Appearances, Substitution, and Withdrawal of Counsel

(a) Entry of Appearance. (1) Filing a document on behalf of a party constitutes an entry of appearance on behalf of the party; no separate entry of appearance is required. (2) A non-attorney may not appear on behalf of any other person or entity. (3) A party who has appeared by counsel may not thereafter act on the party’s own behalf in the action unless an order of withdrawal of counsel has been entered by the court.

(b) Notification of Change of Address. (1) An attorney who has entered an appearance must file and serve on all parties a notice of change of address, telephone number, and/or e-mail address within 7 days of such change. (2) Self-represented parties must keep the court and other parties advised of the party’s current address and telephone number. (3) If a court order or other mail served on a pro se plaintiff at their address of record is returned by the Postal Service as undeliverable and the pro se party has not filed a notice of change of address within 14 days of the service date of the order or other court document, the court may dismiss the action with or without prejudice for failure to prosecute pursuant to Local Civil Rule 41.1.

Local Civil Rules for the District of Alaska Effective October 15, 2025 (c) Substitution and Withdrawal. (1) A motion for leave to withdraw must be accompanied by: (A) written consent of the client; (B) substitution of counsel and formal appearance of substituting counsel; or (C) a showing of good cause. (2) Any party or attorney may oppose a motion to withdraw. (3) The court may deny the motion even if consented to or unopposed.

(4) If the withdrawal would leave the party without an attorney of record, the motion must: (A) provide the party's last known address and telephone number; and (B) the attorney proposing to withdraw must arrange a hearing and give the client at least 21 days written notice of the hearing, unless good cause is shown why a hearing should not be required. (5) Attorneys employed by a governmental entity may substitute as counsel without leave of court and without written consent of the client provided all parties to the action are immediately notified of the substitution, including the full name, mailing address, telephone number, and e-mail address of the substituting attorney. (6) Withdrawal of a Limited Entry of Appearance is governed by Local Civil Rule 83.1(c).