(a) Eligibility
Any attorney admitted to practice before the courts of the State of Alaska is eligible
for admission to practice in the United States District Court for the District of Alaska.
(b) Procedure for Admission
(1) All attorneys admitted to practice before the former District Court for the Territory
of Alaska on February 20, 1960, are admitted to practice in this court without further
procedure for admission.
(2) Each applicant for admission must file with the Clerk a petition in the form and
with the attachments required by the Clerk. See www.akd.uscourts.gov/admissions.
(3) The court may, on its own motion or in response to an objection, make further
inquiry of the applicant or others and determine what response to objection, hearing,
or other procedures are appropriate.
(4) Each applicant applying for admission to practice in this district, other than an
applicant who is practicing law in the State of Alaska under Alaska Bar Rule 43 or
43.1 or who is otherwise exempt under these Local Rules, must pay the current fees
found at https://www.akd.uscourts.gov/fees at the time of application for admission.
(c) Appearance by Volunteer Pro Bono Attorney in Civil Cases
(1) A presiding judge may request a volunteer pro bono attorney to represent a self-
represented litigant unable to afford counsel in a civil case pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
§ 1915(e)(1).
(2) 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.
(3) 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.
(d) Out of State Attorneys
(1) A member in good standing of the bar of another jurisdiction, who is not an active
member of the bar of this court, may, upon motion, be permitted by the court to
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Effective October 15, 2025
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appear pro hac vice on behalf of a party. The court may order such counsel to
associate with an active member of the bar of this court.
(2) Unless otherwise ordered by the court, the attorney applying may appear from the
time of filing the motion as though it had been approved, and approvals will be
deemed to be effective as of the time of filing of the motion.
(3) The motion must be submitted on the form provided by the Clerk.
(4) An attorney need not be admitted to this court to address motions related to
subpoenas issued in this district in cases pending outside the District of Alaska.
(e) Attorneys Not Subject to Pro Hac Vice Fees
The following attorneys may appear in particular cases in an official capacity without
submitting a petition for admission, provided the attorney is admitted to practice and in
good standing before the highest court of any state:
(1) Any attorney representing the United States, or any agency thereof;
(2) Any attorney employed by the Federal Public Defender's Office or appointed
pursuant to the Criminal Justice Act; and
(3) Any attorney representing an individual granted in forma pauperis status.
(f) Disbarment, Suspension, and Reinstatement
(1) Whenever it appears to the court that any member of the bar of this court or any
non-resident attorney permitted to appear or who has applied to appear before this
court has been disbarred, suspended from practice, or convicted of a serious crime
as defined by the Alaska Bar Rules, or similar authority in a state other than Alaska,
the attorney will be immediately suspended from practice before this court.
(2) Unless good cause to the contrary is shown within 21 days after notice has been
mailed to the attorney's last known place of business or residence, an order of
suspension or disbarment will be entered for such time as the court fixes.
(3) If a suspended attorney requests, in writing, reinstatement to practice before the
court, and the court has received notification that the attorney has been reinstated to
practice before the courts of the State of Alaska or such other courts where the
suspended attorney practices, an order of reinstatement may be entered.
(g) Contact with Trial Jurors
See Local Civil Rule 39.5.
(h) Professional Conduct
The standards of the Alaska Rules of Professional Conduct apply to any attorney
admitted to practice in this court.
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Effective October 15, 2025
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(i) Current Address
All persons admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the District of
Alaska should notify the Clerk of Court, in writing, of any change in address, telephone
number, facsimile number, or e-mail address not later than 7 days after the change in
address, telephone or facsimile number, and/or e-mail address becomes effective.
