Rob Perkins, Esq.
Rob is a founding member and Executive Director of ALIJ.
Immediately before becoming ALIJ’s first full-time staff member in the summer of 2025, Rob built a successful private law practice that he operated for 10 years. There he focused on complex state and federal criminal defense, including trials, appeals, and post-conviction litigation. Rob’s cases have been cited dozens of times in local and national news stories.
Rob frequently authors articles in legal journals and teaches continuing education courses for lawyers. He’s also published articles advocating for criminal legal reform in the Tribune-Review, Pittsburgh Institute for Nonprofit Journalism, New Pittsburgh Courier, and Post-Gazette.
Along his path to ALIJ, Rob graduated at the top of his class at Duquesne (Kline) Law School in 2005. At Duquesne, Rob served as Executive Comment Editor of the Law Review and Chair of the Public Interest Law Association, and was awarded multiple awards upon graduation.
Throughout his career, Rob has had the opportunity to serve in a variety of roles in the education, government, non-profit, and private sectors – including stints as an adjunct professor at Duquesne Law School, a public defender in Allegheny County, a consumer rights advocate in Massachusetts, and a product liability litigator at a leading civil law firm. In 2024, Rob was the recipient of the Duquesne Kline Public Interest Alumni Award, and was proud to be recognized along with fellow ALIJ co-founder Turahn Jenkins.
In addition his role at ALIJ, Rob serves on several boards, including service as vice-chair of Allegheny County’s Jail Oversight Board