The Alaska Department of Law offers great opportunities for legal practice in civil and criminal law and the unique opportunity provided under Alaska law for unlicensed attorneys working for the Department to have temporary bar privileges for up to 10 months before obtaining formal admission to the Alaska Bar (AS 08.08.210(d)).
The Department of Law is considered Alaska’s “largest law firm” and chief legal office in civil matters. The Civil Division represents all executive branch agencies, from offices throughout the state, working to serve the public interest in a variety of ways.
Compared to any position in the Lower 48, working at the Department of Law has easily accelerated my career opportunities by a decade. In my very first year, I argued before the State Supreme Court and wrote a bill. The work we do shapes—and even creates—the laws of Alaska. The opportunities to learn are endless. Best of all, the Department has a vibrant culture of work-life balance. My coworkers run, ski, fish, hunt, packraft, fly...if you can dream it, they do it. Using the Department's alternate work week and teleworking schedules, I work from home two days a week and have every other Friday off. These simple benefits have meant countless opportunities to explore my world-class backyard. And isn't that the true reason we live in Alaska? Emily Feenstra, Assistant Attorney General
Open Positions
State of Alaska Executive Branch Hiring Freeze
The State of Alaska Executive Branch has implemented a hiring freeze effective May 9, 2025 per Governor Dunleavy’s Administrative Order 358. During this hiring freeze, only positions necessary to protect the health and safety of Alaskans and to meet other essential state responsibilities will be filled. Our existing recruitments which were posted prior to May 9, 2025 will remain open to applicants. Candidates should be made aware that a recruitment waiver process is in effect and some positions may not be filled at this time. Job seekers are encouraged to visit our career page regularly to view and apply for those vacancies exempted or waivered from this hiring freeze.
Posted: 05/14/2025
Careers in Governmental Services & Public Integrity
| Position | Section | Location |
|---|
Careers in Natural Resources & Statehood Defense
| Position | Section | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Oil & Gas Attorney | Oil & Gas | Anchorage, Fairbanks, or Juneau |
| Environmental Attorney | Environmental | Anchorage, Fairbanks, or Juneau |
Careers Protecting Vulnerable Alaskans
| Position | Section | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Medicaid Attorney | Human Services | Anchorage or Juneau |
| Child Protection Attorney | Child Protection | Anchorage, Juneau, Bethel, and Palmer |
Minimum Qualifications
- Graduation from an accredited law school.
- Licensed to practice law in the state of Alaska now or within 10 months of appointment.
- Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and manage competing deadlines at once.
- Excellent judgment and strong client relation skills.
- Superior analytical skills and writing ability and willingness to draft, edit, and testify on legislation.
Prior professional or legal experience, including a clerkship with the state or federal courts, is preferred but not required.
Benefits & Compensation
State Benefits Package
- Health benefits (including dental and vision), life insurance and voluntary supplemental benefits
- Generous leave accrual, starting at 21 days a year
- 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 | $89,895 or $92,703 |
| Attorney 2 | Less than two years of licensed experience | 20 C or D | $99,235.50 or $102,843 |
| Attorney 3 | More than 2 but less than 4 years of licensed experience | 22 B or C | $109,882.50 or $113,256 |
| Attorney 4 | More than 4 years | 24 B through F | $125,482.50 – $143,734.50 |
*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
You may submit individual applications for each position you’re applying for, or you may submit one application and list all respective position numbers for which you want to be considered. Multi-position applications may address our office as “Civil Division Recruitment.”
Email your complete application to civil.recruit@alaska.gov.
Include the following documents:
- Cover Letter: List the position number(s) you are applying for
- Resume: Include a complete history of education; professional work experience with dates (MM/YYYY); and the states and admission dates (MM/YYYY) for each bar license you have
- 3 Professional References
- 1 Professional Writing Sample
- If you are a current or recent State of Alaska employee, please also submit your most recent performance evaluation.
