Bar Examination

NNBA MEMBERSHIP QUALIFICATIONS

 

The general qualifications for membership include:

• Be at least 21 years of age;

• Submit a completed bar examination application and supporting documentation by the deadline.

• Be of good moral character;

• Have no convictions of felony or certain misdemeanor offenses; and

• Have not been disbarred by any bar association.

The qualifications for persons who are not enrolled members of any Indian tribe include:

• Reside and be employed on a full-time basis within the State of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, or Colorado;

• Be a member in good standing of the bar of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, or Colorado or have taken a bar exam of such State and be awaiting the results of that exam; or

• Be a graduate of a law school.

The qualifications for persons who are enrolled members of an Indian tribe include:

• Proof of one of the enrollment in a federally recognized Indian tribe of the U.S.; and

• Be a graduate one of the following institutions:

1. a law school;

2. an accredited four-year institutions;

3. a course of studies approved by the NNBA, Inc.; or

4. a paralegal training program, advocacy program, apprenticeship program or equivalent, which is certified by the NNBA, Inc.

Tribal Advocacy Program - Recently, the Navajo Nation Bar Association, Inc. (NNBA) expanded the training opportunities for individuals seeking to become tribal court advocates. On December 15, 2000, the Board of Bar Commissioners passed a resolution to expand the eligibility requirements for persons who are enrolled members of an Indian tribe to sit for the NNBA, Inc. bar examination.
 

Individuals who have completed studies in the following Tribal Advocacy Training programs may be eligible to sit for the NNBA, Inc. bar examination.
 

Apprenticeship Program - Each individual must agree to a two year commitment and complete two years of direct supervision with a legal organization under this program. The organization must offer a Navajo legal based training and notify the NNBA, Inc. of the commencement of the two year apprenticeship program.. Upon the completion of the two year training program, each apprentice must attend and complete the NNBA, Inc. Bar Review course.
 

Certified Paralegal Program - Each enrolled American Indian individual must attend and complete a two year paralegal/tribal advocacy program certified by the NNBA, Inc. Upon the completion of the paralegal/tribal advocacy program, each individual must attend and complete the NNBA, Inc. Bar Review course.
 

Non-Certified Paralegal Program - Each enrolled American Indian individual must attend and complete a two year paralegal program. Upon the completion of the program, each individual must attend and complete the NNBA, Inc. Bar Review course.
 

Bachelor's Degree Program - An enrolled American Indian individual who has received a degree from a four year accredited institution may sit for the NNBA, Inc. bar examination provided they attend and complete the NNBA, Inc. Bar Review course.
 

Law School Degree - An individual, who is an enrolled member of an Indian tribe or non-Indian, who has received a Juris Doctor from a law school may sit for the NNBA, Inc. bar examination. The NNBA, Inc. Bar Review course is optional.

In order to become a member of the NNBA, Inc., each eligible person must successfully pass the NNBA, Inc. bar examination. NNBA, Inc. bar examinations are administered by the Admissions Committee and are given in March and August of each year.
 

---

Bar Exam Requirements

 

The Admissions Committee administers the bar examination to qualified applicants twice a year in March and in August. Any person desiring to take the bar examination must submit an application and supporting documentation to the NNBA, Inc. office no later than thirty (30) days prior to the bar examination date. There is a ten dollar ($10.00) application fee. In addition, a non-refundable fee of seventy five ($75.00) must accompany a completed bar examination packet. Each applicant will be notified at least twenty (20) days prior to the bar examination date of his or her eligibility to sit for the examination.

 

---

Bar Exam Subjects

 

The bar examination covers various subjects with a special emphasis on Navajo statutory law (Navajo Nation Code), Navajo case law (Navajo Nation Supreme Court opinions), Navajo Nation Court Rules, and Navajo custom and tradition. The examination format generally consists of written essay questions and short answers, or a combination of both. The following is a list of subjects covered on the bar examination:

• Torts

• Contracts

• Navajo Uniform Commercial Code (Title 5A, Navajo Nation Code)

• Domestic Relations (Title 9, Navajo Nation Code)

• Indian Child Welfare Act

• Federal Indian Law

• Navajo Rules of Evidence

• Indian Civil Rights Act

• Treaty of 1868

• Navajo Peacemaking

• Navajo Nation Bill of Rights

• Administrative Law

• Navajo Sovereign Immunity Act, (Title I, Navajo Nation Code, Section 553 et. seq.)

• Navajo Nation Jurisdiction

• Criminal Law

• Navajo Nation Children's Code , (Title 9, Navajo Nation Code)

• District Court Rules of Civil and Criminal Procedure

• Business Associations, including Corporations and Partnerships

• Model Rules of Professional Conduct

• Navajo Nation Government (Title 2, Navajo Nation Code)

• Navajo Property Law - Personal & Real

• Navajo Employment and Business Preference Laws

• Decedent's Estates (Title 8, Navajo Nation Code) and Navajo Rules of Probate Procedure

• Navajo Rules of Civil and Criminal Appellate Procedure

---

Traditional Culture Course

 

All individuals seeking to become members of the NNBA must complete a Navajo Culture Course provided by the NNBA, Inc.