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law.arizona.edu | Link                                                                                       February 13, 2013

Greetings!

Our spotlight shines this week on four members of the UA Law community: Francys Crevier, Melissa Tatum, and Gabe Galanda. Enjoy!

 

Until the footnotes,

 

Marc


Student News
Francys Crevier (Class of 2013)

Francys Crevier is a 3L pursuing an Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy certificate. She earned her undergraduate degree at Florida International University, majoring in Public Administration, and participated in the professional business fraternity, Alpha Kappa Psi. Even though she is still a student, Francys' experience in the law is already rather extensive.

 

"I have interned in Washington, DC three times working on Indian issues as well as in the Florida House of Representatives and with Nevada Legal Services. In 2007, I worked in DC at the Bureau of Indian Education, in 2008 at Crevier, Francys the National Archives, and when I graduated from FIU, I started working for the Florida House of Representatives. Last summer I returned to DC to work with the Native American Liaison at the Fish and Wildlife Service. I also participate in the Native American Law Student Association as Recruitment Chair, and I am part of the National NALSA Moot Court competition team."

 

So, undergrad in Florida and significant work in Washington, but what brought her to Arizona Law? Francys said, "I chose AZ Law because of the premier Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy program, and I couldn't pass up on the opportunity to get the best education possible in my field. I was happy to be accepted into one of the most respected Indian law programs in the country."

 

Once she arrived on campus, she sought out opportunities to make a difference. She was able to work with Professor James Anaya, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, on his visit to the United Nations where he discussed how the United States could comply with the UN Declaration of Rights of Indigenous Peoples. "I worked on cutting edge issues that could significantly highlight the improvements needed between the United States and the Native Hawaiians and Alaskan Natives. To me, it is very meaningful work."

 

In her free time, Francys enjoys "keeping up with politics, exercising with Crossfit and intramural softball, traveling, cooking, and learning new things!"

 
After law school, she plans "on working in Indian law and policy. I really hope to make a national difference in Indian Country." To get in touch with Francys, contact her through her LinkedIn Profile.
 

 

Faculty News
Melissa Tatum

Professor Melissa Tatum has split her time between administrative and faculty duties since she joined AZ Law in January 2009, first serving as Associate Director of  Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy Program and taking over as Director in 2012. Melissa has helped to expand the IPLP Program, which has long been a leader in the field.

 

Over the last four years, IPLP has added a certificate in Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy as part of the JD degree, and has partnered with the Native Nations Institute and the Native Peoples Technical Assistance Tatum, Melissa Office to offer a Continuing Education Certificate in Indigenous Governance. IPLP also recently partnered with the Arizona State Bar to offer a monthly CLE program.

 

"I've long admired the work of IPLP," said Melissa. "The chance to be part of this program is a dream come true." Melissa's connection with the College began well before she was employed here. "Being here brings my career full circle. The first paper I published in a law review was a review of one of Rob Williams' books; I used one of Jim Anaya's books as the text for the first Indigenous law course I taught; and I have always relied heavily on  Barbara Atwood's work whenever issues involving child custody arise."

 

As a member of the faculty, Melissa teaches Conflict of Laws, Who Owns Native Culture, and Jurisdiction in Indian Country. Those classes are tied closely to her scholarship, which is focused both on cultural property and on the relationship between tribal governments and the federal and state governments.

 

Her book, "Law, Culture, and Environment" (co-authored with an alumna of the SJD program and available Spring 2013), explores the management of federal public lands. Melissa is also the co-author of the forthcoming book, "Native Nations' Constitutions," and the editor of several volumes of tribal court reporters.

 

Melissa has spent a large portion of the last decade working on issues involved in the enforcement of protection orders, particularly the issues that arise when state courts are asked to enforce tribal protection orders and vice versa. She regularly teaches workshops on the topic for law enforcement, judges, and victim advocates.

 

When I asked Melissa if she had any time for hobbies, she said she always finds time for music. She recently produced a CD featuring 12 songs she co-authored. Seven of the songs have received national airplay, and all proceeds from the CD are being donated to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.

 

For more information on Melissa, including all of her published papers, visit her Faculty Profile. More information about the IPLP Program can be found at their website or on YouTube.

 

For those interested in more general information about Indian and Indigenous law, Melissa recommends UANativeNet.com - a site providing a wide variety of law and policy resources, from free overviews and papers to fee-based continuing education courses.

 

Alumni News
Gabe Galanda ('00)

Gabe Galanda is practicing law in Seattle at Galanda Broadman, the firm he co-founded with fellow Arizona Law alumnus, Anthony Broadman ('07). "I started my career with a large regional firm in Seattle, and in 2010, started my own firm," Gabe said.

 

"Since 2000, I have been truly privileged to represent tribal governments, businesses, and individuals in an array of legal matters. At Galanda Broadman, we litigate and handle business and regulatory matters for tribal clients. The worGalanda, Gabek and client service is enthralling on every level, and quite a bit of fun too. And we have recently hired another alum, Ryan Dreveskracht ('09) - Bear Down!" Recently, their firm was named to the region's Best Lawyers in the Business by Seattle Business Magazine.

 

Gabe chose Arizona Law because of what today is the Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy Program. "I wanted to study and learn Indian law so that upon my graduation and bar admission, I could practice law representing American Indian people. I am so glad that I made that choice, and I am eternally grateful to Professor Rob Williams for giving me the opportunity to make it."

 

Gabe has many fond memories from law school, mostly associated with his "rowdy crew of friends." "We jokingly called, and still call, ourselves 'Death Row,' in silly homage to the West Coast rappers we used to listen to on mixtapes. We coined the term as we all sat in the same row in Criminal Procedure, yet, more often than not, were not prepared for the Socratic Method. All things Death Row, including those tense moments in Criminal Procedure, remain my best memories from law school."

 

I asked Gabe what he would want people to know about him, and he said, "Needless to say, it positively altered the trajectory of my legal career, but, far beyond that, going to Tucson for law school changed my entire life for the better." You can find more information on Gabe at his Attorney Profile.

 

Footnotes

Participate in the Admissions Process

We are in the thick of the admissions process for the class of 2016, and the Admissions Office would like you to congratulate, welcome, and encourage admitted students to come to Tucson. If you'd be willing to reach out to an admitted student - it could be as simple as a phone call, email, or coffee break - please send us an email. If you talk with a person interested in the study of law, be sure to let them know about the opportunities at Arizona Law.

 

Nationwide this is a challenging admissions year - a third year in a row of declining applications to law schools, now totaling almost 40 percent, as reported last week in the New York Times.

 
In response to this challenging environment, we are focusing on the deep strengths of the College of Law, the University of Arizona, and the State, including leading programs such as the Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy Program. The College of Law is described in a special web site (choosearizonalaw.com). You will see that we emphasize the opportunities created by a small law school located at a great research university. We explain our individualized and responsive approach to legal education, and convey our strong employment and bar results in direct and transparent terms.

 

Living in Tucson

For those alumni and friends in Tucson, this is a special time of year - not only because of the spectacular weather and environment, but with the gem show, which runs through February 17 (http://www.tgms.org/), and La Fiesta De Los Vaqueros, February 16-17, and 21-24 (http://www.tucsonrodeo.com/). Enjoy these events, which like so many others make Tucson one of the great places on earth to live. 

 
Upcoming Events:

CLE Opportunity - Decoding the Acronyms

On Wednesday, February 27, from noon-1pm, IPLP is partnering with the State Bar to offer a series of CLEs focused on navigating Indian Law. Professor Melissa Tatum will discuss the topic, Decoding the Acronyms: How to Translate Indian Law. The event will be held at the State Bar office on 270 N. Church Avenue in Tucson. For more information, you can contact Melissa Tatum.

 

Men's Basketball Watch Party

If you will be in Phoenix and can't make it to Tucson for the basketball game, please plan to join us at a location TBD on March 9 at 2:30pm for a watch party. We'll bring you more details soon, but for now, you can RSVP by email if you plan to attend.

 

We'll have UA giveaways at halftime, and we hope to see many of you there!

 

LCA Dinner

The 39th Annual Law College Association (LCA) Dinner is scheduled for April 27, 2013 and will be held at the Westward Look Resort in Tucson. This year, the LCA, with the University of Arizona Alumni Association, will honor six outstanding individuals: Anna Maria Chavez ('94), Catherine Douglass ('76), Prof. Steven Duke ('59), Larry Hecker ('69, '72), Prof. Thomas Mauet, and The Honorable Frank Zapata ('73).

 

For more information, or to register, click here.

 

Warmly, 

Marc Miller
  Marc Signature





 
Dean & Ralph W. Bilby Professor of Law
James E. Rogers College of Law

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