and a Joyous New Year!

Thanks also to Representative Gregorio (Kilili) Sablan for his support for MLSC during the U.S. Congressional budget process. Thanks to him, MLSC has received another $180,000 for three special needs.

Wishing you all peace on Earth.

Happy Holidays!

Thanks to the Saipan LauLau Development, Inc., d/b/a LaoLao Bay Golf & Resort, who has given us a $20,000 donation for the Marianas Office.




Maria Muna (MLSC Paralegal), Jane Mack (Marianas Directing Attorney), Omar Calimbas (MLSC Staff Attorney), Yun (Alex) Kim (President and CFO, Saipan LauLau Development, Inc.), Lucia Blanco-Maratita (MLSC Board of Directors member), Mary Lou Ada (Human Resources Manager, Saipan LauLau Development, Inc.), Dimitri Varmazis (MLSC Staff Attorney)

We are very grateful.

We wish everyone a happy and joyous holiday season.

We Need A Staff Attorney!

Omar Calimbas will be leaving the Marianas Office after nearly 4 years of dedicated service. (He heads to The Asian Law Caucus in California.) So, once again we find ourselves in need of a staff attorney.

MLSC's Central Office is also seeking to hire an Assistant (Deputy) Director, which is the resurrection of an old position that has not been filled for about 2 decades.

Here's the "official" job vacancy announcement:



Job Titles: Assistant Director & Staff Attorney
Job Location: Saipan, CNMI
Job Type: Legal - Civil

Organization Information:
Micronesian Legal Services Corporation
1218 Capitol Hill Road
P.O. Box 500169
Saipan 96950

Position Description: Micronesian Legal Services Corporation [MLSC] seeks two dynamic attorneys to fill an assistant director position at MLSC's Central Office and a staff attorney position with its Marianas office. The positions are located in Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands [CNMI].

MLSC is an effective legal service program committed to achieving justice for the low-income client community throughout Micronesia by providing a full range of the highest quality civil legal services. The program is funded primarily through the U.S. Legal Services Corporation, with support from the various local governments. Besides the CNMI, MLSC's service area includes the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Palau, and the Federated States of Micronesia.

Job responsibilities: for the assistant director, will include assisting the executive director in managing a program of eight (8) field offices and one central office; and for the staff attorney, will include direct and comprehensive legal services including advice, negotiation, motion practice and litigation in a broad range of civil matters on behalf of eligible clients.

Requirements: Applicants must have a passion for justice. For the assistant director position, preference is given to applicants with experience in managing legal services programs and serving non-English-speaking communities. And for the staff attorney position, a high degree of initiative and ability to independently manage a caseload is preferred, with strong skills in interpersonal communication and collaboration, excellent written and verbal advocacy skills, and experience representing low-income clients in areas of law such as domestic, employment, administrative, immigration, and consumer.

How To Apply: Please e-mail resume, statement of interest, 3 references, and a writing sample for the assistant director position to: Ben Tured, MLSC Executive Director, at co@mlscnet.org; and for the staff attorney position to: Jane Mack, Marianas Office Directing Attorney, at janemack@mlscnet.org

Note: MLSC is an equal opportunity employer.

Salary: Depends on experience and qualifications, with an excellent benefits package.

Submission Deadline: 01/31/2010

Alien Registration

The Federal Ombudsman's Office is conducting an "alien registration."

Why? The purpose of the registration is to get numbers and information about aliens here, so the U.S. Department of Interior can report to the U.S. Congress as required by P.L. 110-229 (the Consolidated Natural Resources Act).

Who counts? The registration counts all people who do not have a U.S. passport or a U.S. permanent residency card, and couldn't get one by applying--including citizens of the freely associated states--Palau, FSM, and the Marshall Islands.

How? There is a simple form.


All non-U.S. citizens fill one out, and turn it in to the Ombudsman's Office (Suite 203, Marina Heights II, Puerto Rico, Saipan). When you turn it in, you need photo identification (passport or other similar document).

When? NOW!!! Data is being gathered between December 14 and December 30, 2009. The time is short.

For more information, call the Ombudsman's Office at 322-8030.

If you want legal advice about your individual situation, talk to a lawyer.

MLSC Board Members

The MLSC Board of Directors met on November 30, 2009 in Saipan. CNMI Supreme Court Chief Justice Miguel S. Demapan gave welcoming remarks. Some of the local staff also greeted the Board members.


Front Row: Benjamin Tured-MLSC Executive Director, Chief Justice Miguel S. Demapan-CNMI Supreme Court, Robert Ruecho-At Large member; Lucia Blanco-Maratita-Marianas .

Back Row: Ruth Deleon-MLSC accountant, Jane Mack-Marianas Directing Attorney, Lolita Nazaire-Marianas secretary, Mayor Marcelo Peterson-Pohnpei, Senator Patterson Benjamin – Kosrae, Mike Gaan - Yap, Minister of Justice Brenson Wase- Marshall Islands, Omar Calimbas-Marianas attorney, Danny Ongelungel-Palau, Senator Arno Kony-Chuuk, Maria Muña-Marianas paralegal.