places. An acceptable submission may be a paper written for a class.
Papers must be submitted by the deadline in PDF format with no information revealing your identity within the document. A submission identification number will be assigned to you by the Competition Administrator. Include your name and the title of your paper in the body of the e-mail but do not include this information in the document itself.
Entries and questions can be directed to me at rhoward@email.arizona.edu
Sincerely,
Ryan Howard, Competition Administrator
2009 National NALSA Writing Competition
The 2007-2008 Third-Place Winner was Toni Stanger, Colville (Class of 2008) University of North Dakota School of Law, “Protecting Our People: When Tribal Members Challenged The United States Domestic Superfund Laws Across International Boundaries: A Case Analysis of Pakootas v. Teck Cominco Ltd.” Sponsored by Patton Boggs LLP. The time, place, and requirements will be posted as they become available.
Annual National NALSA Moot Court Competition.
Every year, open to all current law students to include (1Ls).
NOTE: 1Ls can participate in the competition but will not receive academic credit hours from UND, only 2Ls and 3Ls shall receive academic credit hours.
Possible Funding sources may include the Indians Into Law grant, MAC, or SAC.
NOTE: For further information you may want to check out their website at http://www.nationalnalsa.org/
National NALSA Moot Court Competition Official Rules - updated November 15, 2008 (pdf)
National NALSA Moot Court Problem 2009 (pdf)
Denver University School of Law and the University of Colorado School of Law are the co-winners of the bid to host this year’s event.
When: Friday, 8:00a.m. to 8:00p.m. on February 27, 2009 and Saturday, February 28, 2009.
Where: Wolf Law Building at the University of Colorado at Boulder Law School.
For Public, Faculty, Staff, Students, and Alumni.
Contact Kim Perdue by phone (630) 484-1709, or by email at mccordk@colorado.edu
Hosted by the University of Colorado at Boulder and the University of Denver Website:http://nalsamootcourt09.com/
American Indian Law Review
SUBMISSIONS
- The American Indian Law Review (AILR) welcomes submissions of articles by legal scholars and practitioners in the areas of law relating to Native American and indigenous peoples.
PEER REVIEW
- Beginning with the Spring 2008 Volume, articles submitted to the AILR will be subject to an independent, double-blind, peer-review process; the identities of the referees and the authors will remain anonymous.
- Decisions regarding acceptance for publication will be made based upon objective recommendations from referees chosen by AILR editorial board members as well as recommendations from the AILR Board of Advisors.
SUBMISSION PROCEDURE
Send hardcopy submissions to:
- American Indian Law Review
- Andrew M. Coats Hall
- 300 Timberdell Road
- Norman, OK 73019
Send electronic submissions to:
The University of Oklahoma
300 West Timberdell Road
Norma, OK 73019
(405) 325-4699
http://www.law.ou.edu
