Rob Perkins, Esq.
After spending several years operating a private practice while also devoting hundreds of hours to leading and building ALIJ, Rob closed his private practice in June 2025 to become ALIJ’s first full-time executive director.
Rob started his private practice, Rob Perkins Law, in 2016. He built a successful private public interest law firm where he devoted most of his time to representing indigent clients and advancing criminal justice reforms. Over his 20 years of practice, Rob has developed broad experience handling complex state and federal criminal cases. Rob frequently authors articles in legal journals and teaches continuing education courses for lawyers. He’s also published articles in the Tribune-Review, Pittsburgh Institute for Nonprofit Journalism, New Pittsburgh Courier, and Post-Gazette.
Throughout his career, Rob’s 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 and housing advocate in Massachusetts, and a litigator at a leading civil law firm. In addition to his role at ALIJ, Rob serves on several boards, including service as vice-chair of Allegheny County’s Jail Oversight Board. 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.
Rob is a graduate of Washington and Jefferson college, where he played varsity football. Rob later graduated at the top of his class from Duquesne (Kline) Law School. At Duquesne, Rob served as Executive Comment Editor of the Law Review and Chair of the Public Interest Law Association.
Rob and his family live in the South Hills. He’s an avid runner and reader, though he spends most of his free time cheering his kids on at youth soccer and girls’ wrestling matches. He’s the two-time winner of the Bower Hill Pool cannonball contest, an award he’s particularly proud of.