Alaina Koltash

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Artificial intelligence. Election deepfakes. Education. Energy. Environmental policy.

Those are just some of the issues Alaina Koltash ‘10 tackles as deputy general counsel in the Governor's Office of General Counsel, where she helps shape legislation that affects Pennsylvanians every day.

It's the career she imagined years ago as a high school student. Getting there, however, required determination.

Graduating from Widener University Commonwealth Law School during the height of the Great Recession, when government hiring had nearly stalled, Koltash refused to let the job market dictate her future. After traditional applications led nowhere, she wrote a letter to the chief counsel of every Commonwealth agency, hoping someone would give her a chance.

One of those letters landed her a law clerk position with the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Within months, she earned a full-time attorney role, the first step in a public service career that has taken her to one of Pennsylvania's most influential legal offices.

"I wanted to work in government, but almost no one was hiring at the time," Koltash said. "After not having luck applying through the 'proper' channels, I wrote a letter to every chief counsel of an agency in the Commonwealth."

Today, much of Koltash's work happens before legislation ever becomes law. She collaborates with the governor's policy, legislative and budget offices to develop proposals, review legislation moving through the General Assembly and advise on the legal issues behind major policy initiatives. Once bills reach the governor's desk, she helps prepare them to be signed, vetoed or allowed to become law without a signature.

Much of her recent work has focused on artificial intelligence, including legislation involving election deepfakes, AI companions and consumer protections.

Long before she ever worked in the Capitol, Koltash had already envisioned a career in government.

Growing up in Meadville, Pennsylvania, she was fascinated by the intersection of government and the law. While studying political science and journalism at Penn State University, that interest continued to grow. But it was an assignment in high school that now seems almost prophetic.

"In high school, my (advanced placement) English teacher asked us to write letters to ourselves in 10 years," she said. "My letter predicted that I would be a lawyer who worked in government, and that ultimately proved to be true."

The goal eventually led her to Widener University Commonwealth Law School, which already felt familiar after watching Jonathan Koltash ’07, her now-husband, complete his legal education there.

"I had a front-row seat to the student experience and got a genuine sense of the supportive, practical and close-knit community Widener offers," she said.

Moot court proved especially valuable, giving her practical skills she still relies on years later.

"As a young government attorney, I prepared for my first oral argument in Commonwealth Court the same way I prepared for my moot court competition," she said.

One commitment from law school has remained a constant throughout her career.

Koltash joined the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program during her first year and completed her 19th tax season with the organization this year, helping community members prepare their tax returns.

"The program offers such a valuable service to the community," she said. "Our clients are so appreciative that they come back year after year."

She also credits Professors Michael Hussey, Robyn Meadows, Randy Lee, John Dernbach and Jill Family with building the legal foundation she still relies on today.

Outside the Governor's Office, Koltash has continued investing in the legal profession. She serves as chair of Pennsylvania's delegation to the Uniform Law Commission, is active in the Pennsylvania Bar Association and remains involved with the James S. Bowman Inn of Court, organizations she says have helped her grow as both a lawyer and a leader.

If there's one piece of advice Koltash offers students interested in government service, it's simple: network.

She learned that lesson early in her career.

While working as a law clerk, she attended a Pennsylvania Bar Association event honoring the Office of General Counsel's new general counsel. She introduced herself, shared that she hoped to stay with the office and made sure he received her résumé.

That conversation helped fast-track her path to a permanent attorney position.

"I find that many students either underestimate the power of networking or are not sure where to start," she said. "The truth is it can be as simple as showing up to a legal event and starting a conversation with someone."

Looking back, Koltash says government practice gave her the opportunity to explore many different areas of law before discovering where she could make the greatest impact.

"I knew I wanted to work in public service, but I didn't have a specific specialty in mind," she said. "I had the chance to do a bit of everything, litigation, legislation, contracts, board counsel work and client counseling. That exposure helped me identify what I enjoyed most and ultimately guided me toward my later roles."

That willingness to embrace new opportunities, combined with a strong work ethic, has shaped her career.

"Being a hard worker is the most critical skill for any attorney," she said. "You can overcome almost any other deficit if you're willing to put in the effort."

Interview conducted in Summer 2026.