Page 20 - Tribal Court Law and Justice Booklet

MISSION STATEMENT
The Tulalip Office of Civil Legal Aid (TOCLA) provides legal assistance
to low-income tribal members with general civil legal issues, including
those that affect safety, family integrity, health, access to public benefits,
and education. TOCLA provides culturally sensitive, competent legal
representation in a holistic manner by collaborating with other Tribal
legal and social services to assist clients in identifying legal and non-
legal needs, and address barriers in accessing services. In the expansion
of civil legal aid through TOCLA, Tribal members gain greater access to
the Tulalip judicial system.
PROGRAM PROFILE
The Tulalip Office of Civil Legal Aid (TOCLA) provides free legal
assistance to low income tribal members under the jurisdiction of
the Tulalip Tribal Court. The general TOCLA attorney can help with
a large number of civil legal issues, from family law cases, such
as guardianships and dissolutions, to public benefits cases, such as
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) appeals.
TOCLA’s Tribal Parent Advocacy Project (TPAP) represents parents and/
or children involved in dependency cases (Youth in Need of Care, or
beda?chelh) in the Tulalip Tribal Court.

The Victim Legal Advocacy Project (VLAP), is a grant-funded
collaboration between TOCLA and the Tulalip Tribes’ Legacy of Healing
(LOH) program, provides holistic legal representation to victims of
domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in cases
related to their victimization.
TOCLA’s Child Advocacy Project (TCAP) is a grant-funded program
that provides holistic, developmentally appropriate, and culturally
competent advocacy to children and youth who are involved in
dependency (Youth in Need of Care, or beda?chelh) cases at the
Tulalip Tribal Court. Children under twelve years of age are generally
represented under an attorney Guardian ad Litem model, while children
over twelve years of age are generally represented according to their
stated interests.
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