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Advocacy for Native Americans
Mobil Oil understood that Liz Walker is never afraid to take on
new challenges, when they transferred her to California as their
Government Affairs Director, she became interested in western
history and the story and plight of the American Indian. She has no
regrets at giving up her traditional legal practice and proudly states,
“My heart and mind are at one with this work. It has purpose”
LeadershipinLaw
Liz Walker’s legal practice started out traditionally. A native of
Virginia, she attended the University of Virginia, worked for a Virginia
Congressman after college, and moved to a NewYork law firm as a
paralegal where she was urged to go to law school. She attended
Virginia’s then-new George Mason Law School near DC, allowing her to
take part-time jobs at the Justice Department. She clerked for a Federal
District Court Judge, was recruited by a large regional law firm, and later
found herself as an attorney for Mobil Oil Corporation.
By her thirties, Liz reckoned her success on the fact that she was one
of the first women at every stage of her career. She credits this to a child-
hood vision of the future. At age nine she announced to her family that
she would attend the University of Virginia; at that time, however, it was an
all-male institution. Liz surprised her family when she was accepted in one
of the very first classes of women at the University - called The Trailblazers
because of the strong resistance they encountered from the State’s
restrictive co-education policy.
Shifting to Native American Law may seem odd for a Southern, non-
native woman and educated at traditional Virginia schools; but, in reality,
this path fit her personality as she has always taken a road somewhat
less traveled. She owes her passion to her father who served in the
Virginia legislature for 36 years; recognizing her need for adventure, he
announced, “Liz is never afraid to take on something new.” He understood
her unconventional nature.
Mobil Oil understood this too; when they transferred her to California
as their Government Affairs Director, she became interested in western
history and the story and plight of the American Indian. When she left
Mobil to return to DC, her friends referred her to a Pro Bono case involving
a Navajo family resisting involuntary relocation by the federal government.
Her success there led to another case from a well-known tribal leader
seeking to resolve a Constitutional dispute for a successful “Gaming” tribe.
She took on these cases while practicing in traditional DC firms, but
eventually, it became clear that if she was to work on Native American
issues, she would have to break from traditional law practice.
Today, Liz has a broad Native American law and policy practice that
takes her all over the country. She is nationally recognized for
representing six Virginia Indian Tribes on legislation in Congress seek-
ing federal recognition of treaties. In 2006, she traveled with the Tribes to
England to visit the gravesite of Pocahontas, the internationally known
daughter of Chief Powhatan – who welcomed John Smith and the settlers
of Jamestown. Liz is proud to have represented the Tribes in telling their
story, which in turn, has allowed them to emerge from the shadows of colo-
nial history and obtain what is rightfully theirs through treaties hundreds of
years old – but rarely enforced.
Tel +1.703.838.6284
www.Liz-Walker.com
J
President George Walker Bush embraces Native Americans at a celebration of the first Thanskgiving in 1619 (Photography by Joe Mahoney © Richmond Times Dispatch) The Law Office of Elizabeth T.Walker, in Alexandria Virginia
Native American Tribal Dancer (image courtesy: Liz Walker)
Kiros Auld and Liz Walker with a map of their constituents (Photography © Ralph A. Johnson)