Paralegal 1 (with in-training from LA3), Regional Services, WA State Office of the Attorney General

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.Position and Salary

The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) is recruiting for a full-time, permanent Paralegal 1 position. This position will be based in Everett, Washington with our Regional Services Division. This position is represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE). An in-training option from Legal Assistant 3 is available. 

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. 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.

Salary
Paralegal 1
Paralegal 1 candidates will be set within Range 51, $55,836 - $75,108 (annual).
 
Legal Assistant 3
If you start as an in-training candidate at the Legal Assistant 3 level, your salary range will be $49,428 - $66,372 (Range 46).

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 42.9 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. 

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
• Research legal issues and evaluate the facts of the cases
• Coordinate the preparation for litigation
• Track status of cases from summons to trial
• Draft legal notices

A few positions within the AGO have exposure to information that requires staff be screened and pass a fingerprint-based background check. A Paralegal 1 candidate could be hired into one of the affected positions and thus this provides notice that you may be subject to a fingerprint background check and be subject to additional background checks as a condition of employment. 

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.

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.

About the Regional Services Division – Everett

The Regional Services Division of the WA State Attorney’s Office seeks candidates for the Everett office. Located on the Puget Sound, Everett is approximately 25 miles north of Seattle. One of seven offices of the Regional Services Division, the Everett office provides a wide variety of legal services for a number of different client agencies, including the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF), Department of Labor and Industries (L&I), and Department of Licensing. The office also represents education institutions, including Everett and Edmonds community colleges. The professional staff members and AAGs in Regional Services operate in a highly independent environment (we are our own "General Services") while also working as an integrated part of the AGO. The seven offices that make up the RSD share this vision: The Regional Services Division (RSD) is committed to the mission, vision, and values of the Attorney General's Office (AGO).  To maintain high quality legal services throughout the state: RSD is the "face" of the AGO in the communities we serve.  Every day, our actions display effective work by the government. We will capitalize on our similarities, adopting practices based on the successes of other RSD Sections to give efficient legal services, and still respect the places where we have thoughtfully decided to take different approaches around the Division. RSD will persistently tell the story of the contributions we make to the office and to our communities to the larger office and relentlessly consider our own effectiveness to maximize the expertise and skill that we offer as a resource to each other and to the rest of the AGO.   

About the 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

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. Examples of paraprofessional experience in support of an attorney include:

• Preparing legal pleadings and legal correspondence
• Ensuring and verifying timely and proper service of legal documents
• Calculating, verifying, and calendaring critical events and other dates
• Managing case documents, files and exhibits
• Tracking and organizing discovery documents
• Researching legal issues and verifying legal citations and references for accuracy

Supplemental Information and 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.
• The Washington State Office of the Attorney General does not use the E-Verify system; therefore, we are not eligible to extend STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT). For more information, please visit www.uscis.gov.

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 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. 

For questions regarding this recruitment or assistance with the application process, please contact the recruitment team at HREmployment@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.