Description
Persons requiring reasonable accommodation in the application process or requiring information in an alternative format may contact the recruitment team at [email protected]. Those with a hearing impairment in need of accommodation are encouraged to contact the Washington Relay Service at 1-800-676-3777 or www.washingtonrelay.com.
Position and Salary
The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) is recruiting for a permanent Paralegal 1 position. This position is based in Seattle, WA and will support the Labor & Industries Division. This position is represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) and an in-training option from Legal Assistant 3 is available.
If you are a legal support professional looking for a supportive, collaborative environment where you can contribute meaningfully to Washington State’s legal matters, we invite you to consider joining our team as a Paralegal 1 OR Legal Assistant 3 with a six month in-training program to Paralegal 1.
The AGO provides a workplace that is understanding of work-life balance and promotes advancement by offering a wide variety of professional development and growth opportunities.
Salary
Paralegal 1
Paralegal 1 candidates will be set within Range 51, $54,204 - $72,924 (annual).
Legal Assistant 3
If you start as an in-training candidate at the Legal Assistant 3 level, your salary range will be $45,732 - $61,404 (Range 44).
Note: Legal Assistant 3s assigned to work within King County receive Group C Assignment Pay in addition to their base pay. Group C pay is a limited premium and applies only at the Legal Assistant 3 classification, ending at the time of promotion into the Paralegal 1 goal classification.
- King County Legal Assistant 3s – 15% Group C Assignment Pay
For both Paralegal 1 and Legal Assistant 3
The base pay offered will take into account internal equity and may vary depending on the preferred candidate’s job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.
When promoting from the Legal Assistant 3 classification to the Paralegal 1 classification, Article 42.10 of the WFSE CBA or WAC 357-28-110 will be applied to your base salary.
In addition to the base pay salary, the following types of assignment pay may be applied when:
- Incumbents assigned to a position designated as requiring dual language skills will receive a 5% Dual Language Requirement Pay.
- Incumbents assigned to our Seattle office location receive an additional 5% King County Location Pay.
In-Training Defined
An in-training is on-the-job instruction designed for candidates with less experience than the required goal classification to learn and grow into a higher-level role. In this job posting, we are open to considering those eligible at the Legal Assistant 3 level who are interested in learning on-the-job with the goal of moving into the Paralegal 1 role. You’ll gain the competencies and skills needed to successfully perform your duties while being supported by your supervisor, manager, and coworkers. Upon successful completion of your training and demonstrating knowledge of the position requirements, you will be promoted into the Paralegal 1 level.
Excellent Benefits
Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation, including Medical/Dental/Vision for employees & dependent(s); Vacation, Sick, and Other Leave; 11 Paid Holidays per year; Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) plans; and Life Insurance. Beyond these traditional benefits, we offer Dependent Care Assistance, Flexible Spending Accounts, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver, Deferred Compensation, Employee Recognition Leave, and more. With the goal of employee health and wellness, we also offer:
- Flexible schedules and part-time/hybrid telework options;
- A Wellness Program, an Infants in the Workplace Program, and the Employee Assistance Program, which provides counseling, webinar, and other cost-free support resources;
- Numerous employee-driven affinity groups to foster community and connection, including Bereavement, Elder Care, Parenting, POC, LGBTQ+, Veterans and more. The AGO is a place to belong and make a difference!
Position Description
Our paralegal 1 staff provide critical support to Assistant Attorneys General (AAGs) in the litigation of state matters, preparing for trial, and applying knowledge of court rules related to legal practice, subject matter, and court filing procedures in civil and appellate matters. As a Paralegal 1, you may be entrusted to perform some of the following duties:
- Analyze facts
- Compose documents and pleadings
- Schedule and/or interview witnesses
- Coordinate the preparation for litigation
- Track status of cases from summons to trial
- Draft legal notices
Specific to the Labor & Industries Division, you may also:
- Proofread and format documents and pleadings in accordance with court rules and AGO style guidelines
- Prepare and file documents with the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals and the Office of Administrative Hearings, in addition to work at the superior court and appellate court levels.
- Maintain electronic case files and utilize the Filevine case management system to docket case activity and calendar case related deadlines and events.
If you are interested in furthering your legal support career and want to have a direct impact on the people of Washington, the AGO is the place for you.
This recruitment announcement may be used to fill multiple open positions for the same classification, in addition to the position(s) listed in this announcement.
Division Information – Labor & Industries, Seattle
The Labor and Industries Division (LNI) is a dynamic, diverse, inclusive, and collegial division. All of the LNI Division’s 120+ staff are respected for their individual contributions and attributes, and all share the same commitment to serving the public by providing excellent legal services in support of their client’s mission to: protect workers, preserve the industrial insurance accident fund, and help injured workers heal and return to work. LNI represents and advises the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) regarding worker safety and health standards and citations, workers' compensation benefits, crime victims’ claims, worker fraud, and employer appeals of assessments of worker’s compensation premiums, which are litigated before the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals. LNI also represents and advises L&I on questions about fair wages and prevailing wage requirements, contractor and building issues, electrical citations, WISHA discrimination cases, and other issues for workers and employers. The division handles a wide variety of cases from entry level to highly complex matters and has a robust appellate litigation program. The work touches all businesses and workers in Washington and is of central importance to the business economy of our state.
The Seattle LNI Section strives to make professional growth a priority and allow staff to develop their skills in areas of law that interest them, while still meeting the business needs of the section. With such a diverse practice, our professional staff are continuously engaged in challenging and interesting work. Opportunities to learn and achieve professional growth through experience, mentorship and training are encouraged and supported. Our teams consist of attorneys, paralegals, and legal assistants.
Agency Information – Washington State Office of the Attorney General
The work of the AGO touches the lives of every resident in Washington, providing excellent, independent, and ethical legal services to the State and protecting the rights of its people. We serve more than 230 state agencies, boards, commissions, colleges and universities, as well as the Legislature and the Governor. The Office is comprised of nearly 700 attorneys and 800 professional staff, all working together to deliver the highest quality professional legal services to Washington state officials, agencies, and entities. This includes:
- Economic justice and consumer protections (safeguarding consumers, protecting youth, seniors, and other vulnerable populations)
- Social justice and civil rights (addressing discrimination, environmental protection, and veteran and military resources)
- Criminal justice and public safety (investigative and prosecutorial support, financial crimes)
- And much more!
Our agency also has national reach, representing the State of Washington before the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals and trial courts in all cases that involve the state’s interest. If you want to make a difference, we may be the perfect fit for you! Learn more about the AGO here.
Qualifications
Entering at the Legal Assistant 3 Level with In-Training to Paralegal 1:
Combination of two years of experience* through:
- Paralegal certification
- Two-year paralegal degree
- Paralegal plus (or nine-month paralegal, post BA) certification,
and/or
- Paraprofessional experience in support of an attorney
- You may have gained applicable paraprofessional experience through previous Paralegal or Legal Assistant work.
Entering at the Paralegal 1 Level:
Combination of three years of experience* through:
- Paralegal certification
- Two-year paralegal degree
- Paralegal plus (or nine-month paralegal, post BA) certification,
and/or
- Paraprofessional experience in support of an attorney
- You may have gained applicable paraprofessional experience through previous Paralegal or Legal Assistant work.
Application Instructions
In addition to completing the online application, applicants must attach the following documents to their profile in order to be considered for this position:
- A letter of interest, describing your specific qualifications for the position
- A current resume detailing experience and education
Read the following information completely:
- You may not reapply to this posting for 30 days.
- The initial screening of applications will be solely based on the contents and completeness of the "work experience" and "education" sections of your application in www.careers.wa.gov.
- A resume will not substitute for completing the "work experience" section of the application.
- Please be sure to remove private information such as your Social Security number, date of birth, etc.
- All information may be verified and documentation may be required.
Commitment to Diversity
Diversity is critical to the success of the mission of the AGO and we are committed to building an anti-racist and equitable agency. It is our goal to identify, discuss, and challenge racial inequity in the workplace and the impact it has on our employees, and, within our authority, combat racism that impacts the people of the State of Washington. This means recognizing, respecting, and appreciating all cultures and backgrounds- and fostering the inclusion of differences between people. Appreciating, valuing and implementing principles of diversity permits AGO employees to achieve their fullest potential in a professional, inclusive, respectful environment.
Our commitment to employee wellness is reflected in earning the 2024 "Zo8 Washington Wellness Award".
Equal Employment Opportunity and Accommodations Requests
Honoring diversity, equity and inclusion means that as an agency, and as individuals, we are committed to ensuring that all employees and volunteers enjoy a respectful, safe and supportive working environment. Only by fostering the inclusion of people from all backgrounds, cultures and attributes, can AGO employees and volunteers achieve their fullest potential and best advance the goals and mission of the AGO. The AGO is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation/gender identity, age, disability, honorably discharged veteran or military status, retaliation or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability. Persons requiring reasonable accommodation in the application process or requiring information in an alternative format may contact the recruitment team at [email protected]. Those with a hearing impairment in need of accommodation are encouraged to contact the Washington Relay Service at 1-800-676-3777 or www.washingtonrelay.com.
For questions regarding this recruitment or assistance with the application process, please contact [email protected]. If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing or completing your application, please call NEOGOV toll-free at 855-524-5627 or [email protected].
