Sarah Monkton’s practice is concentrated in Federal Indian law, environment and natural resources law, and employment law. She provides counseling and advice to clients, including tribes, community associations, employers, businesses and nonprofits, to aid in the resolution of a range of civil disputes and governance concerns. Sarah also offers workplace investigations and trainings to assist employers in managing risk and cultivating a positive work environment.
 
Sarah began her career in the field of Indian Child Welfare, representing tribes across Alaska to achieve positive outcomes for Alaska Native children in foster care. She subsequently served as executive director of a tribal child advocacy center, providing ICWA training to state and tribal social workers, advancing state ICWA policy through participation in state and tribal collaboration efforts.
 
Following law school, Sarah spent a year as a law clerk in trial court, later gaining experience as a state attorney working on civil prosecutions of financial exploitation cases. She also worked in private practice in the areas of estate planning and probate, business planning and contracts, and family law. Sarah received a certificate in mediation through Harvard Law School’s Program on Negotiation in 2014 and has helped many parties to achieve resolution as a mediator.
 
Sarah previously served as the chief of enforcement/deputy director of the Alaska State Commission for Human Rights, where her work included overseeing discrimination investigations, negotiating settlements on behalf of the state, drafting regulations and policy and providing respectful workplace and anti-harassment trainings within complex work environments. Regardless of the subject matter, Sarah draws from her substantial experience in negotiation and conflict resolution to achieve creative, interest-based outcomes for her clients.
 
Sarah is admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon, U.S. Court of Federal Claims, U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and U.S. Federal Circuit Court of Appeals.
 
Throughout her career, Sarah has committed many volunteer hours to pro bono legal representation and service on nonprofit boards.
 
Education

• University of Maine School of Law, J.D., cum laude
• Skidmore College, B.S.

 
Admissions

• Oregon  
• Alaska

Memberships

• Oregon State Bar Indian Law Section
• Oregon State Bar Environment and Natural Resources Section
• Oregon State Bar Labor & Employment Section
• Alaska State Bar Alternative Dispute Resolution Section
• Deschutes Public Library Foundation, board member

 
Honors & Awards

• Edward S. Godfrey Leadership Award, Ocean and Coastal Law Journal