Finding Your Pathway to a Law Career as a Native American

November is Native American Heritage Month, a time to celebrate Indigenous communities and their contributions to American culture. And when it comes to the U.S. legal system, those contributions range from Indigenous lawyers to court practices rooted in tribal traditions. 

Kevin Washburn, a citizen of Oklahoma’s Chickasaw Nation who's had a long legal career in government and academia, has seen Indigenous representation evolve in many ways over his time in law school and the legal profession. Here are some of his observations: 

  • Like other aspiring lawyers, Native Americans’ paths to a law degree vary. Washburn began thinking about it when he was in elementary school; he says he was drawn, in part, by "the legitimacy that comes with being a lawyer." 

  • The LSAT is a valuable tool. “It changed my life,” Washburn says. “It pulled me out of the crowd and made me visible as someone who was bright and could succeed.” The test, he adds, “can rescue people. It can make them visible in a way they wouldn’t be otherwise.” 

  • Law school can be lonely for Indigenous students. “If you go to law school and you’re Native American, you are likely to be asked: ‘When you graduate, are you going to help your people?’” Washburn recalls. “And honestly, I resented it a little bit at first. But it ultimately gave me a path ... and a purpose.” 

  • Representation is improving.  "Some schools are really focused on Indigenous law and Native Americans," Washburn says. Many of those schools have committed to attracting Indigenous law students through scholarships or offering in-state tuition to members of tribes in other states. 

  • That representation helps tribes navigate complex legal issues, such as water rights and gaming compacts. “We’ve had 20 decisions out of the [U.S.] Supreme Court in the past 10 years,” Washburn says, “and tribes have won about 14 or 15 of those cases. ... That’s just a reflection of having better infrastructure around legal issues.” 

  • Native Americans bring a unique and valuable voice to the legal system. “I’m an American, I grew up as an Oklahoman, and I’m Chickasaw,” Washburn says. “So, there’s a third perspective I have that other people don’t have, and it’s a good perspective.” 

To read more about Washburn's path to a legal career, visit LSAC's Law:Fully blog  (opens in new browser window).