In a historic step in the advancement of legal education, Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law has announced a groundbreaking series of partnerships with the Navajo Nation and Diné College. These partnerships create the world’s first tribal legal education by combining four comprehensive law degrees uniquely tailored to the evolving legal needs of the Navajo Nation.
“This marks a milestone in reimagining legal education,” said Willard H. Pedrick Dean and Regents Professor of Law Stacy Leeds. “A top public law faculty partnering with a tribal university and an Indigenous nation to empower the next generation of attorneys, advocates, leaders and legal scholars by centering tribal-specific laws and sovereignty.”
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The partnerships leverage each institution’s expertise and resources to deliver an unparalleled range of educational opportunities. The cornerstone of this initiative is a shared commitment to strengthening the cultural traditions, sovereignty, legal system, and self-government of the Navajo Nation, while empowering future generations to address the legal challenges facing the Navajo Nation confronted.
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Bringing legal programs to Diné College has been discussed and planned for several years, involving the late Peterson Zah, the first president and last chairman of the Navajo Nation and ASU’s Special Advisor to the President on American Indian Initiatives. This initiative reflects a commitment to improving the community’s educational opportunities and legal resources.
“We are taking a critical step toward realizing the dream of a Navajo Nation law school, a vision passionately advocated by the late Dr. Peterson Zah and other leaders,” said Buu Nygren, president of the Navajo Nation. “This program marks the next chapter in our journey to create a dedicated legal education system that respects and integrates our traditions and laws.
“The establishment of these degree programs at Diné College and ASU Law honors Zah’s legacy and brings us closer to a future where our legal professionals are trained to serve and uplift our nation.”
As part of this innovative approach to tribal legal education, Diné College today announced the creation of a Bachelor of Arts in Navajo Law, which will begin accepting students in the fall of 2024.
ASU Law simultaneously announced new emphasis areas in Navajo law within the following graduate legal programs: Master of Legal Studies and Master of Laws in Tribal Policy, Law and Government.
ASU Law and the Navajo Nation have long worked together to recruit and retain Navajo Nation citizens within ASU Law’s Juris Doctor program, which includes an Indian law certificate program.
These four interconnected degree programs, offered individually by Diné College and ASU Law, will maximize opportunities for students and provide distinct pathways designed to equip students with the necessary skills and knowledge to navigate complex legal landscapes, advocate for their community and to contribute to the preservation and advancement of the traditions and sovereignty of the Navajo Nation.
Collectively, the courses will increase the number of legal professionals licensed to practice law in and around the Navajo Nation. Internships within Navajo Nation government departments and agencies will be a feature of the program, within the initiative’s undergraduate, graduate and professional law degree programs.
“Our mission is to provide students not only with theoretical knowledge, but also with the practical understanding to effectively apply laws and legal processes within the Navajo Nation and beyond,” said Charles “Monty” Roessel, president of Diné College. “This program serves as a beacon of hope, a testament to our steadfast commitment to advancing justice and sovereignty through education.”
Since its founding, ASU Law has focused on supporting the Navajo Nation legal community. In the 1970s, Judge William Canby, founder of ASU’s law school, worked to recruit Navajo students to ASU Law and taught the first Indian law course. Since 2010, ASU Law has offered an annual Navajo Nation Law Continuing Legal Education conference in the fall.
Numerous Navajo graduates of ASU Law have completed valuable internships with the Navajo Nation, contributing significantly to the legal community. Many of these graduates have worked within or are currently working on behalf of the Navajo Nation Legal Department. In addition, numerous ASU Law alumni advise clients before the Navajo Nation Judicial Branch and in administrative proceedings.
ASU Law’s Indian Legal Program was formalized in 1988 and has become one of the most respected Indian Legal Programs in the country.
Like many rural areas in the United States, the Navajo Nation is classified as a legal desert, an area where there are not enough legal professionals to meet the needs of the population.
About the Author: “Levi \”Calm Before the Storm\” Rickert (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation) is the founder, publisher and editor of Native News Online. Rickert was awarded the Best Column 2021 Native Media Award for the print category\/ online by the Native American Journalists Association. He is a member of the advisory board of the Multicultural Media Correspondents Association. He can be reached at levi@nativenewsonline.net.
Contact: levi@nativenewsonline.net
