Robert A.
Williams, Jr.
Legal Scholar.
Educator. Consultant.
Regents Professor · E. Thomas Sullivan Professor of Law
One of America's most distinguished legal scholars — bringing four decades of expertise in contract law, federal Indian law, and American common law to working professionals, tribal organizations, government agencies, and businesses who need practical legal knowledge to lead with confidence.
Four Decades of Teaching.
A Lifetime of Impact.
"Legal knowledge should not be locked behind three years of law school. The professionals who work with the law every day deserve the training to do it with real confidence."
Robert A. Williams, Jr. is a Regents Professor at the University of Arizona College of Law — one of the university's highest faculty honors — and holds the E. Thomas Sullivan Professorship of Law. An enrolled member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, he earned his J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1980 and has spent more than three decades at the forefront of American legal scholarship.
Professor Williams is the Founding Faculty Chair of the University of Arizona Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy Program, has served as Chief Justice for the Court of Appeals of the Pascua Yaqui Indian Reservation, and has represented tribal nations and members before the United States Supreme Court, the Supreme Court of Canada, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, and the United Nations Working Group on Indigenous Peoples.
He has received major grants from the MacArthur Foundation, the Ford Foundation, and the Soros Senior Justice Fellowship. He has been quoted on the front page of the New York Times, interviewed by Bill Moyers, and recognized with the Lawrence R. Baca Lifetime Achievement Award — the highest career honor in Federal Indian Law.
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Regents Professor, University of Arizona College of Law The university's highest faculty distinction — held by fewer than 50 professors across all disciplines
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Co-Creator, JD-Next Law School Admission Test Designed the next generation of law school entry evaluation nationally
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National Property Law Lecturer, Kaplan Bar Review Teaches property law to bar exam candidates across the United States
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First Oneida Indian Nation Visiting Professor of Law, Harvard Law School 2003–2004 · Previously served as Bennet Boskey Distinguished Visiting Lecturer of Law
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Lawrence R. Baca Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Federal Indian Law (2017) Federal Bar Association Indian Law Section — the field's highest career recognition
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UA Koffler Prize for Public Service (2006) · UA Swanson Prize for Teaching Excellence (2020) University of Arizona's highest recognitions for public impact and classroom teaching
Courses Built for the Work
You Already Do
Practical legal training designed specifically for non-lawyers. No law degree required. No prior legal background needed. Certificate issued upon completion by the University of Arizona College of Law.
The legal foundation every working professional needs. Taught through real-world scenarios you will recognize from your own career — not abstract legal theory.
- ▶How the American legal system works and how courts reason
- ▶Contract formation, performance, breach, and remedies
- ▶Tort law, negligence, duty of care, and liability
- ▶Real-world case studies across government, tribal, and business
- ▶How to read, analyze, and flag legal documents
The advanced program — deeper into the legal frameworks governing property, land use, regulatory compliance, and organizational exposure in tribal, government, and business environments.
- ▶Property law — ownership, use, transfer, and land rights
- ▶Property rights in tribal and federal government contexts
- ▶Regulatory compliance frameworks and organizational exposure
- ▶Advanced contract law interpretation and enforcement
- ▶Skills to communicate with attorneys and legal teams
You built something. Now protect it. This program teaches small business owners and entrepreneurs the essential legal knowledge to handle contracts, vendor relationships, employment basics, and business liability — without an attorney on retainer for every decision.
- ▶Read and negotiate business contracts before you sign
- ▶Protect your business from liability and legal exposure
- ▶Vendor agreements, employment basics, and customer disputes
- ▶When you need an attorney — and when you can handle it yourself
Work Directly With
Professor Williams
Four decades of expertise. Available to organizations and individuals who need more than a course — they need direct guidance from one of America's most recognized legal scholars.
The Legal Issues You Face Are Too Important to Navigate Alone
Whether you are a tribal administrator negotiating a federal agreement, a business owner reviewing a high-stakes contract, or an organization needing compliance guidance — Professor Williams brings the depth, the credentials, and the real-world experience to help you make the right decision. This is not generic legal advice. This is decades of expertise applied directly to your specific situation.
See Consulting Options Below →Contract & Agreement Review
Professor Williams reviews your contracts, agreements, or legal documents and provides a detailed written analysis — what's in your favor, what's risky, and what to negotiate before you sign.
Tribal Law & Sovereignty Consulting
Specialized guidance for tribal governments, councils, and organizations navigating federal Indian law, land rights, grant agreements, and sovereign governance structures.
Legal Training for Organizations
Customized legal education workshops for your team — government agencies, tribal organizations, HR departments, compliance teams, or business groups. Taught live by Professor Williams.
A focused, one-on-one session where you bring your specific legal situation — a contract question, a compliance challenge, a negotiation you're preparing for — and Professor Williams walks you through it directly. Come with your document. Leave with clarity and a plan.
RH 308 · University of Arizona
The Professionals Who
Need This Most
Whether you need a course, a consultation, or both — Professor Williams' work is built for professionals who deal with legal situations every day without formal legal training.
Tribal Organizations
Tribal administrators, council staff, and program directors navigating federal law, land rights, grant agreements, and sovereign governance — with one of the nation's foremost experts in Federal Indian Law.
Government Agencies
Policy analysts, program managers, procurement officers, and government administrators who work with statutes, regulations, and interagency agreements every day.
Small Business Owners
Entrepreneurs and business owners who sign contracts, manage vendors, hire employees, and face legal exposure — without an attorney on retainer for every decision.
HR & Compliance Teams
Professionals responsible for employment law, workplace policy, vendor contracts, regulatory reporting, and compliance program management.
Social Work & Policy
Professionals working at the intersection of law, community services, and public policy who need to understand legal rights, obligations, and regulatory frameworks.
Law-Adjacent Professionals
Paralegals, legal assistants, contract administrators, and anyone who works directly alongside legal teams and wants to contribute more effectively and advance their career.
Published Works in American Law,
Federal Indian Law & Legal History
Professor Williams is the author of five landmark books and dozens of published papers — cited by courts, used in law school classrooms, and recognized with major awards for human rights scholarship.
Real People. Real Results. Real Work.
Professionals in government, tribal organizations, business, and social services who made the decision to build their legal foundation.
I've worked in tribal government for twelve years. This course gave me the legal vocabulary and framework I should have had from day one. I now understand why attorneys give the advice they give — and I can push back intelligently when something feels wrong.
Our team reviews vendor contracts constantly. After this course I caught a liability clause that our legal counsel confirmed could have cost us significantly. The return on investment was immediate — that was just week one of applying what I learned.
I run a small business and I was signing contracts I didn't fully understand. After the course I walked into my next vendor negotiation knowing exactly what every clause meant and what to push back on. I felt like a completely different professional.
Ready to Stop Guessing
and Start Commanding the Law?
Whether you enroll in a course, book a private consulting session, or start with the free checklist — every path leads to the same place: legal confidence you can use at work tomorrow.