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Alaska Department of Administration Office of Public Advocacy

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Office of Public Advocacy

Attorneys

The Office of Public Advocacy hires new and experienced attorneys to represent indigent clients in a range of cases: criminal, juvenile delinquency, Child in Need of Aid, guardianships, appeals, post-conviction relief, and more.

Compensation includes a comprehensive benefits package: medical, dental, and vision insurance, retirement, and a minimum of five weeks of paid leave. Salary range is commensurate with experience and dependent on location (COLA included):

  • Anchorage, Kenai, Palmer: $68,659.50 - $106,450.50 annually
  • Bethel: $102,999.00 - $159,685.50 annually
  • Fairbanks: $70,726.50 - $109,648.50 annually
  • Juneau: $72,091.50 - $111,774.00 annually

Benefits Information: http://doa.alaska.gov/dop/workplace/benefits/

We are currently accepting applications for attorneys in multiple locations and for multiple positions. Openings for attorney positions are posted below.

Anchorage

Assistant Public Advocate

The Office of Public Advocacy, Anchorage Conflict Counsel Section is recruiting for two attorneys to start Winter 2022-23. We are inviting applicants of all experience levels.

This attorney position is a flex position, and the caseload will be tailored to the attorney's experience level. Our section is almost exclusively criminal defense at the trial court level and handles everything from minor probation violations to unclassified felonies. The position is based in Anchorage, but the caseload will provide an opportunity to travel around Alaska.

Candidates should expect the position to provide trial experience, including analyzing complex fact patterns, directing investigations, analyzing scientific evidence, engaging in extensive motion practice and presenting evidence effectively in court. A Juris Doctor from an ABA accredited university is required, as well as bar licensure in Alaska or the ability to become licensed.

Compensation includes a comprehensive benefits package: medical, dental, and vision insurance, retirement, and a minimum of five weeks of paid leave. Salary range is commensurate with experience and dependent on location. Interested applicants should email a cover letter, resume and writing sample to emily.cooper@alaska.gov.

Assistant Public Advocate

The Office of Public Advocacy, Appeals and Statewide Defense Section, is currently hiring two attorneys to represent indigent clients in criminal trial cases. Our unit also handles Child in Need of Aid (CINA) cases, juvenile delinquency matters, criminal appeals, and post-conviction relief applications, so there are many opportunities to diversify your practice according to your interests.

The ideal candidate will have prior experience working with indigent clients, litigating criminal cases, and handling a high-volume caseload. We also prioritize a dedication to high-quality representation of our clients, a desire and ability to work in a close-knit team environment, and a willingness to cross-train in areas outside your specific practice to assist your coworkers when necessary.

This is a flex Attorney II-IV position based in Anchorage, but there may be opportunities for travel throughout the state. Compensation includes comprehensive benefits: medical, dental and vision insurance, retirement, and a minimum of five weeks of paid leave. Salary range is commensurate with experience, between $68,659.50 and $106,450.50. [Note: House Bill 22 will go into effect in October, increasing this salary range by 20%.]

To apply, please email your resume, cover letter, writing sample, and references to brooke.berens@alaska.gov. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Palmer

Assistant Public Advocate (Non-Perm)

The Office of Public Advocacy, Palmer Criminal Section is hiring for an Attorney II position that focuses primarily on Child in Need of Aid matters. The position may also be asked to handle juvenile delinquency, adult criminal defense, and parent representation in custody cases. Our office handles cases from around the state, with a concentration of Glennallen, Valdez and Cordova cases.

Some intrastate travel is expected. The position is long term, non-permanent and includes benefits such as paid leave, and medical insurance. [Note: House Bill 22 will go into effect in October, increasing this salary range by 20%.] Prior applicants have typically held this position for at least a year before moving on to a permanent attorney position. Applicants must be admitted to the Alaska Bar or eligible to take the Alaska Bar Exam. This a ten-person office with six attorneys. Interested applicants should provide a resume, writing sample and brief statement of interest to: olivia.mackin@alaska.gov.

Kenai

Assistant Public Advocate

Come to the Last Frontier. The Office of Public Advocacy is seeking an experienced attorney for its Kenai office. We prize hard work, collegiality, and teamwork. We fight for the voiceless, representing indigent criminal defendants charged with misdemeanors and felonies, parents in children in need of aid cases, and respondents in guardianship cases.

The qualified candidate will have trial experience, including the ability to analyze complex fact patterns, direct investigations, analyze scientific evidence, engage in extensive motion practice, and present evidence effectively in court. A Juris Doctor from an ABA accredited university is required, as well as bar licensure in Alaska or the ability to become licensed through reciprocity.

All interested candidates should email a cover letter, resume and writing sample to office supervisor Elizabeth Leduc electronically at elizabeth.leduc@alaska.gov. This position will remain open until filled with a suitable candidate.

Non-Attorney Staff

The Office of Public Advocacy hires Guardians Ad Litem, Public Guardians, and other non-attorney staff, including legal investigators, paralegals, and law office assistants. Job postings for these positions are found on Workplace Alaska. Current job openings can be found below.

Anchorage

On-Call Law Office Assistant

Our Anchorage office is looking for an on-call Law Office Assistant to provide clerical support to a team of public guardians, guardians ad litem, attorneys, and administrative staff. This is a non-benefited position that offers an excellent opportunity for applicants who are seeking a flexible position in a fast-paced, friendly, and professional work environment.

The successful candidate will possess strong organizational skills, be detail and goal-oriented, and possess a well-developed work ethic. OPA is a very fast-paced work environment where the ability to prioritize workloads and meet competing deadlines is essential.

Examples of Duties:

  • Answer, screen, and route all incoming calls. Greet clients and visitors to the office;
  • Draft, type, format, and edit, and proofread correspondence and legal documents in a variety of formats (including electronic);
  • Ensure all documents are prepared according to court rules and procedures;
  • Create and maintain case information into a specialized database and run reports as requested;
  • Redact information from discovery documents;
  • Maintain court calendars;
  • Reception duties: open, date-stamp, distribute incoming mail, post outgoing mail, perform daily court run distribution and filing;
  • Organize and file all incoming discovery and documents;
  • Prepare files for archiving

The position's salary is $19.98/hour. Interested candidates must possess one year of clerical experience and should email a cover letter, resume and writing sample to Jin Chong electronically at jin.chong@alaska.gov. This position will remain open until filled with a suitable candidate.