Attorneys

Hire an Attorney

The Tulalip Tribal Court has provided a list of attorneys whose have passed the court’s bar exam and have paid their annual dues. They are approved to practice law in Tulalip and are available on a fee-for-service basis. Their offices are conveniently located from Seattle to Mount Vernon.

Defense Counsel (Public Defender)

University of Washington Native American Law Center Public Defense Clinic (for criminal charges on the Tulalip Reservation only)

The Tribal Court Public Defense Clinic at the University of Washington Native American Law Center provides public defense services in the Tulalip Tribal Court. The clinic director, Brenda Williams, and two staff attorneys, Maya Titova and Renee Ambacher represent clients year round. This public defender service has been in place since 2002. Since that time, the clinic has handled almost 4,000 criminal cases in the Tulalip Tribal Court. The director and staff attorneys are admitted to practice in both Tulalip and Washington Courts, as well as other Tribal courts. Their areas of expertise include Tulalip law, criminal law and Indian law. They are also experts on the Indian Civil Rights Act and its recent amendments including the Tribal Law and Order Act and the Violence Against Women Act.

In addition to the attorneys, selected second and third year UW law clinic students who successfully pass the Tulalip bar exam, assist Tribal member clients by working on cases under direct and close clinic supervision. During fall quarter, students study Tulalip law, Indian law, and criminal law and procedure. Each student must study for and pass the Tulalip Bar Exam to practice in Tulalip Tribal Court. Funding for this service is supported primarily by charitable contributions from the Tulalip Tribes.

The Tribal court appoints the Tribal Court Public Defense Clinic when the defendant’s household income qualifies under Tulalip law. If you are charged with a criminal offense in the Tulalip Tribal Court, you may apply to be screened for eligibility before your first hearing, or you may apply at the time of your first court date. Applications are available at the tribal court or at the website below. If you are eligible for clinic representation, clinic counsel will be appointed to represent you at your first court hearing. If the clinic cannot represent you due to a conflict of interest, the court will appoint conflict counsel. If you are arrested and incarcerated before charging, you must appear before the judge at which time you may apply for counsel.

To contact the clinic, you can call 360-716-4786. If no one answers, leave a message with a good time to call back. You may also call 206-685-4208 or 206-685-3917.