Assistant Attorney General - Torts Division, Multiple Locations

Persons requiring reasonable accommodation in the application process or requiring information in an alternative format may contact the recruitment team at HREmployment@atg.wa.gov. 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.    

Join the Torts Division - Defending Those Who Serve the People of Washington Everyday

Do you want the opportunity to try civil cases to juries?

Do you want a diverse trial and appellate practice in state and federal court?

Do you want to practice on the cutting edge of torts law in Washington?

If you answered “yes” to any of those questions, and you are interested in joining a collaborative team of dedicated attorneys, paralegals, and investigators, then you should apply to the Torts Division today!

The Torts Division, the largest division in the Washington Attorney General’s Office, has immediate openings for trial attorneys eager to practice in state and federal courts throughout Washington. The Torts Division represents the State agencies and State employees who do the hard work of serving the citizens of Washington when they are sued for damages. Attorneys in the Torts Division, with support from professional staff, including paralegals and investigators, handle cases from inception through resolution, involving diverse clients and theories of liability, with continuous support, training, and development. If you are interested in growing and developing as an oral and written advocate, working on challenging issues and cases, and belonging to a dedicated and supportive team, then the Torts Division is the place for you.

The Torts Division has offices in Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia (Tumwater), and Spokane. The Torts Division also provides opportunities for telework in a hybrid work environment.

More Information About the Attorney General’s Office 

All employees and volunteers of the Washington State Attorney General's Office serve a crucial role in the protection of the state, its people and resources, thereby providing an incomparable degree of job satisfaction. The AGO is composed of diverse, collegial and supremely talented legal professionals who are resolute in their commitment to public service and share the common goal of advancing the public interest. For more information about the AGO, we encourage you to review the Office's Annual Report which can be found HERE and view THIS VIDEO.

Benefit and Compensation Details

The Office appreciates the benefits of a healthy life-work balance as well as a respectful, inclusive and diverse workplace. Successful candidates will join an Office in which every person is committed to providing exceptional legal services and where individual professional development is encouraged and supported. The exceptional benefits of joining the AGO include: 

• Competitive salary, which may be negotiable within the given salary range ($89,784 - $149,508). Salaries are set in accordance with Appendix B of the AWAAG CBA schedule set forth below.
• Longevity pay of 5% premium on top of base wages after 5 years with the Attorney General’s Office.
• A competitive benefit package that includes:
  • Affordable medical plan options, including vision benefits,
  • Dental benefits covered 100%
  • Retirement plan (employee/employer contribution)
  • Deferred Compensation Plan
• 11 paid holidays and 1 personal holiday
• 8 hours sick leave accrual per month
• 9.33 hours to start, then up to 16.67 hours of annual leave accrual per month (based on years of state service)
• Flex schedules and telecommuting options
• The AGO will pay the general bar dues of someone who begins their assignment on or before January 31st per the AWAAG CBA
• Qualifying Employer for Public Loan Forgiveness Program
• A formal AAG mentoring program that complements the AGO's inherently collegial and supportive environment
• Health and wellness program
• Training and career development program that provides CLE credits and is recognized for its excellence and efficacy by AGOs nationwide

Assistant Attorneys General Salary Schedule –No applicant for this position will be placed lower than step 5 on the schedule. This position is seeking attorneys with at least five years of legal experience as noted in the qualifications below.

More About the Torts Division

The Torts Division defends tort claims and lawsuits against all state agencies, officers, and employees arising from acts or omissions while performing, or in good faith purporting to perform, official duties. Torts attorneys also provide legal and risk management advice to the Office of Financial Management and state agencies on tort matters. The caseload for a Torts attorney typically includes a variety of cases involving different agencies and diverse theories of liability, including, for example, alleged failures to protect a child from abuse or neglect by the Department of Children, Youth, and Families, alleged failures to supervise individuals released from incarceration by the Department of Corrections, alleged negligent road design or maintenance by the Department of Transportation, and false arrest or excessive use of force by the Washington State Patrol. Torts attorneys handle many other types of cases, as well, including premises liability, medical negligence, employment discrimination and retaliation, motor vehicle accidents, and maritime injuries on Washington State ferries. With hundreds of departments, agencies, boards, and commissions, and ever-developing theories of tort liability, there is always something new for the attorneys in the Torts Division!

Attorneys in the Torts Division are responsible for maintaining and applying a comprehensive knowledge of procedural and substantive law, for working productively with client agencies, for developing and executing legal strategy, for engaging in all aspects of affirmative and defensive discovery, for timely and effective communication of case developments, for leading their trial team of professional staff, for conducting jury and bench trials, and for handling appeals. The work of the Torts Division is demanding, stimulating, and rewarding, and attorneys who enjoy working on leading-edge legal issues involving State liability thrive here. While their work is challenging, fast-paced, and diverse, Torts attorneys appreciate the balance afforded by a collegial team environment, dedicated professional support staff, and other litigation resources provided by the Torts Division and the AGO.

If you have strong analytical, advocacy, and problem-solving skills, enjoy working with other professionals, have a good sense of humor, and believe that communication and respect are critical to success in any endeavor, then you have the attributes that the Torts Divisions values in its attorneys.

In addition to meeting the qualifications to serve as an Assistant Attorney General, qualified applicants will offer the following:

• At least five years of experience practicing as a licensed attorney;
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills;
• Good problem-solving skills;
• Excellent legal judgment; and
• The interest and ability to work well in a collaborative team environment with litigation support and investigative staff, client agencies and risk managers, the Office of Risk Management, and other attorneys in the Torts Division and the AGO.

Ideal candidates will also offer experience in the following areas: 

• Five or more years of progressive legal experience, including a strong foundation in civil litigation;
• Taking and defending depositions;
• Handling an active, civil motions practice;
• Working with expert witnesses;
• Engaging in alternative dispute resolution;
• Trying cases in state and/or federal court;
• Briefing and arguing cases on appeal;
• Interacting with high-level client representatives; and
• Working with people with diverse backgrounds, experience, and communication styles.

Torts litigation experience, while advantageous, is not essential.

Relevant subject matter experience is preferred but not required.

Applicants must have graduated from a law school accredited by the ABA or completed the WSBA's Rule 6 Law Clerk Program; and be licensed to practice law in Washington state. (Applicants who meet the other stated qualifications and are actively pursuing admission by motion will also be considered.) The AGO seeks applicants who are committed to public service as demonstrated by an applicant's background, talents, attitude, and enthusiasm for public law practice. The AGO greatly encourages, celebrates and values diversity, appreciating that a workforce composed of those from different backgrounds and experiences creates an inclusive environment, strengthens positive relationships with the local community and brings new perspectives and approaches to fulfill its mission of providing excellent, independent and ethical legal services to the State of Washington and protecting the rights of its people.

This Assistant Attorney General position is represented by the Association of Washington Assistant Attorneys General (AWAAG) / Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) AFSCME Council 28, AFL-CIO. The AAG salary for this position will be set between $89,784 and $149,508. The exact amount is negotiable and will be set in accordance with Appendix B of the AWAAG CBA. The salary of an employee whose official duty station is Seattle would reflect 5% King County Assignment Pay per legislative action.  A competitive state benefits package is also offered which includes a choice of medical/dental insurance plans, retirement, life and basic long-term disability insurance.  In addition, there are non-financial benefits that include working in a collaborative and supportive work environment where professional development and work-life balance are highly valued.  The health, safety and professional satisfaction of all AGO staff and volunteers is critical to fulfilling the mission of the AGO to provide exceptional legal services. Complementing and fostering this goal is a long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship, as evidenced in the AGO's environmental policies. 

• A letter of interest;
• Resume;
• Law school transcript (unofficial copy is acceptable); and
• Writing sample (no more than 10 pages).

If you have questions about this position and/or want to learn more about it before applying, we welcome and encourage you to contact Division Chief Scott Barbara at scott.barbara@atg.wa.gov.

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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 age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, national origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability 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 HREmployment@atg.wa.gov. 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.