About the Professional Development & Public Service Section
Investing in the next generation of legal rock stars! The Civil Division created the Professional Development & Public Service section to attract and retain exceptionally qualified attorneys to public sector service, by providing a pathway for interns, top-level graduates and attorneys coming out of clerkships to gain specialized knowledge, essential skills, and experience to qualify for permanent, specialized positions. The section also provides or coordinates training, mentoring, coaching, and professional resources for all attorneys in the Civil Division to help advance their careers in the Department. The section includes the Civil Division’s fellowship, internship, and mentorship programs.
Attorneys in the section work in two-year fellowships, where they gain practical, hands-on legal experience while enjoying the personal satisfaction of serving the residents of Alaska. The section supervisor is an experienced practitioner who provides a training and orientation program specifically designed to help each new attorney contribute to the Division’s mission. Senior attorneys are also assigned to each fellow to act as their mentor. Pairings are based on the substantive interests of the fellows and whether they are interested in agency advice, trial court litigation, administrative law, or appellate practice.
Scope of Work
The section allows newer attorneys to experience a wider range of legal work than ordinarily available when assigned to a specific section in the Department. Each fellow manages their own caseloads and participates in the full range of work handled by the Civil Division. This includes work on a wide variety of civil matters including child protection, natural resources, employment, workers’ compensation, torts, governmental management, environment, oil and gas, health and social services, and legislation and regulations. It also includes advising a wide variety of State clients, including State agencies, government officials, public corporations, and boards and commissions. The fellows assist with legal advice projects, as well as, appeals, and litigation. Their work includes propounding and reviewing written discovery, taking and defending depositions, drafting legal pleadings and briefs, representing State clients in State or federal courts, representing State agencies in administrative proceedings, working on appeals to Alaska’s superior and supreme courts, assessing cases, and sitting on moot courts for other attorneys. Through the fellowship, less experienced attorneys gain specialized knowledge, essential skills, and experience on critical matters of public interest. Near or at the close of the fellowship period, successful fellows are eligible to apply for any open attorney position within the Department, including those only open to current Department employees.
Section Contact
For further information on the Professional Development & Public Service Section contact:
Jessica Leeah
Chief Assistant Attorney General, Section Supervisor
907-465-3600