Alaska What Is a Guardian Ad Item? (GAL) is a type of court-appointed representative who serves as a voice for the best interests of a child or incapacitated adult in legal proceedings. The GAL is usually a lawyer or another trained professional who has the responsibility of advocating for the person involved in the case. The GAL is tasked with gathering information about the person’s background, needs, and preferences to help the court make decisions that are in the best interest of the person. There are two types of Gals in Alaska: court-appointed Gals and privately appointed Gals. Court-appointed Gals are assigned to a case by the court and are paid by the state, while privately appointed Gals are appointed by a private party and are paid privately.