In order for the CNMI to get off-island lawyers to commit to staying longer on the islands, the Legislature has to consider creating an exemption\u2014for those who want to stay and work for the government\u2014to the rule that requires them to take the NMI Bar exam after serving the government for four years.<\/p>\n
This was the recommendation of Chief Prosecutor John Bradley, in response to Rep. Donald M. Manglona\u2019s (Ind-Rota) question on the turnover rate of assistant attorneys general during last Wednesday\u2019s hearing of the Office of the Attorney General\u2019s budget before the House Ways and Means Committee.<\/p>\n
Bradley, who himself is leaving the CNMI after his contract expires next week, said one of the factors he has frequently dealt with in getting lawyers to either stay or to return is the limitation that\u2019s placed upon practicing law here with the government.<\/p>\n
Bradley noted that, under the CNMI Supreme Court rules, once a lawyer is sworn in as a government lawyer, it\u2019s only good for four years based on the reciprocity agreement. \u201cAnd so almost immediately, when someone gets here, they\u2019re having to make this decision whether to take another Bar exam,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The chief prosecutor said some people take the local Bar exam, pass it, and enjoy that long-term commitment. \u201cBut for other people, that\u2019s a challenge,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Bradley said he left the Republic of Palau in part because he was running up against the same barrier of four years. Bradley had worked with the OAG in Palau for two and a half years. Before that, he was a prosecutor and an elected district attorney in Texas.<\/p>\n
Bradley said one of the things that he would recommend is for the Legislature to simply create an exemption to the rule for lawyers who want to stay and work for the government. <\/p>\n
\u201cBecause they are benefitting your agencies, your entities. And that\u2019s one way you can think you can encourage that longevity,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
For other lawyers who want to go out into private practice, they should take the local Bar exam and follow all the other rules, Bradley said. <\/p>\n
\u201cBut if you\u2019re working for a government agency, it seems like [making an exception to the rule] might be something you want to encourage people [so they\u2019d stay longer],\u201d added. <\/p>\n
Bradley recruited lawyers for both civil and criminal divisions while the Palau attorney general, and assisted in recruiting lawyers and looking at trying to increase retention as chief prosecutor in the CNMI\u2019s OAG\u2019s Criminal Division for two years.<\/p>\n
Bradley said that Manglona is absolutely right that retaining lawyers is a very common, complex problem in the Pacific. He said when he recruits and interviews people, he tries to be as transparent as he can about what the difficulties they will face challenges.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause I don\u2019t want them to come here, and not finish the contract or just finish the contract and leave,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He said salary is certainly an issue too, but that there\u2019s no way the CNMI can raise that salary to compete with whatever someone\u2019s is going to make in the U.S. mainland because it\u2019s not the same market. <\/p>\n
Bradley said he agrees with Attorney General Edward Manibusan that the advantage of the CNMI is that this place is very attractive. He said of all the places where he has worked, he can easily say this has been the most enjoyable job he has had, both in terms of the office, his interaction with the agencies, but also with the people and the islands. \u201cSo your own Commonwealth sells itself very well,\u201d Bradley said.<\/p>\n
He said anyone who comes here is going to have to deal with the changes in salary.<\/p>\n
He said the OAG has very good benefits and that he\u2019s impressed that there is health benefits, and retirement benefits for those who stay.<\/p>\n
Bradley said he also like the way that government lawyers are compensated to come here and help deal with the transition.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou get an upfront payment. You do not pay for housing,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Bradley said he and his wife would love to stay here, but he\u2019s got a 92-year old father and an 88-year-old mother who are not able to care for themselves anymore. \u201cThe guilt kills me,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
Bradley said he has three children and a 1-year-old grandchild. \u201cMy daughter keeps telling me I\u2019m going to miss her first birthday if I don\u2019t come back,\u201d Bradley said. <\/p>\n
He said Manibusan is very good in allowing AAGs to have vacations, but COVID-19 has really removed that for a while.<\/p>\n
Bradley said people have started taking vacations and he believes this will ease some of that pressure. <\/p>\n
\u201cIn the long run, you have to take people who are willing to commit and willing to engage in a community and not just use this as an internship,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Manibusan said there are many reasons why lawyers come and leave. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a beautiful place to begin with. And this is a great place to work and experience new legal theories,\u201d Manibusan said, but one of those reasons is that when the contract ends, lawyers need to go back to their families.<\/p>\n
As to salary, the AG said, this is a very competitive field as the CNMI is competing with Guam and other places. He said the salary range depends on the lawyer\u2019s experience. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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