My Resume
Law Office of Guy M. Kerner, Anchorage, Alaska. July 2004 - Present. For about a decade and a half, I have run my own law office. This office began after I left the Alaska Public Defender Agency in June of 2004 after seven years with the Agency. My private practice has primarily focused on all aspects of family law. This practice has included divorce, custody, dissolution, domestic violence, mental health, mental health court, Permanent Fund Dividend, child support, criminal law (especially if connected to a family law matter), property, tax and child in need of aid. I have had multiple trials, mediations, settlement conferences and Supreme Court appeals in this practice. I am involved with the “Early Resolution Project” or “ERP” with the Alaska Court System and I work with the Alaska Pro Bono Program. In my practice I have had cases in Anchorage, Palmer, Kenai, Fairbanks, Sitka, Juneau and other venues across the State of Alaska.
Mendel Colbert & Associates, Anchorage, Alaska. October 2007 - July 2008. I worked as an associate for this family law firm. I handled evidentiary hearings, trials, pleadings, motion practice, some social security disability claims and hearings.
Alaska Public Defender Agency, Kenai / Anchorage, Alaska. May 1997 – June 2004. I was hired as an Attorney for the Kenai Public Defender Agency in May of 1997. In Kenai I handled half of all the criminal misdemeanors and half the Child In Need of Aid (CINA) cases on the Kenai Peninsula. I also had a travelling calendar that included Homer and Seward Alaska. In 1999 I transferred to the family law unit or “CINA Section” in the Anchorage Public Defender Agency. From 1999 until the summer of 2003 I practiced exclusively in the area of CINA as well as occasional Alaska Psychiatric Institute commitment hearings and Delinquency matters. I also wrote an appeal during this period of time. For the last year at the Anchorage PDs I transferred to the misdemeanor unit at the Anchorage PD office. During my time practicing criminal law with this agency I conducted multiple jury trials for my misdemeanor case load. For CINA cases I handled more evidentiary hearings and trials than I can count. Also while working on CINA cases I was involved in mediations through the court system as well as some trainings for OCS workers and court system magistrates regarding CINA matters – especially regarding the probable cause hearing phase of the CINA process.
Alaska Legal Services Corporation, Fairbanks, Alaska 1994-1997. After graduating from Law School, I worked for the Fairbanks office of Alaska Legal Services Corporation (ALSC) as a Law Clerk and worked house construction and subdivision development during the summers. At ALSC I assisted indigent clients with divorces, custody, Social Security and Medicaid hearings and appeals. I researched and wrote memoranda for attorneys regarding Mining Law, Native Allotments, Native Sovereignty, Constitutional Law, Divorce, Custody, Child Support, Military Law, the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend and Civil Procedure.
Law Clerk and Internships
Law Offices of Robert John, Fairbanks, Alaska. 1997
Law Offices of Douglas L. Blankenship, Fairbanks, Alaska. 1996
Public Defender Agency, Fairbanks, Alaska. Summer 1992
Birch, Horton, Bittner and Cherot, Fairbanks, Alaska. Summer 1991
EDUCATION
American University, Washington College of Law, Washington, D.C.
Juris Doctor 1990-1993
University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Alaska.
Basic Accounting Series 1988-1989
University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon.
Second through Fourth years. Bachelor of Arts, Political Science Major, English Minor 1984-1987
University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Alaska.
First year, 1983-1984
Austin E. Lathrop High School, Fairbanks, Alaska.
High School Diploma 1983
INTERESTS & OTHER
In the past I was an avid mountain biker and cross country skier. These interests are still part of my life but as I have gotten older they have become less prevalent. My primary interests outside of the office are my family, gardening and classical piano. I was admitted to the University of Oregon through its School of Music.