The Federal Pro Bono Project for the U.S. District Court of the District of Alaska helps connect self-represented, civil litigants with attorneys interested in volunteer opportunities. Appointments are primarily made in prisoner civil rights cases filed under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.

Cases qualify for assistance based on whether a litigant has demonstrated an inability to afford counsel; the likelihood of success on the merits; and the ability of the litigant to articulate claims for themselves in light of the complexity of the legal issues involved.
A volunteer pro bono attorney’s representation may be all-purpose or limited in scope.

A Limited Entry of Appearance may be made for a discrete purpose such as amendment of a pleading, participating at a settlement conference, filing or opposing a dispositive motion, attending a hearing(s), attending a deposition(s), conducting or responding to discovery, or attending trial.

Alternatively, it may be made for a specified period of time. A Limited Entry of Appearance shall specify each purpose of the appearance. Upon conclusion of a Limited Entry of Appearance, the volunteer attorney may withdraw by filing and serving a Notice of Withdrawal.

Such notice must provide the party's last known address and telephone number. See District of Alaska Local Civil Rule 83.1(c). 
Attorneys interested in a volunteering for a court appointment opportunity may contact the Pro Bono Program for the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska at (907) 677-6214 or volunteer@akd.uscourts.gov. 

Current Volunteer Opportunities

New opportunities will be announced in this space as they become available.

*Dates are subject to change, please check the Court’s docket.