Trial Attorney (Attorney 1-4)
The Alaska Public Defender Agency hires new and experienced attorneys to handle criminal, juvenile, family defense (Child in Need of Aid), commitment, appellate, and post-conviction relief cases. The Agency has thirteen offices statewide, located in Anchorage, Bethel, Dillingham, Fairbanks, Juneau, Kenai, Ketchikan, Kodiak, Kotzebue, Nome, Palmer, Sitka, and Utqiagvik. Salaries vary based on years of experience and by location based on cost-of-living adjustments.
Attorneys for the Alaska Public Defender Agency provide court-appointed legal representation to indigent clients. Our attorneys enjoy the mentorship and community of a statewide defense agency, training opportunities, and competitive benefits and salaries. The Agency provides paid time off to study for the Bar examination, pays annual Bar dues, and reimburses some moving expenses. Alaska allows a 10-month limited license to practice for public defenders prior to being admitted to the Alaska Bar Association.
Applicants for all positions should possess strong writing and analytical skills, be able to work independently, and possess strong oral advocacy skills, Applicants must also be committed to client-centered practice. Travel to remote Alaskan communities is necessary. Applicants must be admitted to the Alaska Bar Association, be willing to sit for the next Bar exam, or be eligible for admission by reciprocity. Prior legal experience preferred.
To apply, submit a cover letter, resume, legal writing sample of 15 pages or less, and three references by email to PDARecruitment@alaska.gov. The legal writing sample should reflect the applicant's own work without significant revision from others. Applications will be accepted until positions are filled.
| Location |
Salary |
Recruiting |
| Anchorage Municipal |
$92,703 |
Positions Available |
| Bethel |
$139,054 - $208,552 annually |
Positions Available |
| Palmer |
$92,703 – $139,035 annually |
Positions Available |
Supervising Attorney - Bethel Office (Attorney 5)
The Alaska Public Defender Agency is hiring an experienced attorney to supervise a unit of 5 attorneys based in Bethel. The position is the sole supervisor position in the Bethel Office overseeing our criminal practitioners. The office has two civil practitioners as well, but they are supervised by our Civil Section. This position would require carrying a caseload of U/sex felonies. The caseload consists of homicide, sexual assault, and sexual abuse of a minor cases. The position is supervised by the Criminal Deputy, Ariel Toft. The salary will vary from $194, 512.50 - $223, 392.00 annually. Benefits for permanent attorneys include paid leave, health insurance, two mandatory matching retirement accounts, and one optional deferred compensation retirement account.
To apply, please submit a cover letter and resume by email to PDARecruitment@alaska.gov. Applications must be submitted by September 19, 2025.
Minimum Qualifications
- Admission to the Alaska Bar (applicants may work in Alaska for up to 10 months under a practice permit but must be admitted to the Alaska Bar by the end of those 10 months)
- At least five years of experience practicing law
- Substantial experience with the practice area the position supervises
Appellate Attorney
The Alaska Public Defender Agency has a vacancy in its appellate section, a close-knit division located in its Anchorage office. The section represents indigent Alaskans before the Alaska Court of Appeals and Alaska Supreme Court in all the agency’s practice areas—criminal, juvenile, postconviction relief, child in need of aid, and civil commitment. Lawyers in the section are responsible for researching and drafting briefs and petitions for filing in the appellate courts; reviewing and editing briefs for colleagues; participating in, and helping colleagues prepare for, oral argument; and providing advice and support to the agency’s trial lawyers. Candidates should have the ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with the agency’s clients, efficiently review and distill large records, understand and articulate complex legal concepts, and routinely prepare high-quality and persuasive briefs on deadline. It is preferred, but not required, that candidates have significant legal writing and oral advocacy experience.
Applicants must be admitted to the Alaska bar, be willing to sit for the next bar examination, or be eligible for bar admission by reciprocity. The salary is dependent on experience ($92,703 - $139,035). The position includes full state benefits.
If interested, please submit, in one combined .pdf, a cover letter, resume, three references, and two legal writing samples of the applicant’s own work by email to PDARecruitment@alaska.gov. At least one writing sample must be between 15 and 30 pages, and neither should have significant revisions by others. Review of applications will begin April 20, 2026.