MSU Law to host free webinar Feb. 3 focusing on Indigenous Law and Policy

Four graduates of MSU Law's Indigenous Law program will share their career paths during a free webinar at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 3. Attorneys who understand Native American culture and how it impacts legal issues are in high demand, according to Professor Matthew L.M. Fletcher, director of the Indigenous Law and Policy Center and administrator of the Turtle Talk blog. Joining Fletcher during the webinar will be: Bryan Newland, '07, MSU Law trustee, attorney at Fletcher, PLLC, and former senior policy adviser to the Assistant Secretary of the Interior - Indian Affairs; Peter Scott Vicaire, '10, trial government relations specialist for the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs; John Simermeyer, '14, attorney at Rosette, LLP; and Victoria Sweet, '13, senior policy analyst at the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges. The webinar will open with brief remarks about MSU Law's Indigenous Law program. The session will conclude with 15 minutes of questions from participants. There is no cost to attend, but early registration is strongly encouraged. MSU College of Law is among a select group of U.S. law schools that offers an indigenous law certificate program. As independent nations, American Indian tribes have the right to self-govern, adjudicate legal cases, levy taxes within their borders, establish citizenship requirements, and decide their own futures. With 566 federally-recognized tribes in the United States and still more petitioning for recognition, the need for lawyers educated in indigenous law is critical. Published: Mon, Jan 26, 2015