Fellowship Attorney
Section: Professional Development and Public Service
Location: Anchorage or Juneau
Job Number: 24-PDPS-02
The Department of Law is looking for talented, energetic, and hard-working attorneys for a two-year fellowship in our Anchorage or Juneau office. If you want to be a part of a collegial, collaborative, and intellectually-challenging workplace, we hope you will consider joining us. The Department will be evaluating and hiring for these positions on a rolling basis as applications are received. Applications received after September 13, 2024 will be considered if positions remain open.
Job description
Fellows will be assigned to the Civil Division’s Professional Development & Public Service Section, where they will gain practical, hands-on legal experience while enjoying the personal satisfaction of serving the residents of Alaska. The section supervisor is a skilled practitioner who will be responsible for offering incoming fellows a training and orientation program that is specifically designed to help each fellow contribute to the Division’s mission immediately. In addition to the section supervisor, each fellow will also be assigned a senior attorney to act as their mentor. Pairings will be based on the substantive interests of the fellow and whether they are interested in agency advice, trial court litigation, or appellate practice. The goal of the program is to provide a pathway for gaining specialized knowledge, essential skills, and experience to qualify for permanent employment in the Department.
Each fellow will manage their own caseloads and participate in the full range of work handled by the Civil Division. This will include partnering with attorneys in other sections to work on a wide variety of civil matters including child protection, natural resources, employment, workers’ compensation, torts, governmental management, environment, oil and gas, transportation, health and social services, and legislation and regulations. It will also include advising a wide variety of state clients, including state agencies, governmental officials, public corporations, and licensing boards and commissions. The fellow will assist with legal advice projects, as well as participate in the full range of work handled by the Division. This includes reviewing discovery, drafting legal pleadings, attending hearings, working on civil appeals to Alaska’s superior and supreme courts, sitting on moot courts for other attorneys, and presenting at least one oral argument. Near the end of the fellowship period, the fellow will be eligible to apply for any open attorney positions at the Department.
Qualifications
Candidates should be law school graduates currently serving as full-time judicial clerks or who have recently completed a judicial clerkship; law school graduates participating in government, academic, or public-interest fellowships that will be completed prior to the start date of the Department of Law’s fellowship; or exceptionally qualified law students in their final year at an accredited law school.
The fellow will be chosen based on academic achievements, references, writing ability, and commitment to public service. Preference will be given to candidates with a demonstrated interest in Alaska. Candidates should either be members of the Alaska Bar or must take and pass the Alaska bar exam in the February following the start of the fellowship (and must be able to practice in accordance with Alaska Bar Rule 44(3)(c)).
The Office
The Alaska Department of Law, led by Alaska’s Attorney General, is the chief law office for the State of Alaska’s executive branch. The Department’s Civil Division is made up of 16 different sections staffed by attorneys throughout the state and is considered the “largest law firm” in Alaska. Seeking to expand the successful fellowship program, the Civil Division created the Professional Development and Public Service section to attract talented top-level graduates and attorneys coming out of clerkships to public sector service and to provide training, mentoring, and professional resources for all attorneys in the Civil Division.
Working and Living in Alaska
Anchorage
Anchorage is Alaska’s largest city. The city is a gateway to nearby wilderness areas and mountains. It’s a great community to live and work in. National Geographic Traveler named it one of the “Best of the World” destinations in 2017. The city offers a wide array of social, cultural, athletic, and professional opportunities for individuals and families. There are 250 miles of trail inside the city to explore—many just minutes from downtown and spectacular mountains and glaciers nearby for hiking, biking, running, and skiing. The Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, an 11-mile coastal trail that begins in downtown Anchorage, begins only blocks from the Department of Law. Anchorage is also home to Alaska’s largest university and enjoys multiple performing arts centers, extensive shopping and nightlife, and a growing culinary scene to enjoy.
Juneau
Juneau is Alaska’s capitol and a mecca for summer tourists. With a population of just over 32,000 people, Juneau is big enough to call itself a city, but small enough to have a small-town feel and a strong sense of community. Much like Anchorage, Juneau is a dream for hikers, kayakers, skiers, bikers, or anyone who enjoys a day of outdoor recreation. From easy access to mountains, oceans, rivers, lakes, islands, and amazing wildlife, to the Eaglecrest Ski Area, there are so many opportunities for adventure, no matter the season. But because it is located in a temperate rainforest, Juneau enjoys relatively moderate temperatures and less extreme winters than other parts of Alaska. Juneau also enjoys a vibrant community of art, culture, performing arts, and fine restaurants. With no roads, connecting Juneau to any other cities, you’ll experience a unique, island-like existence, where you can catch a ferry or plane to visit nearby towns.
Contact
For additional information about this position, contact the supervising attorney of the Professional Development and Public Service Section, Jessica Leeah, at (907) 465-6717 or jessica.leeah@alaska.gov.
Benefits & Compensation
State Benefits Package
- Health benefits (including dental and vision), life insurance and voluntary supplemental benefits
- Generous leave accrual
- 12 paid holidays
- A variety of retirement plans
- Potential eligibility for student loan forgiveness through the Public Loan Forgiveness Program.
- 37.5-hour workweek
- Eligibility for part-time teleworking, alternate workweek, or a flex schedule after an initial training period.
Estimated Compensation
The table below gives an estimate of compensation based on a combination of judicial clerking and licensed legal experience. The compensation listed in the table represents the base pay. Several locations around Alaska have geographical pay differences. Upon a job offer, you would receive a firm salary quote based on location of position and qualifying experience. Attorneys are eligible to promote from Attorney 1 through 4 with service and acceptable job performance.
| Attorney level | Experience level | Pay range and step | Base pay* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney 1 | Unlicensed attorney | 18 D or E | $87,282-$90,012 |
| Attorney 2 | Less than two years of licensed experience | 20 C or D | $96,349.50-$99,840 |
| Attorney 3 | More than 2 but less than 4 years of licensed experience | 22 B or C | $106,684.50-$109,960.50 |
| Attorney 4 | More than 4 years | 24 B through F | $121,836-$139,542 |
*Summary of Geographical Pay Rate Differences.
| Location | Base pay + geographical difference |
|---|---|
| Anchorage, Kenai, Palmer, Ketchikan | Base pay / no geo dif |
| Fairbanks | Base pay + 3% |
| Juneau, Sitka | Base pay + 5% |
| Kodiak | Base pay + 11% |
| Nome, Dillingham | Base pay + 37% |
| Bethel, Utqiagvik | Base pay + 50% |
| Kotzebue | Base pay + 60% |
Application Instructions
Candidates must submit:
- A resume that includes a complete history of education and professional work experience.
- At least three professional employment references.
- A professional writing sample.
- A cover letter which includes the job number.
Email applications to civil.recruit@alaska.gov (with the subject line “application for current attorney recruitment”) or mail or hand-deliver to:
Office of the Attorney General
1031 W 4th Avenue, Suite 200
Anchorage, AK 99501
As part of the application process a social media check may occur. All interested and qualified applicants will be considered, but not every applicant will be interviewed.
The Department of Law is an equal opportunity employer and complies with Title I of the American with Disabilities Act. Applicants who need accommodation to apply may call Kelly West at the department’s Anchorage office (907) 269-5101 or Relay Alaska at 1-800-770-8973.
