Esther Labrado works with Drummond Woodsum’s Tribal Nations Practice Group and Trial Services Group. She assists clients on a broad array of matters, including trial and appellate litigation, code drafting, and development and enhancement of tribal justice systems, with an expertise in criminal jurisdiction issues. Esther is a citizen of the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians and a descendant of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians.

Prior to joining Drummond Woodsum, Esther was the Legal Manager and Policy Lead, Legal and Governance at the National Congress of American Indians, where she advised Tribal Nations on implementation of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013, managed a $13 million microgrants program for crime victim services, and staffed the Tribal Supreme Court Project. Esther also clerked for the Honorable Marjorie K. Allard on the Alaska Court of Appeals. Esther has been recognized by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star in 2024 and 2025, and by Best Lawyers on its Ones to Watch list in 2026 for her work in Native American Law.

While in law school, Esther served as co-president of the Native American Law Students’ Association at Harvard Law School and as Area 6 representative (Northeast region) for the National Native American Law Students’ Association. She also completed internships at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota and the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Tribal Justice.

In her spare time, Esther enjoys reading, cooking, and hiking.