Closing Date: 28th February, 2026
Description:
The Native American Program of Legal Aid Services of Oregon (LASO) seeks a law clerk and/or extern for summer 2026.Background:
LASO is a non-profit organization that represents income-eligible clients in civil cases. LASO's eight regional offices serve the income-eligible population in a variety of practice areas throughout the state, with three specialized statewide programs that provide services to income-eligible taxpayers, farmworkers and representation specific to the Native American community through the Native American Program (NAPOLS). LASO's mission is to provide effective, high-quality legal services and it is committed to advocacy strategies having the broadest possible impact on client community problems. LASO is actively working to build an inclusive organizational culture that centers on racial equity. LASO is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a welcoming and culturally responsive environment for our staff and clients.
NAPOLS is committed to providing legal services rooted in Native American cultural values and beliefs. We focus our work to visibilize legal issues pertinent to the Native community and to provide advice, legal resources, and legal representation to eligible community members. We honor and incorporate Indigenous wisdom and traditions, and we work to share knowledge, empower, and support the Native community and Tribal courts.
Positions:
NAPOLS is seeking a law clerk for the summer of 2026. The NAPOLS clerkship is based in Portland, Oregon, but is open to applicants across the state. LASO also offers clerkship opportunities in other programs and offices. For an up-to-date list of positions, please visit LASO's employment page: https://lasoregon.org/employment/.
The typical work schedule is based on a 35-hour work week, Monday through Friday 9:00-5:00 with a one-hour lunch break. Work location will be in-office in Portland and partially remote. Flexible work schedules may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Type of Legal Work:
NAPOLS is in the process of rebuilding and identifying priority practice areas. Currently, NAPOLS provides support in estate planning and will drafting, probate of property involving Trust Lands, expungement of criminal records, and guardianships in Tribal courts. The work of the law clerk will entail legal research and writing on a number of issues identified by the community as well as some pertaining to Indian law, participation in meetings with NAPOLS and LASO staff, clients, Tribal courts, and other community-based organizations and partners, travel to legal clinics held in Tribal communities across Oregon, travel to Tribal courts, drafting of codes, and other work as assigned by NAPOLS staff, to be supervised by the Director.
Qualifications:
- Class standing of 1L or above at time of application.
- Knowledge or interest in Indian Law.
- Lived-experience within Native American communities is highly desired.
- Enrolled members in a federally-recognized or state-recognized tribe, enrolled members of non-recognized tribes, non-enrolled Native American students, Native American descendants and their family members are encouraged to apply.
- Proven interest in and commitment to advocacy for the legal rights of marginalized, underrepresented, underresourced, and other vulnerable populations.
- Enthusiasm, creativity, good judgment, initiative, and willingness to work collaboratively.
- Demonstrated understanding and commitment to anti-bias principles, cultural competency and addressing systemic racism and other forms of oppression.
LASO has a hiring preference for bilingual candidates who speak English and Spanish or another language.
Funding:
LASO will pay law clerks a salary of $7000 for 10 weeks of work, 35 hours per week, with an additional $50 per week for bilingual ability in language(s) that serve our client communities. Clerks working less than full time will be paid a pro rata equivalent. Clerks will be paid every two weeks, consistent with LASO pay periods.
Closing Date:
Position open until filled, with a first round application deadline of February 28, 2026.
To Apply:
To apply, submit a resume and cover letter (3 pages or less), which includes a description on how you meet the qualifications for this position, as set forth in the “Qualifications” section of this job posting. Please also note if you are bilingual in Spanish and/or another language and describe your level of competency.
Please address your application materials to: Molly Washington, NAPOLS Director. Please include “NAPOLS Law Clerk Application” in the subject line of your email and send your materials to NAPOLSjobs@lasoregon.org
The Program will schedule in-person and/or virtual interviews, depending on the preference of the applicant. Those interviews will begin in March 2026 and will be conducted on a rolling basis as necessary until the position is filled. Ideally, an offer will be extended sometime in April 2026.
If you require reasonable accommodation for a disability during the application/hiring process, please contact Trisha Baier: trisha.baier@lasoregon.org.