- Details
- By Tribal Business News Staff
- Higher Education
The William S. Boyd School of Law at UNLV and the Tribal Leadership Council have launched a new endowed scholarship aimed at expanding the pipeline of Native attorneys, marking what officials say is the first such endowment created by a Native nonprofit at the law school.
The Tribal Leadership Council Endowment will support citizens of federally recognized tribes pursuing a Juris Doctor degree while participating in the Indian Nations Gaming and Governance program, a specialized initiative housed at the law school. The scholarship will be awarded once the fund reaches maturity through additional contributions.
The INGG program itself was established in 2020 with foundational support from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, anchoring UNLV’s effort to build legal and policy expertise in tribal gaming, governance and economic development.
Law school officials framed the effort as part of a broader push to build legal and governance capacity in Indian Country, where tribes continue to navigate complex regulatory, business and sovereignty issues.
“This is generation-changing,” said Danielle Finn, director of the INGG program, in a statement. She added that expanding access to legal education for tribal citizens creates ripple effects beyond individual careers, strengthening institutions, supporting families and building long-term capacity for tribal nations to govern and grow their economies.
The endowment builds on a growing partnership between the organizations, including a recently launched executive certificate focused on tribal sovereignty and economic leadership. Justin Barrett, president of the Tribal Leadership Council, said the investment is intended to strengthen long-term self-determination by expanding access to legal education for tribal citizens.
Organizers are seeking additional contributions to grow the fund and accelerate scholarship awards.
