Pro Bono Opportunities for Attorneys

The ACLU of Alaska defends the civil rights and liberties of all Alaskans through litigation, advocacy, and community engagement. We strive to create a more equitable state by partnering with a diverse network of Alaskans dedicated to preserving the rights guaranteed by the U.S. and Alaska Constitutions.  Learn more about our work and get involved at our website here.

The ACLU of Alaska currently has the following cases in need of pro bono attorney representation:

1. A mother seeks representation for a lawsuit against Alaska Department of Corrections for inadequate mental healthcare and addiction treatment, resulting in the death of her son. He died by suicide at Anchorage Correctional Complex in 2025. The Department of Corrections has not communicated with the family subsequently and has not shared the results of its internal investigation with the family.
2. A man seeks representation for a lawsuit against Alaska Department of Corrections for placing him in solitary confinement following an internal hearing where no evidence was presented, in violation of Watkinson v. Department of Corrections, 540 P.3d 254 (Alaska 2023). When he filed an administrative appeal in Superior Court, the Department of Corrections relented and released him from solitary confinement. He seeks damages for the consequences of being wrongfully placed in solitary confinement.

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.

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.  

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

Alaska Legal Services Corporation (ALSC) is the statewide provider of free, comprehensive civil legal aid. Established in 1967, ALSC serves over 200 communities through 11 offices around the state. ALSC’s work impacts children and families, veterans, elders, those with a disability, domestic violence survivors, and more.

ALSC’s pro bono program is a strong network of volunteer attorneys, community justice workers, and other legal professionals. Additional volunteers are needed to meet the needs of low-income Alaskans and their communities – volunteer through direct client representation, one-time advice and counsel appointments, participation in legal clinics, or by serving as a mentor or resource for other volunteers or ALSC staff.

Your participation in ALSC’s pro bono program includes malpractice insurance, co-counsel and/or mentoring opportunities, sample briefs and reasonable reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses.

Alaskans across the state who meet ALSC’s income guidelines are depending on your service to access justice, meet their basic needs, preserve their families, and thrive in their communities. All volunteers must register at www.alsc-law.org/become-a-pro-bono-volunteer. Learn more about ALSC, sign up to become a volunteer, or find all our volunteer opportunities at our website: www.alsc-law.org.

Alaska Legal Services Corporation is seeking Pro Bono attorneys for the following legal issues:

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

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

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

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

(Updated 07/02/2025) 

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. 

LOW BONO OPPORTUNITIES

ANDVSA has a grant that allows us to offer low bono contracts for domestic violence and sexual assault-related family law cases!  Please note that these funds are limited and any of these cases may instead be taken pro bono.  For more information, please contact Katy Soden at ksoden@andvsa.org.

1. “Flipping the script.” Anchorage custody modification. Modification motion not yet filed.  Client seeks to modify custody of 2 children.  Father has pending criminal charges for abuse to the children.  Client just obtained a long-term protective order on behalf of one of the children.  ANDVSA can offer $130/hour up to 50 hours for this case.
   
   
2. “Penniless and homeless.” Anchorage divorce/protective order. Long-term protective order hearing 7/22/25; divorce not yet filed. Client seeks help with DV protective order and divorce.  DV includes assault and financial abuse.  Client will need spousal support.  Another volunteer attorney has already done research about enforceability of parties’ prenuptial agreement and is willing to consult.  ANDVSA can offer $130/hour up to 50 hours for this case.  Client is Limited English Proficient and ANDVSA will provide access to on-demand interpreter services.

PRO BONO OPPORTUNITIES

3. “Violent father.” Anchorage protective order. Long-term hearing 7/10/25.  Client seeks protective order for self and teen son.  DV includes assault to the minor and past assault to client.

4. “Long-separated, finally ready to be done.” Anchorage divorce/custody. Status hearing 8/5/25.  Client seeks help with divorce and custody case.  2 kids.  Client already has long-term DVPO in place and court found 3 incidents of DV.  Ongoing concerns with OP behavior during visitations.  No property to divide. 

5. “Abuse in a one-room cabin.” Homer custody. Case not yet filed.  Client seeks help with custody.  1 child.  Client already has long-term DVPO in place.  OP has pending criminal charges.  DV includes criminal mischief, assault, threats of suicide. 

6. “Finally getting back on her feet.” Kenai divorce/custody. Case not yet filed; tribal court may be an option. Client seeks help with divorce and custody. 4 kids. DV includes punching and strangulation.  Parties separated for several years already.  Limited property to divide including boat and fishing permit.

7. “Help a Ukrainian client.” Anchorage divorce/custody/protective order. Divorce case recently filed; long-term DVPO hearing 7/29/25.  Client seeks help with divorce, custody, and protective order. 1 child.  DV includes assault, harm to stepdaughter.  Property includes vehicle, house in home country.  Client is Limited English Proficient; ANDVSA will provide on-demand language interpreter services.

8. “Taking advantage of immigrant spouse.” Anchorage divorce. Trial setting conference 8/12/25.  Client seeks help with divorce.  Short-term marriage.  DV includes sexual assault, assault, financial abuse.  OP has counsel.  Client is Limited English Proficient; ANDVSA will provide on-demand language interpreter services.

9. “Felony assault charges pending.” Homer protective order. Long-term hearing 9/17/25.  Client seeks help obtaining protective order on behalf of young son.  Child’s father is the respondent.  DV includes assault.  Father has pending felony assault charges. 

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