Social
Concerns
Summer Fellowship
Alaska Public Defender Agency
Volunteer Non US Citizen
No
Categories:
Language Preferences:
Location Details
Description
Our agency provides constitutionally mandated legal representation to indigent clients appointed by the court. This ensures that individuals who cannot afford a private attorney receive the same legal rights and protections as those who can. We have adopted a holistic defense approach that addresses the circumstances driving our client population into the justice system. This includes access to social services in our communities, advocacy, and support to address needs outside traditional legal representation.
Student Role
Students will engage as part of our clients’ defense teams, interacting directly with clients referred to them by public defense attorneys who have identified a need for holistic services. They will assist clients in accessing substance use disorder treatment, mental health services, social services, food security programs, and more. Students will document their interactions and work closely with attorneys to keep them apprised of holistic services efforts. Attorneys will likewise coordinate with students about any developments in the court case along the way. In this role, students will gain perspective on both the social services landscape and how it interacts with the criminal justice system.
Work Schedule
Our default schedule is 37.5 hours per week: Monday through Friday, 8:00am – 4:30pm with an hour lunch break.
Orientation
Our Support Staff & Holistic Services Manager will provide training and supervision to the students. The first week on-site will consist of orientation training addressing adjusting to the local environment, the office, and office-specific procedures (case management database, etc.), as well as an overview of the criminal justice system and social services network in Alaska (to include cultural considerations as we work with a large indigenous population). Weeks 2-8 will be spent engaging with agency staff who perform similar holistic support tasks and directly with clients. The Support Staff & Holistic Services Manager works on-site in our Fairbanks office and will be available daily for questions and weekly for formal supervision meetings.
Housing Information
We do not provide housing on-site but there are housing options in Fairbanks, including potential student housing at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF).
Spanish Language Proficiency
Not Applicable
Other Language Proficiencies
Fluency in Spanish is welcome but not required.
Drivers License
No
Student Preferences
No
Start And End Dates
Eight consecutive weeks between May 17 and August 16, 2026
Other Comments
This is a fast-paced environment and we handle a large amount of sensitive information about our clients. Students will be most successful in this internship if they have strong organizational, communication, problem-solving, and self-care skills.