Aho, Si Yo, and Welcome! The University of Tulsa's Native American Law Center is training the lawyers, leaders and teachers of today and tomorrow.
Established as a center in 2000, NALC builds on the Native American
Law Certificate Program established in 1990. The
Center's mission is to
provide resources for the study and teaching of
legal issues concerning
Indian tribes and other indigenous peoples
worldwide.
There are a number of other reasons why students should choose the University of Tulsa as the place to study Indian law:
Tradition
The University of Tulsa has a long historical
tradition in Indian law, as is evidenced by the
fact that the University's library is the
repository for Samuel Worcester's (of Worcester
v. Georgia fame) personal papers.
The TU College of Law was the also first to offer
a certificate program in Indian law, and continues
to be at the forefront of the field with its
LL.M. in American Indian and Indigenous Law. These
programs signify to the world that we are a
center for research
and learning in Indian law and that the alumni
of our certificate program possess special
knowledge and skills in this area.
In keeping with this tradition, we offer a number of
specialized classes, including Native
American Natural Resources Law and Tribal
Governments. We also offer the basic Federal
Indian Law course, Native American and Indigenous Rights,
Protection of Minority and Indigenous
Cultures, an American Indian Law Seminar, and a course in Federal Indian Gaming Regulation.
Recognition
In the field of Indian law, the College of
Law enjoys wide recognition as providing one of
the finest educations in the country. The
Native American Law Certificate program was
described by Red Ink (Spring 1995) as one of
"The Best Law Schools for the Study of Indian Law."
Faculty
The Native American Law Certificate enjoys
widespread institutional and
faculty
support. In addition to the Center Directors,
a number of other faculty members write in the
area and incorporate Indian law issues into their
other courses. The extent of TU's commitment
to Indian law scholarship is indicated by the
bibliography of works published
by our faculty and students.
Location
The College of Law is a natural setting for the
Native American Law Center. More than 35 federally
recognized tribes are headquartered in Oklahoma.
About half the tribes, including the Osage and
the Five Tribes, are within a reasonable driving
distance of Tulsa, offering unparalleled
opportunities for student externships.
Opportunity
Students enjoy small classes, considerable
student-faculty interaction, and extensive
opportunities to work with nearby tribal
governments. The College of Law has an active
chapter of the Native American Law Students
Association (NALSA). NALSA students
participate in the National NALSA moot court
competition, are involved in numerous community
activities, and travel to the Federal Bar
Association's Indian Law Conference, which also
includes a job fair and the National NALSA meeting.
Results
Many of our graduates go on to specialize in
the practice of Indian law, working for tribal
governments, tribal courts, federal agencies,
law firms, and as sole practitioners. And nothing demonstrates the national recognition of our Indian law program more effectively than the fact that other universities are hiring our degree- and certificate-holders to teach Indian law!
