Salary
$52,776.00 – $69,264.00 Annually
Location
Thurston County – Olympia, WA
Job Type
Full Time – Permanent
Department
Attorney General’s Office
Job Number
2020-08154
Closing
12/31/2020 11:59 PM Pacific

The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) serves more than 230 state agencies, boards, commissions, colleges and universities, as well as the Legislature and the Governor. The mission of the AGO is to deliver the highest quality professional legal services to officials, agencies, and citizens of the state of Washington. The AGO is comprised of over 550 attorneys and 700 professional staff, who work in over 25 legal division across Washington state. Diversity is critical to the success of the mission of the AGO. It is the recognition, respect, and appreciation of all cultures and backgrounds and the fostering of the inclusion of differences between people. Appreciating, valuing and implementing principles of diversity permits AGO employees to achieve their fullest potential in an inclusive, respectful environment. The core values of the AGO are served by a strong commitment to the value of diversity and by promoting an inclusive workplace.

For more information about the AGO, we encourage you to review the Office’s newest Annual Report which can be found HERE (Download PDF reader) and view THIS VIDEO.

The Attorney General’s Office is recruiting for a permanent full time Paralegal 2 in the Public Lands and Conservation Division. This position is located in Olympia, Wa.   This position is represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE).

Note: There is the possibility of an in-training from the Paralegal 1 level.

Salary

The salary listed above is for the Paralegal 2 level. Applicants qualifying at the Paralegal 1 level will start at a salary range 50 ($47,844 – $62,748 annually) and after successful completion of the in-training will move to the Paralegal 2 range.

The Public Lands and Conservation Division provides a broad spectrum of client advice, dispute resolution, and litigation services to agency clients in legal matters before state and federal courts and administrative tribunals. The division represents the Commissioner of Public Lands, the Department of Natural Resources, the Board of Natural Resources, the Forest Practices Board, the Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the State Parks and Recreation Commission.

Duties

This position provides paralegal services to members of the Public Lands and Conservation Division. The position requires working proactively, independently, and taking self-initiative to facilitate our delivery of legal services to the client in both litigation and legal advice matters. Paralegals in this division will handle large volumes of records in litigation. Knowledge, familiarity, and comfort with complex database management systems for large volumes of electronic records (like Summation, Eclipse, or Everlaw) is encouraged.

Duties include, but are not limited to:

  • Investigate, gather, review, and organize documents.
  • Use computer databases to create, maintain, and track case-related matters, and assist in organization of complex litigation.
  • Respond to discovery requests.
  • Prepare draft discovery requests including interrogatories, requests for production, and requests for admission.
  • Assist attorneys in preparing for depositions, assist at depositions, and summarize depositions.
  • Locate and interview potential lay and expert witnesses, and attend hearings.
  • Assist in trial preparation and at trial with preparation of trial notebooks and management of witnesses, documents, exhibits, and courtroom aids.
  • Compose initial drafts of pleadings.
  • Perform legal research as assigned by attorneys, including determining whether cases remain good law, analyzing case fact situations for legal issues identification and developing legal strategy, and find relevant legislative history.
  • Critical Events Reader (screens incoming legal documents and calendars critical deadlines in Law Manager software) according to division policy
  • Track division public records responses and production, and assist with clients’ public records requests when related to on-going litigation.
  • Effectively, accurately, and professionally communicates among division and litigation team members.

Qualifications

To qualify at the Paralegal 2 level:

Option 1: Graduation from an accredited two-year paralegal program plus two years’ experience as a paralegal.

Option 2: Graduation from an accredited four-year college and completion of a nine-month paralegal program plus one year experience as a paralegal.

Option 3: Three years’ experience as a paralegal.

Option 4: Two years as a Paralegal 1.

To qualify at the Paralegal 1 level:

Option 1: Two years’ experience as a paralegal;

Option 2: Graduation from an accredited two-year paralegal course;

Option 3: Graduation from an accredited four-year college and completion of a nine-month paralegal program or one year paralegal experience.

Option 4: Three years’ experience as a legal secretary/legal assistant and 30 quarter or equivalent semester hours in non-secretarial legal courses which are normally part of a paralegal course at a college or community college.

Supplemental Information

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:

  • Carefully review your application for accuracy, spelling and grammar before submitting.
  • 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, completeness of the application material submitted, and responses to the supplemental questionnaire.
  • A resume will not substitute for completing the “work experience” section of the application.
  • All information may be verified and documentation may be required.

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.

For assistance with the application process, please contact Judith Vandergeest at (360) 586-7691 or Judith.Vandergeest@atg.wa.gov.

If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing or completing your application, please call NEOGOV toll-free at (855) 524-5627 or support@neogov.com.