Phyllis Smoke now certified as a Tribal Court Legal Advocate for the Ho-Chunk Nation

By submitted by National Tribal Trial College



     The Ho-Chunk Nation has a new Tribal Court Legal Advocate. On July 12, 2019, Phyllis Smoke, Legislative Chief Clerk, graduated from the National Tribal Trial College with a Certificate in Tribal Court Legal Advocacy. The 6 month course is sponsored by the United States Department of Justice and enables graduates to practice law and represent clients in Tribal courts.

     Thirty two graduates representing 27 different Tribes located in 15 different states completed the 2019 Certificate course. Ms. Smoke’s intensive training enables her to now represent clients in Tribal court divorce, child custody, child support, visitation, domestic violence protection orders and victim rights cases.

     “Our graduates are actually more qualified to provide legal representation in Tribal Courts than most attorneys”, says the Dean of the National Tribal Trial College, Hallie Bongar White. “They undergo more than 20 weeks and 200 hours of online study before completing 40 hours of trial skills training onsite at the University of Wisconsin Law School in Madison, Wisconsin. The faculty all have practical, real world litigation expertise in advancing safety and justice in Indian Country and in Alaska Native Villages.”

     Graduates are required to master legal research, writing, and analysis through a series of readings, online lecture videos, assignments, and quizzes. Only the top students in the online course then qualify to attend the award winning, in person courtroom training at the University of Wisconsin Law School. Now in its 5th year, the National Tribal Trial College has graduated 114 legal advocates representing clients in Tribal courts from Alaska to Massachusetts.

     Phyllis Smoke is required to take the Ho-Chunk Nation Bar Exam prior to practicing in the Ho-Chunk Nation court.

     “Shout out to the Ho-Chunk Nation Judiciary Branch for their continued support,” mentioned Smoke.

     For more information about the National Tribal Trial College: please visit www.nttconline.org.



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