Attorney Job Openings in Paradise:
Open Water Divers Are Invited to Apply.
Ernestine K. Rengiil, The Office of the Attorney General, Ministry of Justice, Republic of Palau, is seeking to recruit Two Assistant Attorneys General and Two Division Chiefs (Criminal and Civil).
(See below for the individual PDF job listings.)
As a Freely Associated State, the Republic’s legal system is largely consistent with that of the United States, and U.S.-based attorneys or those with practice experience in U.S. courts are encouraged to apply. They can be admitted to practice for four years without examination.
All positions are located in the Office of the Attorney General of the Republic of Palau in Koror. With a population of 11,000, it’s Palau’s commercial center and largest city. Renewal, recruitment, and repatriation costs (including airfare and household goods shipping allowance back to the U.S.) are included upon completion of two-year contracts.
Applicants must hold a J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school or a law degree from a law school accredited by the prevailing accrediting agency of the jurisdiction, be an active member in good standing of the bar (any jurisdiction), and have 3-10 years or more experience as a lawyer. Prior litigation experience, strong writing, and analytical skills are preferred.
Compensation is based on experience and position type, ranging from $50,000 to $100,000 U.S. to escape the rat race so you can live and work in paradise. Up to five weeks vacation time and 2.5 weeks of sick leave are also included.
About Palau for Scuba Divers
The Jewel of Micronesia, the lush islands of Palau are a pristine paradise where scuba divers can experience warm tropical waters. It’s home to over 60 dive sites and 60 wrecks featuring more than 700 species of coral, 17 thriving species of shark, and over 1,300 species of reef fish. Offering the most diverse marine life anywhere in Micronesia, Palau is rated annually as one of the “Top Three” dive sites anywhere in the world. Visit https://www.pristineparadisepalau.com.
For Further Information About These Attorney Openings
Send inquiries with the subject line “AAG Palau” or “Division Chief Palau” to Ernestine K. Rengiil: ekrengiil57@gmail.com, call WhatsApp + 680 775-2429, or call +680 488-2481/2847.
For Media Inquiries
Contact Gary Hanauer, garyhanauer@gmail.com, or call/text 510-813-4482.
The details of the four job vacancies are below:
Palau: Criminal AAG Vacancy, 2025 (PDF)
Palau: Criminal Division Chief Vacancy, 2025 (PDF)
Palau: Civil AAG Vacancy, 2025 (PDF)
Palau: Civil Division Chief Vacancy, 2025 (PDF)
Media Coverage:
https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/programs/pacificbeat/lawyer-shortage/105087456
ABC Radio Australia, Pacific Beat: Sun 23 Mar 2025 at 1:00pm
Palau’s Attorney General looking for lawyers “who like swimming with sharks”
Palau’s Attorney General Ernestine Rengiil is looking to capitalise on Palau’s reputation as a world-class scuba diving destination to address a shortage of lawyers in her office.
She’s put an ad in a dive magazine that features pictures of sharks and the tagline, “Wanted: Four Attorneys Who Like Swimming With The Sharks”, and inviting people to “live and work in paradise”.
“It’s become very difficult to find lawyers,” said Ms Rengiil.
“I was having a hard time advertising in lawyers magazines … so somebody suggested do a dive magazine, there are a lot of lawyers who love to dive and maybe you’ll get applicants.”