Native Law Students Awarded Prestigious Clerkships

Alayna Farris and Bryan Shade have been awarded two of the most prestigious clerkships in the field of Indian law and affairs. Both hail from Tahlequah, Oklahoma, and just completed their second year at the University of Arkansas School of Law.

Farris (Cherokee) was selected to work with the Native American Rights Fund over the summer. NARF is an organization charged with protecting the continued existence of tribal entities and safeguarding the legal recognition of their status as sovereign, self-governing entities. NARF employs a staff of 50, including 15 attorneys, and is located in Boulder, Colorado. 

"NARF is involved when any tribal issue goes before the Supreme Court," said Farris. "I hope to gain real experience working with indigenous people in the courtroom."

Shade (United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee) will work at the National Indian Gaming Commission's Office of General Counsel over the summer.  The commission, a division of the U.S. Department of the Interior, was created to assure gaming on Indian lands is conducted fairly and that tribes are the primary beneficiaries of gaming operations since gaming is intended to support economic development, self-sufficiency, and strong tribal governments. 

"I am very grateful for this opportunity and cannot wait to get started," said Shade.  "I put myself through undergrad and graduate school while working in tribal government. I hope my education and experience will mesh well with this opportunity for a solid foundation for a career in Indian affairs."

Shade will be working in Washington, D.C.   

Both Farris and Shade are parents, balancing law school and clerkships with their respective family obligations. "These clerkships will require time away from our children, and a lot of weekend travel, but the opportunities are just so remarkable, and the work is just so important, that we've asked our families to support our absence," said Farris. Both will return to Fayetteville in August to begin their final year of law school.

Contacts

Jackie Stites, communication specialist
School of Law
479-575-2814, jstites@uark.edu

Andy Albertson, director of communications
School of Law
479-575-6111, aalbert@uark.edu

Headlines

An Evening in South India

Celebrate traditional South Indian culture and its treasure trove of rich heritage, including food and dancing, from 6-8 p.m. today at the Arkansas Alumni House.

U of A ENGAGE Annual Keynote April 4

Distinguished Professor Ranu Jung will give the spring 2024 address for the UA ENGAGE NSF Advance Program from 3-4:30 p.m. April 4 in the Hembree Room, 2nd floor, Willard J. Walker Hall.

Spring Business Career Fair Attracts More Than 1,200 Students

The latest business career fair attracted 151 companies from all over the country, providing insight on the job market to future graduates.

The World as a Classroom: The Executive M.B.A. Program at U of A

The program, offered through the Sam M. Walton College of Business, blends online learning with face-to-face interaction and applied studies in a real-time international immersion trip.

Keri Blakinger, Author of 'Corrections in Ink,' to Speak at Fayetteville Public Library April 22

Blakinger, an award-winning journalist now at the Los Angeles Times, will talk about her memoir and her work as a reporter at 6 p.m. April 22 at the Fayetteville Public Library's Walker Community Room.

News Daily