Lillian Alvernaz

1905 Harney St. Suite 300
Omaha, NE 68102
lalvernaz@bigfirelaw.com

TRIBAL AFFILIATION

Sisseton-Wahpeton Dakota, Nakoda

EDUCATION

Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work and Native American Studies, University of Montana (B.A. 2013)

Master of Public Administration, University of Montana (MPA 2018)

Juris Doctor, University of Montana School of Law (J.D. 2018) – Conference Editor, Public Land and Resources Law Review

 American Indian Law Certificate, University of Montana School of Law (2018)

BAR ADMISSIONS

Montana; District Court of Montana; Fort Belknap Tribal Court; Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Court; Oglala Sioux Supreme Court

PRIOR LEGAL EXPERIENCE

Chief Prosecutor and Presenting Officer, Fort Belknap Indian Community (2020-2022); Indigenous Justice Legal Fellow, ACLU of Montana (2018-2020); Judicial Intern, The Honorable Brian M. Morris, United States District Court, District of Montana (2017); Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women, Tribal Division (2016)

ASSOCIATIONS AND HONORS

Montana State Bar Association; Chairperson, Montana State Bar Association Indian Law Section; Chairperson, Public Policy Institute of the Rockies; Board Member, Montana Budget and Policy Center and State-Tribal Advisory Council, University of Montana Alumni Association; Montana Indigenous Food Sovereignty Initiative; Montana Supreme Court Access to Justice Commission Appointee

LEGAL AUTHORSHIP

Lewis v. Clarke, 0 Pub. Land & Res. L. Rev. 1 (2017); Akiachak Native Community v. United States Department of Interior, 0 Pub. Land & Res. L. Rev. 1 (2017); United States v. Bryant, 0 Pub. Land & Res. L. Rev. 1 (2016)

PRACTICE AREAS

Ms. Alvernaz’s experience is driven by a passion to support and empower Native people litigation and policy development and implementation. Her background of voting rights, education, and freedom of speech has built a strong foundation to advocate on behalf of Native people in various realms. Ms. Alvernaz’s experience also includes criminal jurisdiction and prosecution, tribal code development, the Indian Child Welfare Act, and policy analysis concerning violence against Native women.