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.
Fairbanks
Assistant Public Advocate
The Office of Public Advocacy is seeking an attorney for its Fairbanks Conflict Counsel section. We prize hard work, collegiality, and teamwork. We fight for the voiceless, representing indigent clients in a range of cases: criminal, juvenile delinquency, child in need of aid, guardianships, appeals, post-conviction relief (state habeas), and more.
Candidates must demonstrate a commitment to high-quality representation for indigent clients and a desire and ability to work in a close-knit team environment. A Juris Doctor from an ABA accredited university is required, as well as bar licensure in Alaska, willingness to sit for the next bar exam, or the ability to become licensed through reciprocity.
Compensation includes a comprehensive benefits package: medical, dental, and vision insurance, retirement, and a minimum of five weeks of paid leave. Salary is commensurate with experience and includes geographic pay differential. Travel opportunities are available, and the agency regularly provides high quality training to attorneys.
For more information or to apply, please contact Megan Comolli at megan.comolli@alaska.gov. This position will remain open until filled with a suitable candidate.
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.
Anchorage
Assistant Public Advocate
The Office of Public Advocacy, Anchorage Conflict Counsel Section is recruiting for an attorney to start immediately. 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.
Interested applicants should email a cover letter, resume and writing sample to emily.cooper@alaska.gov.
Assistant Public Advocate
The Office of Public Advocacy is seeking an Attorney II, III or IV for its Anchorage Civil Litigation section. We prize hard work, collegiality, and teamwork. This section primarily represents parents and youth in CINA cases. The qualified candidate will have 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 school is required, as well as bar licensure in Alaska or the ability to become licensed. Alaska does have reciprocity with many states. This position will be an Attorney II, III or IV depending on experience.
This office is currently composed of four attorneys with two support staff. 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.
All interested candidates should email a cover letter, resume and writing sample to Daniel Lord electronically at daniel.lord@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 $19.40/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.
Juneau
Paralegal
This position is the sole paralegal and administrative support for the Juneau Civil Section, consisting of a supervising attorney, two public guardians, two guardians ad litem (GALs), and a CASA program coordinator. This position is responsible for assisting the public guardians and GALs with reports and routine tasks, including filing documents with the court; obtaining medical and other confidential client records; distributing documents, including mail and paper or electronic discovery, within the office; and managing new and existing files using electronic databases and physical files. This is a great opportunity to use your organizational and interpersonal skills by managing incoming and outgoing case documents, reports, and other records.
The paralegal is the first point of contact by telephone, email and in-person for clients, other state agencies, and professionals.
Our office presents the opportunity to work as part of a strong team providing advocacy on behalf of vulnerable Alaskans while enhancing your office skills and legal acumen. This office works as a team and everyone has a key role, no matter the position.
For more information and to apply, please visit https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/alaska/jobs/3337215/paralegal-1-pcn-02-1703. Applications will be accepted through January 19, 2022.