Born and raised in Oklahoma, Jennifer is happy to be back in her community after serving in the military for more than 20 years. Serving as a Master of Arms in the Navy is where she credits her interest in the legal process, educating herself on issues like custody agreements, guardianship, and interpersonal violence, that her sailors and friends needed help with while active duty. 

Today, these same issues also run rampant in Jennifer’s community. She experienced firsthand the financial hardship and barriers, as well as the complexities of courts, when she went through the process of gaining custody of her son. After $10,000 and years of her time and efforts, she now wants to change this experience for her friends and the families in her assigned communities.  

“I have seen in my work that there is a focus on what’s best for children and family members are taken care of. Tribal courts are a great resource for my clients as they are set up to be friendly to tribal members representing themselves. I believe that my job as a community justice worker is instrumental in assisting tribal members with help in filing matters in tribal court.” 

Like other tribal communities across Oklahoma, poverty is also a serious issue. Low-paying jobs coupled with the rising costs of living expenses have left many close to her struggling. Now Jennifer works out of the Seminole Nation Courthouse, helping when tribes cannot -- assisting with finding resources for tribal members, administrative paperwork or giving recommendations for legal services.  

“What may seem like a simple task for most, is a barrier for those struggling financially. Even completing forms is a challenge when you don’t have a computer.”

As a community justice worker, the most difficult part of Jennifer’s job is navigating the laws restricting who can provide legal advice, called unauthorized practice of law (UPL) restrictions, to licensed attorneys. Because she is not an attorney, the scope of help she could be providing based on her own training and experience is blocked by UPL. 

“I have learned more in my current position about our neighboring tribes, jurisdiction conflict and navigating the tribal court system through hands-on experience. As a community justice worker, you learn to operate in a way that services those in need while partnering with the law community.” 

UPL restrictions limit how much she can assist those seeking help, Jennifer has a network of attorneys she can refer people to for pro-bono assistance in certain cases. But the need overwhelms the supply. 

Oklahoma is full of legal deserts—entire communities where there are not enough, if any, licensed lawyers to provide services-- especially to those who can’t afford legal fees and retainers. Those who don’t make enough money are at a serious disadvantage in the legal system. 

“There are several times when I believe I have the right answer – whether that’s what I would say, where I would go, or how I think courts will respond, but I cannot give an answer because I am not an attorney. While it can be frustrating, I am lucky that I have access to attorneys in my organization that I can ask for guidance.” 

In Jennifer’s opinion, the only thing worse than being restricted on how she can help, is observing how her clients are treated in the court system. As someone who represents more than seven counties, various precincts and numerous tribes, she notes a common theme – there is not enough access to legal representation.  

“I don’t think there is anything worse than feeling helpless in a system that you aren’t sure how to navigate.  I do this work to give my clients a voice, and a presence when they need it the most. I hope that through this project we can encourage more tribal courts to support lay advocates or in some cases go back to using them.” 

Jennifer thought about pursuing a law degree after her military career but chose instead to focus on her son and getting a paralegal certification. Through personal experience she is well-versed and educated on issues impacting her community. She stays abreast of recent court rulings and how federal decisions will change policies in her home state. 

As a mother with a full-time job and community who relies on her expertise, Jennifer is focused on doing justice work.  Because of her own experiences in the courtroom, Jennifer is committed to helping as many people as possible in her community and pursuing admittance into tribal courts as a lay advocate. She understands the fear and anxiety that come along with standing in front of a judge, and the need for someone to stand beside you, not behind you, throughout the process.