Introduction
The Alaska Department of Law, under direction of the Attorney General, is the largest law firm in the state. The Alaska Department of Law has summer intern positions available for students enrolled in accredited law schools. Past interns have come from almost every state in the U.S.!
We ask for a ten-week commitment for the program.
Internships are available in both the Civil Division and the Criminal Division.
Civil Division Internships:
We have many sections in the Civil Division, all representing different agencies of the State and the Governor’s office. As an intern, you will be assigned to one of our sections and during your internship you may do legal research, writing, and courtroom work in the trial court under the direction of experienced trial lawyers. We also make available as many learning opportunities as possible, including attendance at depositions, client meetings, witness preparation and other day-to-day attorney activities. We place our interns in our Anchorage, Juneau and Fairbanks offices. Law students who have completed at least one-half of the course work required for a law degree are eligible for a "legal intern permit" under Alaska Bar Rule 44. This allows the intern to appear in court.
During the internship, you will receive feedback of both your written and courtroom work from attorneys who have supervised and observed you. We strive to provide every intern interested with a substantive writing sample at the end of the internship.
Criminal Division Internships:
The Criminal Division prosecutes violations of state criminal law committed by adults and a large percentage of the serious crimes committed by juveniles. The day-to-day prosecution services are carried out by twelve regional district attorney’s offices. Our priority is to assign interns to Anchorage, Fairbanks, Kenai, and Palmer, but other possible locations include Bethel, Dillingham, Ketchikan, Kodiak, Kotzebue, Juneau, Nome, Sitka and Utqiagvik.
Second and third-year students who have completed at least one-half of the course work required for a law degree are eligible for a “legal intern permit” under Alaska Bar Rule 44, allowing you to appear in court. You may also have the opportunity to travel to a court in an outlying area.
- 2026 Intern Guidebook - PDF 1.62MB
- About the Department of Law
Intern Experiences
Read about the experiences of past summer interns at the Department of Law.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Alaska Department of Law pay its interns?
The Alaska Department of Law provides stipends to eligible interns participating in our Summer Internship Program. Stipend amounts vary from year to year and are confirmed at the time formal offers are made.
What has been typical in the past? With no guarantee, previous years’ stipends have generally fallen within the following ranges:
- Rising 2Ls: Around $2,500
- Rising 3Ls: Around $10,500
Please note that these figures are historical examples only. Actual stipend amounts may differ based on funding and program needs.
Is there any additional funding available?
Ask your law school’s career office if there is funding available for public interest programs like ours. Previous interns have supplemented their stipends this way. We are happy to assist in completing the employer paperwork required for you to apply for additional funding.
How long is the internship and when would it start?
Stipend eligibility is grounded in a commitment to at least 10 weeks (working full-time, this is roughly 352 hours, factoring in holidays). We will typically share our preferred start and end dates (usually late-May to late-July or early-August), but these can be flexible based on the intern’s school schedule. We prefer to have all interns start within a two-week period of each other.
How does the application process work?
See "How to Apply," below.
When should I apply?
We accept intern applications at any time. Interviews are typically scheduled for the fall with positions being filled on a rolling basis. All intern positions will ideally be filled by early-January. This means that 1Ls should apply before grades are posted – we accept undergrad transcripts as a substitute in this case.
What areas of law would I be working in?
The Department of Law has two divisions, one that handles the civil work of the State and one that handles the criminal work.
Civil Division
The Civil Division of the Department of Law is expecting to place interns in the following sections or units:
- Child Protection (rising 3Ls preferred)
- Consumer Protection
- Corrections
- Environmental Law
- Human Services (rising 3Ls preferred)
- Labor & State Affairs
- Natural Resources
- Oil & Gas
- Opinions, Appeals, & Ethics
- Public Corporations & Governmental Services
- Regulatory Affairs & Public Advocacy
- Special Litigation (Major Litigation)
- Special Litigation (Consumer Protection Litigation)
- Torts & Workers' Compensation
- Transportation
Not all sections will necessarily take an intern for a given summer, but you should communicate your preferences in your cover letter. If you are interested in more than one section, list all the sections in which you have an interest in the cover letter.
Criminal Division
The Criminal Division has District Attorney Offices in the larger cities of Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau as well as the smaller towns of Bethel, Dillingham, Kenai, Ketchikan, Kodiak, Kotzebue, Nome, Palmer, Sitka and Utqiagvik. All offices handle the same types of criminal cases. Applicants may indicate a preference for location.
Where in Alaska would I work?
The Civil Division has seven offices throughout the state but our primary and preferred location for interns is Anchorage. Internships are also available in Fairbanks and Juneau for candidates who demonstrate a commitment and/or connection to Alaska.
What kinds of projects am I likely to work on?
Civil Division
As an intern in the Civil Division, you may do legal research, writing, and courtroom work in the trial court under the direction of experienced trial and appellate lawyers. Work projects will vary by section, but we want interns to get as many different legal experiences as possible, so if an opportunity arises in a different section, supervisors generally are willing to let interns participate. We also include interns in as many other aspects of attorney work as possible. In past years this has included having interns accompany attorneys in mediation, arbitration, depositions, witness preparation, motion practice and client meetings.
In addition, interns who have completed at least one-half of the course work required for a law degree are eligible for a "legal intern permit" under Alaska Bar Rule 44. This allows the intern to appear in court. The actual probability of seeing courtroom work will depend on the assigned section and caseload.
Criminal Division
An internship in a District Attorney Office provides the opportunity to do legal research, writing and courtroom work in felony and misdemeanor criminal prosecutions under the direction of experienced trial lawyers. With a legal intern permit you may expect to handle at least one misdemeanor jury trial, under supervision. Other duties include screening and charging cases, presenting cases to the grand jury and petit jury, writing and responding to motion work and appearing at evidentiary and sentencing hearings.
How do I find out about housing?
Interns are responsible for arranging their own housing. Past interns have found housing in: local newspapers, Facebook, Craigslist, apartments.com, furnishedfinder.com, Reddit, Airbnb, and student housing on the University of Alaska campuses. Candidates are encouraged to research housing and their commute early to get an idea of cost and availability. Alaska is a popular summer tourism/work destination and housing can quickly become scarce.
Do I need a car?
While it is not necessary, having a car is recommended. Many housing options are within walking, bus or bicycling distance from the office. Many of our interns bring bicycles from home, and others have bought bicycles on Craigslist. Some interns have even bought older cars when they arrived and resold them at the end of the summer.
Can I get work study credit?
Check with your school to see whether it allows school credit for the internship. Interns have, in the past, earned credit toward school.
Can I take time off during my internship?
Interns may coordinate their work schedule with their direct supervisor to take leave during the summer. The 10-week commitment to the program must still be met. Our office closes for regular holidays and, depending on start and end dates, our interns generally observe Memorial Day, Juneteenth, and Independence Day.
Apply by Email
To apply for an internship, send a resume, cover letter, writing sample, law school transcript, and three references to the division you are interested in:
Civil Division Contact
Jessica Leeah
Chief Assistant Attorney General
Alaska Department of Law
1031 W. 4th Avenue, Suite 200
Anchorage, AK 99501
civil.intern.extern@alaska.gov • (907) 465-3600
Criminal Division Contact
Kate Tallmadge
Assistant Attorney General
Criminal Division Central Office
P.O. Box 110300
Juneau, AK 99811-0300
criminallawrecruit@alaska.gov • (907) 465-3673
Please indicate in your cover letter which section(s) you are interested in, as well as your geographic preference or requirements.
Women and minority applications are encouraged. The Alaska Department of Law is an equal opportunity employer and complies with Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Applicants who need accommodation to apply may call Relay Alaska at 1-800-770-8973, or the Department of Law. For civil division positions, call Kelly West (907) 269-5101. For Criminal Division positions, call Britt Pederson (907) 465-4038.
Applicants are encouraged to solicit information about the Department of Law from any of its employees. However, the state will not be bound by any offer of employment or any commitment as to terms and conditions of employment or as to the application of departmental policies, if not made in writing by an authorized representative of the Attorney General. Final hiring decisions are made by the Attorney General.
Alaska News Sources
- Anchorage Daily News
- Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
- Juneau Empire
- The Nome Nugget
- Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman
- Homer News
- Peninsula Clarion
- Kodiak Daily Mirror
- Alaska Public Radio Network (APRN)