Pro Bono Opportunities for Attorneys

1016 West Sixth Avenue, Suite 200
Anchorage, AK 99501
https://www.alsc-law.org/
Tel: 888-478-2572

Alaska Legal Services Corporation (ALSC) Volunteer Attorney Support program responded to a call to action over 30 years ago to the civil legal needs of low-income Alaskans in need of legal assistance. Their efforts are rooted in improving the quality of life for children, families, the elderly, disadvantaged and ultimately, our communities.

Through a strong network of volunteer attorneys and other professionals, ALSC serves in 13 communities around Alaska. Their greatest need is in client representation. Other volunteer opportunities are one-time client consultation, teaching at a legal clinic and mentoring other attorneys. Volunteers are also needed to write, edit, or review client-oriented self-help education materials for AlaskaLawHelp.org, a joint project of ALSC and other Alaska justice community partners.

Your participation in ALSC brings many benefits: Malpractice insurance, co-counsel and/or mentoring opportunities, sample briefs and reasonable reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses. 

Our low income clients depend on your service to access justice, meet their basic needs, preserve their families, and thrive in our community. All Pro Bono attorneys must register as a volunteer at https://www.alsc-law.org/become-a-pro-bono-volunteer/.  If you have questions about any of these cases, please contact probono@alsc-law.org.

Alaska Legal Services Corporation is seeking Pro Bono attorneys for the following legal issues:
(Updated 4/24/25)

Public Benefits Cases
Alaska is experiencing a crisis of delayed SNAP (food stamps) applications and recertifications. Many clients are waiting weeks or months to access crucial benefits to feed their families; this situation is exacerbated by Alaska’s high cost of living – especially off the road system in Rural Alaska. Pro bono volunteers are urgently needed to help meet the demand to represent clients in the fair hearings/appeal process to access these benefits.

The Office of Administrative Hearings is now scheduling fair hearing requests related to delayed SNAP benefits for initial “status conferences.” The status conferences are block hearing times from 9am-12pm, Tuesdays and Thursdays on Zoom (there is also an optional phone number to call in). Each case only takes a few minutes to discuss. ALSC always requests that pro bono cases be called first, so volunteers will most likely be finished in less than 20 minutes.

ALSC needs volunteers able to represent clients in the fair hearing process or available to cover status conferences for other pro bonos who are unable to provide representation at the status conference/fair hearing stage. To represent a client from start to finish in an average SNAP delay case takes roughly 3 hours. To cover a status conference for 2-3 pro bono cases takes roughly 30 minutes to one hour.

Debt Collection/Bankruptcy
Low income families seek debt collection relief and review for and/or assistance with filing for bankruptcy.  Case Numbers 0134722, 0133654, 0135806, 0133653, 0135844, and 0134744

Adoption
Paternal great-aunt wants to adopt two children who have been residing with her as a relative provider since 2023. Bio parents are no longer in the State. No opposing parties to the adoption.  Case Number 0140484

Miller’s Trust
Elderly Alaska Native client in rural region needs a Miller’s Trust to access Medicaid Benefits. Case Number 0138175.

Adoption
Low-income client has cared for a minor child since the mother’s death; the father is in prison and signed a POA for the child that expires in November of 2025. Client wants to adopt the minor child. No opposing parties to the adoption.  Case Number 0138899

Landlord and Tenant Helpline
Volunteers are needed to join ALSC’s Landlord and Tenant Helpline team to cover shifts Monday-Thursday from 6-8pm. One evening a month, calls are forwarded directly to your phone – allowing you to conveniently volunteer from anywhere.  Volunteers answer questions from tenants and landlords about their legal rights and responsibilities. Calls last an average of 20 minutes. Training and support are available to all volunteers.

**We are especially looking for volunteers each month on the:
     4th Wednesday
     4th Thursday     
     5th Monday and Wednesday

Anna Taylor, Executive Director
431 West Seventh Avenue, Suite 208
Anchorage, AK 99501
www.akijp.org
anna.taylor@akijp.org

Tel: (907) 279-2457

The Alaska Institute for Justice (AIJ) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the human rights of all Alaskans.  Formerly known as the Alaska Immigration Justice Project, it transformed into the Alaska Institute for Justice to reflect the inclusion of an additional program dedicated to environmental and social justice issues including low-cost immigration legal services to immigrants in all immigration applications, including citizenship applications, permanent resident status, work permits, family petitions, and petitions for domestic violence victims.  To learn more about AIJP visit www.akijp.org.

Current Pro Bono Opportunities (updated 12/5/24):

Asylum Case

Client seeks pro bono attorney for affirmative asylum case. Client experienced multiple violent attacks for her political opinion and membership in a particular social group. Limited English proficient (French-speaking) client. Must be filed by July 28, 2025.

(Updated 4/11/2025) 

The Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (ANDVSA) provides legal help to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Serving on a statewide basis, ANDVSA’s pro bono volunteers are put to work taking full cases, serving as mentors, doing legal research and answering the Information and Referral Hotline. ANDVSA is renowned for its critical on-call mentoring assistance, extensive written resources (including an Alaska-specific Volunteer Family Law Manual, American Bar Association Family Law practice manuals, and sample pleadings), and live and prerecorded training opportunities. Additional benefits to volunteers include malpractice insurance, case cost coverage, and the assistance of paralegals and shelter advocates.  For more information about ANDVSA or for questions and/or interest in the cases below, please contact Katy Soden at (907) 297-2791, email ksoden@andvsa.org, or fill out ANDVSA’s volunteer attorney application form. 

PRO BONO OPPORTUNITIES

1. “Mom unwilling to let her kids leave the country.” Anchorage divorce/custody/protective order case.  Long-term PO hearings 4/15/25; divorce status hearing 4/15/25.  Client seeks help with divorce, custody and protective order cases.  4 kids.  DV to client includes attempted strangulation, financial control, threats to take children out of the country.  OP alleges client has committed DV, which client denies.  Very limited property to divide. 
2. “Breaking the cycle.” Kenai divorce/custody/protective order case. Cases not yet filed. Client seeks help with filing divorce, custody and protective order cases.  4 kids. DV includes assault.  OP has serious substance abuse issues; he is currently out of state and may be challenging to locate.  Property limited to one car. 

Any questions and/or interest in the above cases, please contact Katy Soden @ 907-297-2791 or ksoden@andvsa.org.

The ACLU of Alaska has wide array of needs for attorneys who are looking to volunteer. From a discrete research assignment in an area of immigration law, to co-counseling large civil rights cases, the organization’s needs are dynamic. Anyone who is interested in volunteering should contact the ACLU by filling out our volunteer form, or emailing info@acluak.org.  Learn more about our work at acluak.org.

Alaska Free Legal Answers is a virtual legal advice clinic in which qualifying low-income users post civil legal questions at no cost to be answered by pro bono attorneys licensed in Alaska. Volunteer attorneys will be emailed when a question is posted in a subject area to which they subscribe. Attorneys may then choose whether to answer the question. Questions generally take about 20 minutes to answer, and may include links to court forms or self-help resources. Question topics include:

Benefits
Civil/Constitutional Rights
Consumer
Debts & Purchases
Emancipation and Delinquency
Expungement
Family/Divorce/Custody
Health Care
Housing or Property Owned
Insurance
Medicaid/Medicare/Affordable Care Act
Natural Disaster
Personal Injury
School Discipline
Special Education

Sign up to volunteer by clicking this link.

(Updated 4/8/2025)

Current Volunteer Opportunities

Pro bono attorneys are needed to represent federal prisoners in civil rights cases.  Pro bono attorneys would be helpful in navigating discovery, motions practice, any possible settlement conferences, and trial.

If interested, please contact Rebecca Cervenak, Pro Se Law Clerk, United States District Court, District of Alaska at  (907) 677-6214 or Rebecca_Cervenak@akd.uscourts.gov

We are actively seeking criminal defense attorneys for the District of Alaska’s Criminal Justice Act (CJA) Panel.  The United States District Court could not fulfill its obligation under the Sixth Amendment to indigent defendants without an active CJA Panel.  The Federal Public Defender administers the CJA program and is committed to ensuring CJA Panel members receive resources and support necessary to provide effective and zealous representation.  We strive to ensure CJA Panel attorneys are appointed to sufficient cases to maintain expertise in federal criminal law and procedure.  Admission to the CJA Panel depends on meeting the minimum requirements outlined in the District’s CJA Plan, and other factors, including experience; expertise and language skills; input from references; other relevant information obtained from the application and during the review process.

Reasons to join the CJA Panel

• Improve the Criminal Justice System while gaining valuable courtroom experience.
• TRAINING, TRAINING, TRAINING – Too many opportunities to list – monthly trainings and annual Boot Camp focused on new and experienced federal practitioners.
• Connect with colleagues – receive updates, court news, and share useful information through the Listserv.
• CJA Department resources assist with locating experts and building your trial team.
• Not pro bono – you will be paid for your services promptly and efficiently.
• No need to wait fees or expense reimbursement – interim payments are encouraged.
• Alaska Federal Defenders and experienced staff available to assist and can provide excellent substantive and procedural advice.
• Mentorship program available for both mentors and mentees.
• No obligation to accept a case, but plenty of opportunities for representing those in need.

Please submit applications by January 15, 2025.  The CJA Panel Selection Committee meets annually in March.  To request an application, please contact:

Jamie McGrady, Federal Defender, District of Alaska (jamie_mcgrady@fd.org)

Monica Colbath, CJA Resource Counsel (monica_colbath@fd.org)

Sonja Belau, CJA Panel Administrator (sonja_belau@fd.org)

(Posted 11/26/24)

Each year, the Alaska Bar Association sponsors free legal clinics, where we need attorneys in a variety of practice areas to volunteer for two to four hour shifts. If you would like to be added to a mailing list about these opportunities, click here. Contact the Pro Bono Director at lmckenna@alaskabar.org with any questions or if you are interested in organizing a new clinic.