Ever wondered whether freelance private attorneys really give citizens a better legal servive than a salaried, elected legal official?
Just ask the
Eastern Shoshone Tribe of Wyoming.
The Eastern Shoshone have typically relied on contracted private attorneys to handle their legal affairs. But they recently decided to create the position of tribal attorney general at an annual salary of $80,000-$100,000,
AP reported.
The move will naturally save the tribe money, says Business Council Chairman Ivan Posey. But there's more to it than that.
Private attorneys, it turns out, have other clients and thus other priorities. But Posey said the tribe preferred retaining a legal advocate with a vested interest in the tribe and without the encumbrance of other non-tribal legal responsibilities to split time over.
Sounds like a great idea. He might want to let Arkansas attorney general Dustin McDaniel and Oklahoma attorney general Drew Edmondson in on it.