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
Careers in Governmental Services & Public Integrity
Careers in Natural Resources & Statehood Defense
| Position | Section | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Torts Attorney | Torts, Workers’ Compensation, and Corrections | Anchorage or Juneau |
| Oil and Gas Attorney | Oil and Gas | Anchorage or Juneau |
Careers Protecting Vulnerable Alaskans
| Position | Section | Location |
|---|
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
- 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.
