More than 70 Native law students and allies from across the United States gathered at the College of Law Oct. 4-5 for Cutting Sign to the Legal Profession, a free program designed to help students launch their legal careers and network with leaders who practice Indian law or work with Native communities.
Sessions included mock interviews, workshops to help with resumes, cover letters, networking skills, and elevator pitches, and help applying for jobs and clerkships.
“Yá’át’ééh! I am a Diné student studying natural resources environmental and Indian law at the University of New Mexico School of Law. Attending Cutting Sign two years in a row has been meaningful and valuable. Many Native law students will be first-generation lawyers, so having a network like this where we are able to build professional development skills and interview with future employers is amazing,” says Tyanne Benallie. “I am proud to be on this journey with other awesome resilient Native relatives as we break down barriers and heal generational trauma. I plan to be at Cutting Sign for my final year of law school. Ahéʼhéé!”
Students also listened to panels that included judges and clerks, non-traditional attorneys, public safety leaders, and professionals who work within public interest, government, and pro bono law.
“Cutting Sign was a really wonderful experience. The staff took amazing care of us and made us feel genuinely welcome there. Law school is tough for everyone, but with so many Native students being first-generation professionals or having unique ties to their home that make it trying or even painful to be away, the experience can be especially isolating,” says Jasmine Neosh, a citizen of the Menominee Nation and public relations director for the Native American Law Students Association (NALSA). “Opportunities to build community with each other are invaluable in those circumstances, and the folks who organize Cutting Sign excel in creating that environment.”
Neosh notes that networking with alumni is also helpful and that there is something special about that experience within Native law.
“One of the highlights of the trip was when the group from my school (Michigan Law) got to connect with Dean Kronk Warner. In that moment it didn’t feel like networking, it felt like building an intergenerational connection, almost like a kind of professional kinship. It’s rare for a large group of law students to enthusiastically agree on anything, but everyone I have spoken to felt the experience was genuinely special. I look forward to recommending it to new law students for years to come,” she says.
The Cutting Sign program is free for participants thanks to generous sponsors, which include the American Indian Law Center/Pre-Law Summer Institute, Federal Bar Indian Law Section, Wilson Sonsini, Dentons US, University of Utah American Indian Resource Center, St. Mary’s University School of Law, University of Arkansas College of Law, and Indian Gaming Association. Host schools include the University of Idaho College of Law and the University of Washington College of Law.
Learn more about the Cutting Sign program and how you can participate.