Attorneys

The Alaska Public Defender Agency hires new lawyers and experienced attorneys to handle civil (CINA and commitment), appellate, and criminal matters.

The Alaska Public Defender Agency is Hiring

We are currently accepting applications for attorneys in multiple locations and for multiple positions. Openings for attorney positions are posted below. For notification of job openings applicants should sign up for the job openings mailing list.

As of 8/6/2021:

Trial Attorney Positions

Criminal

The Alaska Public Defender Agency is currently hiring trial attorneys for its Anchorage, Bethel, Fairbanks, Kenai, Ketchikan, Kodiak, and Kotzebue offices. Trial attorneys for the Alaska Public Defender Agency provide court-appointed legal representation to indigent individuals in criminal cases.

Job provides excellent state benefits. Salary range is commensurate with experience and dependent on location (COLA included):

• Anchorage, Kenai, & Ketchikan: $68,659.50 - $106,450.50 annually
• Bethel: $102,999.00 - $159,685.50 annually
• Fairbanks: $70,726.50 - $109,648.50 annually
• Kodiak: $66,744.00 - $118,170.00 annually
• Kotzebue: $109,863.00 - $170,332.50 annually

Civil

The Alaska Public Defender Agency is currently hiring Child in Need of Aid Attorneys (CINA) attorneys for its Anchorage and Palmer offices. These positions typically involve in-state travel to handle cases outside of Anchorage. The Agency has thirteen offices statewide, located in Anchorage, Utqiagvik, Bethel, Dillingham, Fairbanks, Juneau, Kenai, Ketchikan, Kodiak, Kotzebue, Nome, Palmer and Sitka. One aspect of the Agency's mission is to provide constitutionally mandated legal representation to indigent parents in CINA cases appointed by the court. The Agency is more rarely appointed to represent older children in CINA cases. The Agency's Civil attorneys provide legal advice and representation in CINA cases and assist parents or custodians in obtaining needed services for their families.

Salary range is commensurate with experience: $68,659.50 - $106,450.50. Job provides excellent state benefits.

How to Apply

Applicants for these positions must possess outstanding writing and analytical skills and be able to work independently to research and compose legal briefs as well as possess strong oral advocacy skills. Applicants must be admitted to the Alaska bar, be willing to sit for the next Alaska Bar exam, or be eligible for bar admission by reciprocity. Prior legal experience preferred.

If interested, please submit a cover letter, resume, legal writing sample of 15 pages or less, and three references by email to PDARecruitment@alaska.gov. The legal writing sample should reflect the applicant's own work without significant revision from others. Applications will be accepted until these positions are filled.

Appellate Attorney Positions

The Alaska Public Defender Agency has a vacancy in its appellate section, a small, close-knit division located in its Anchorage office. The section represents indigent Alaskans before the Alaska Court of Appeals and Alaska Supreme Court in all the agency’s practice areas – criminal, juvenile, post-conviction relief, child welfare, and civil commitment. Lawyers in the section are responsible for researching and drafting briefs and petitions for filing in the appellate courts; reviewing and editing briefs for colleagues; participating in, and helping colleagues prepare for, oral argument; and providing advice and support to the agency’s trial lawyers. Candidates should have the ability to efficiently review and distill large records, understand and articulate complex legal concepts, and routinely prepare high-quality and persuasive briefs on deadline; it is preferred, but not required, that candidates have significant legal writing and oral advocacy experience.

Applicants must be admitted to the Alaska bar, be willing to sit for the next bar examination, or be eligible for bar admission by reciprocity. The salary is dependent on experience ($78,487.50 to $106,450.50), and the position includes full state benefits.

If interested, please submit a cover letter, resume, three references, and a legal writing sample of the applicant’s own work by email to Renee McFarland at PDARecruitment@alaska.gov. The writing sample must be between 10 and 25 pages and not have significant revisions by others. Review of applications will begin August 20, 2021, and continue until the position is filled.

Post-Conviction Relief Attorney Positions

The Alaska Public Defender Agency is currently hiring for a post-conviction relief attorney for its Anchorage office. In Alaska, applications for post-conviction relief involve either collateral attacks on a criminal judgment or an appeal from a parole board decision.

Applicants must possess outstanding writing and analytical skills; be able to work independently to research and compose legal briefs; and possess strong oral advocacy and trial skills. Applicants must be admitted to the Alaska bar, be willing to sit for the next Alaska Bar exam or be eligible for bar admission by reciprocity. Prior trial experience, including serious felonies, is required.

Salary range is commensurate with experience: $78,487.50 - $106,450.50. Job provides excellent state benefits.

If interested, please submit a cover letter, resume, legal writing sample of 15 pages or less, and three references by email to PDARecruitment@alaska.gov. The legal writing sample should reflect the applicant's own work without significant revision from others. Applications will be accepted until this position is filled.