Rule 44 of the Alaska Bar Rules governs the practice of law for legal students with internships in Alaska. Legal interns must obtain a permit from the Alaska Bar Association.
Eligibility
Legal interns must:
- File the application form located in the Rule 44 and the applicable supporting documents.
- Be students enrolled in an ABA approved law school or an Association of American Law Schools approved law school when the applicant entered the law school. Law students may also be enrolled at a law school in which the principles of English common law are taught but which is located outside the United States and beyond the jurisdiction of the ABA or Association of American Law Schools, provided the foreign law school meets the ABA Council of Legal Education Standards for approval.
- Have successfully completed at least one-half of the course work required for a law degree.
- File a law school Dean Certificate with the application stating the law student meets the above requirements. Or the law student must be a law school graduate who:
- Has graduated from an ABA approved law school or the Association of American Law Schools approved law school when the applicant entered or graduated. Or the applicant graduated from a law school in which the principles of English common law are taught but which is located outside the United States and beyond the jurisdiction of the ABA or Association of American Law Schools, provided the foreign law school meets the ABA Council of Legal Education Standards for approval.
- Has never failed any state or the District of Columbia’s bar exam. Or despite the failure, the applicant subsequently passed such a bar exam.
- Has filed a law school Dean Certificate with the application stating the law student meets the requirement related to graduation.
- Has filed either a (1) personal affidavit stating he or she never failed a bar exam or (2) a certificate from the supreme court of the state in which, subsequent to failure, a bar exam was passed.
Practice and Restrictions
Legal interns may appear and participate in all proceedings before any district or superior court of Alaska to the extent permitted by the judge or the presiding officer if the attorney representing the client is personally present and able to supervise the intern and has filed an entry of appearance with the court and the office of the Alaska Bar Association substantially in compliance with the form set forth in Rule 44.
Legal interns may appear and participate before any district court in small claims matters, arraignments, pleas, bail hearings, sentencings, and recorded in-chambers conferences without an attorney being personally present to supervise the intern. The following conditions apply:
- The attorney representing the client has filed an appearance in the case and with the Bar office that is substantially in compliance with the form set forth in Rule 44.
- The supervising attorney files a certificate stating the intern has previously been present and supervised in a similar proceeding and the attorney believes the intern is competent to conduct such proceedings without the personal presence of the attorney.
- The client gives written consent to the appearance. Government bodies may grant approval though their attorneys.
- The judge or magistrate agrees to permit the legal intern to participate in the proceedings.
Requirements and Filings
In addition to the required filings above, any applicant who has been admitted to practice in another jurisdiction is required to file a certificate of good standing from each jurisdiction where the applicant is admitted. If the applicant is not in good standing, the applicant must submit satisfactory proof that he or she has never been disbarred, suspended, or otherwise disciplined.
Termination
The Alaska Student Intern Permit terminates upon the occurrence of one of the following:
- Six months from the date of issuance.
- Failure to take the first Alaska Bar exam for which the intern is eligible.
- Failure to pass any bar exam.
Renewal
Expired permits may be renewed upon the compliance of the conditions of the original permit. There can be no prior revocation of any certificate, authorization, or approval.