Page 21 - Tribal Court Law and Justice Booklet

Service Area/Jurisdiction
TOCLA serves Tulalip tribal members, parents of Tulalip tribal children,
and Native individuals living within the Tulalip community. Special
exceptions may be made to allow for representation of non-Native
individuals, so long as such exceptions are in accordance with TOCLA
policy. TOCLA operates under applicable Tulalip tribal law and court
rules and federal and state law specific to reservation residents. Legal
representation by TOCLA occurs under the jurisdiction of the Tulalip
Tribal Court. VLAP may also provide legal representation for eligible
civil legal actions in State court.
TOCLA Programs and Eligibility
Tulalip Office of Civil Legal Aid (TOCLA): TOCLA has one general
civil legal aid attorney to represents low-income community members
in general civil legal matters at the Tulalip Tribal Court. To be eligible
for legal services from TOCLA, the client must first be a member
of a federally recognized tribe, and second be low-income and meet
financial requirements. Representation may be limited by the following
conditions:
• TOCLA will provide only Brief Services or Mediation Services in
cases where both parties are Tulalip tribal members, unless one of the
parties is or was a victim of domestic violence, in which case more
comprehensive services may be available (See ‘Levels of Service’
below).
• TOCLA will provide only Brief Services to individuals who have
an issue against a tribal entity, including, but not limited to, the
Tulalip Tribes, the Tulalip Gaming Agency, and the Tulalip Housing
Department.
Tribal Parent Advocacy Project (TPAP): TPAP consists of one full-time
and one half-time attorney to represent low-income community members
in dependency cases at the Tulalip Tribal Court. To be eligible for legal
services from TPAP, the client must first be a member of a federally
recognized tribe or a parent of a Tulalip tribal child, and second be low-
income and meet financial requirements. Representation may be limited
by the following conditions:
• A parent may be disqualified from eligibility for representation if he
or she has demonstrated a pattern of domestic violence perpetration,
is alleged to have killed or seriously injured a child, has a conviction
involving family violence, or has perpetrated sexual abuse against a
child or is a registered sex offender.
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