Alaska is the largest state in the United States—a not-so-well-known fact!  Half of the residents live in Anchorage.  Alaska is situated around Canada, the Arctic Ocean, and the Pacific Ocean.  Alaska also has a thriving economy.  Top employers include Walmart, Sam’s Club, ASRC Energy Services, BP Exploration Alaska, CH2M Hill, Alaska Airlines, GCI Communications, Banner Health, FedEx, PeterPanSeafoods and Alyeska Pipeline Service Company.

Alongside being a host to many corporations, Alaska has also hosted many filmmakers while they shot their films.  Such films include The Chechahcos, Never Cry Wolf, White Fang, On Deadly Ground, Limbo, Insomnia, 30 Days of Night, and Northern Exposure.

Alaska has 2,385 attorneys practicing in a variety of fields. Attorneys in Alaska must have a degree from an ABA approved law school, pass a 3 day bar examination, pass a professional responsibility exam, and be found to have good moral character.

Alaskan lawyers practice in the state’s 4 tiered court system. They are familiar with the rules of the Alaskan Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Superior Court, and District Court. Both the District and Superior Court function as trial courts in Alaska, with Superior Courts having general jurisdiction to hear any type of case.

Prior to the 2008 general elections, Alaska made national news when the Supreme Court heard arguments for Morse v. Frederick. The case involved a principal sanctioning a student for holding up a sign that read ‘Bong Hits 4 Jesus” at a school sponsored event. The 9^th Circuit Court ruled that the sign was protected speech under the 1^st amendment, but the Supreme Court overruled. Consistent with prior decisions limiting free speech for students in public schools, school administrators may prevent language in schools promoting illegal drug use.

The trial of former Senator Ted Stevens also put Alaskan law under the national spotlight. According to a state statute, a sitting senator may only be removed for felonies involving moral turpitude. Moral turpitude generally means crimes of dishonesty, but many commentators were nonetheless unsure of whether Senator Steven’s crimes fit the Alaskan definition. He later lost the election, making the question moot.

If you need an attorney in Alaska, consider visiting LegalMatch.com to help you find the right lawyer for your case. Or, feel free to peruse the following links for more information on Alaska law:

• Alaska Court System Homepage
• Alaska State Court Law Library
• Directory of Alaska Bar Associations