Palau seeks four assistant attorneys general

The Office of the Attorney General in Palau is hiring four assistant attorneys general for civil and criminal divisions in Koror. The roles offer U.S.-style legal practice, pay up to $90,000, and a rare chance to work in one of the Pacific’s top dive destinations.

Why it matters: - Palau is trying to fill legal roles that support its growing civil and criminal caseload. - The openings may appeal to U.S.-based lawyers because Palau’s legal system is largely consistent with the United States. - The jobs combine legal work with an overseas posting in Koror, the country’s largest city and commercial center. - Compensation, housing-adjacent travel support, and leave benefits could make the positions competitive for experienced attorneys.

What happened: - The Office of the Attorney General, Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Palau, is seeking four assistant attorney general hires. - Two openings are in the Civil Division and two are in the Criminal Division. - The positions are located in Koror. - The recruitment effort was announced in Koror, Palau, on September 1, 2026.

The details: - Qualified applicants must hold a Juris Doctor or equivalent law degree from an ABA-accredited institution. - Applicants must have active membership in good standing with a recognized bar in any jurisdiction. - The office is looking for attorneys with three to 10 or more years of experience. - Prior litigation experience, strong writing and analytical skills are preferred. - Eligible attorneys may be admitted to practice in Palau without taking a local bar examination for a limited time, consistent with Palauan law and court rules. - Compensation ranges from $70,000 to $90,000 U.S., depending on experience and position type. - Recruitment and repatriation costs are included, along with airfare and a household goods shipping allowance back to the U.S. - Initial contracts run two years and may be renewed. - Benefits include up to five weeks of vacation and 2.5 weeks of sick leave. - Koror has a population of 11,400. - The jobs are being promoted by SGD Advertising with six months of print and digital ads in California Diving News and Scuba Diver North America. - Inquiries should use the subject line “AAG Palau” and go to Ernestine K. Rengiil at the Office of the Attorney General in Palau. - Contact options include email, WhatsApp at +680 775-2429, and call or text at +680 488-2481/2847.

Between the lines: - Palau is leaning on its U.S.-aligned legal framework to attract experienced attorneys from abroad. - The pitch is not just professional. It also markets the lifestyle, including world-class scuba diving and a low cost of living relative to the U.S. - The use of dive-industry advertising suggests the recruitment effort is targeting lawyers who may already have an affinity for Palau. - Melanie McDonald, the most recent AAG Civil Division hire from Houston, said she moved to Palau in July 2025 and has logged more than 250 dives in her first year. - McDonald said the job lets her work weekdays and dive on weekends and holidays, and that she lives five minutes from both the office and dive shops.

What's next: - Interested attorneys can review the vacancy PDFs for the criminal and civil openings: Palau Criminal AAG Vacancy, 2026 and Palau Civil AAG Vacancy, 2026. - Palau is also directing prospective applicants to more information about diving in Palau. - Media inquiries and interview requests go to Gil Zeimer at gil@sgdadvertising.com or 1-415-246-6072.

The bottom line: - Palau is recruiting four attorneys with a mix of professional experience and island-living appeal, offering U.S.-style legal work in a rare Pacific posting.