About the IPLP Program

[en Français]

The University of Arizona is widely recognized as one of the world's leading academic centers of learning for the study of indigenous peoples' cultures, histories, languages, laws, and human rights. The Rogers College of Law at The University of Arizona has contributed to the existing strengths of the university by creating a center for innovation in research, training, and advocacy in Indian law and international law of indigenous peoples, the Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy Program. Through clinical studies and direct advocacy under the supervision of the world's most distinguished scholars in the field, students and practitioners provide legal and other forms of assistance to local and international indigenous communities. With a hands-on approach to education, this program aims to promote a deeper, critical, and global understanding of the challenges indigenous people encounter.

With the strengths of The University of Arizona in the field of indigenous peoples studies, the Rogers College of Law offers JD students a variety of course offerings and practical experience in this field. Building upon the JD program is the interdisciplinary Master of Laws (LLM) Program in Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy. The LLM Program is designed to offer candidates an intellectually exciting and professionally rewarding graduate legal educational experience in the field of Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy. It attracts lawyers, recent graduates, and scholars with demonstrated professional achievement and academic excellence from all over the world. Additionally, the College of Law and the American Indian Studies Program of The University of Arizona offer one of the few JD/MA Programs in American Indian Studies in the country. Finally, the Rogers College of Law at The University of Arizona also offers a doctoral degree in law, through the SJD Program. As the highest degree offered in the field of law, the SJD (the Doctor of Juridical Science) offers candidates an intellectually challenging opportunity for academic specialization. Augmenting the graduate legal studies offered through its Master of Law Programs in International Trade and Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy, the College of Law expects that the SJD Program will offer the most specialized training in these areas in the world. Candidates for the SJD will conduct advanced research and produce original scholarship under the guidance of select, internationally renowned faculty members from the Rogers College of Law.

These academic programs fulfill the overall mission of the Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy Program: to prepare lawyers to meet the unique and difficult set of legal challenges and policy issues in the field of indigenous peoples' rights in the 21st Century.The IPLP Program is composed of distinguished faculty, a committed and experienced staff, an international team of legal practitioners, and a large pool of JD and LLM students who are being trained to practice indigenous peoples law under the leading experts in the field. Together, this team of people is committed to serving the needs of indigenous communities, to deepen knowledge about their rights, and to become skilled at how to best promote them on a local and international level.

We welcome you to explore our website and to learn more about our program.

Acknowledgements

The IPLP Program is grateful for the many contributions of our students and alumni in creating and maintaining this website. The work that they do is a tribute to their commitment to further indigenous peoples law and policy and for that we are truly thankful.