Here:
The Associate Solicitor for the Division of Indian Affairs provides legal advice and counsel to the Secretary and their staff, the Deputy Secretary, Assistant Secretaries, and other offices, bureaus and agencies for all areas under the purview of the Office of the Solicitor, specifically Indian affairs, legislation, and regulations. Responsibilities include:
- Develops new and novel legal procedures, instruments and documents, as required, for the most effective operations, administration and enforcement of the tasks assigned within the framework of the Secretary’s policies or delegations of authority, and in collaboration with the Director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), and directors of other bureaus of the Department. Suggest proposed legislation concerning the above activities for recommendation to the Congress.
- Represents the Department in conferences and meetings held with leading representatives of Indian tribal governments, industry, business, State officials, etc., and is required to give expert legal advice with respect to many novel situations and legal problems arising from the administration of the programs and activities falling within his/her area of responsibility. Consults with tribal officials and legal representatives of Indian tribal governments concerned with all phases of Federal and departmental programs for Indians.
- Shares with the Solicitor the responsibility for the formulation of overall policies for the office with respect to organization, budget, personnel, and legal activities.
- Supervises and furnishes administrative and technical advice to the BIA Director, who is charged with the general custodial functions for Indians, and is under the sole jurisdiction of the Department. The rehabilitation operations of the Bureau encompass almost every phase of legal responsibility such as examination of title to Indian lands, establishment of rights to water and power, irrigation agreements, leasehold agreements for oil, gas, and other valuable minerals, the determination of values for Indian lands, the disposition of parcels among individual members of tribal groups, establishment of titles through probate proceedings, rendering of advice for the extension of educations and welfare facilities within the authorization of Federal statutes.
- Has indirect and functional supervision over the eight Regional Solicitors as their work relates to the programs and activities stated above.
- Responsible for the formulation and the initiation of legal policies governing all operations relating to the activities and programs within area of responsibility, consistent with the coordination of all legal services rendered for the major programs and activities of the Department of the Interior.
Turtle Talk 