Supervising Paralegal 2, Social and Health Services Division, Olympia

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 is recruiting for a permanent full time Paralegal 2 in the Social & Health Services Division - Olympia. This position is located in Tumwater, Washington, and  is represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE).
 
Paralegal 2 (Range 55) salary range: $59,844 - $80,460
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.

The following stipends may apply based on position requirements:

• Incumbents assigned to our Seattle office location receive an additional 5% King County Location Pay stipend.  
• Incumbents assigned to a position designated as requiring dual language skills will receive a 5% Dual Language Requirement Pay stipend. 

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.

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!

About the Social & Health Services - Olympia:

The Social and Health and Services (SHO) division represents five state agencies including the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) and the Health Care Authority (HCA) in their missions to provide benefits, protection and care to some of our state’s most vulnerable and disenfranchised residents. The division’s 44 attorneys and 28 professional staff provide legal services, advice and representation to DSHS’s many programs and functions, including mental health services and the state psychiatric hospitals; adult protective services; home and community services for elderly and disabled individuals; service to individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities; income assistance; revenue recovery and child support; vocational rehabilitation; and the Special Commitment Center.  

Legal Highlights: Division litigation ranges from federal court class action cases involving thousands of individuals to administrative appeals involving a single individual. Recent cases include a challenge to Washington’s long-term care benefit program (the first program of its kind in the country) and a challenge to the adequacy of the state’s mental health services. Other examples of cases include contract disputes with medical providers and managed care organizations; appeals related to eligibility for certain medical services; lawsuits brought by legal advocacy organizations on behalf of Medicaid recipients and disabled individuals; complex civil rights challenges by residents of the Special Commitment Center for sexually violent predators; civil and felony commitment hearings and trials; guardianship petitions on behalf of vulnerable adults; and appeals of vulnerable adult abuse or neglect findings.

Duties and Essential Functions of a Supervising Paralegal 2: 

• Provide administrative support for court cases and administrative matters
  1. Document Preparation & Filing: Proofread, format, and finalize legal documents, ensuring accuracy. Arrange for legal messenger services using only authorized vendors approved by DES.
  2. Case Management & Processing: Enter and track legal documents in CMS, monitor case deadlines, update records, and maintain the Electronic Case File Mailbox according to protocols.
  3. Administrative & Legal Support: Schedule meetings, depositions, and conference calls; coordinate with court personnel, opposing parties, and clients; prepare attorney travel arrangements within approved per diem rates.
  4. Records & File Maintenance: Close and archive case files per AGO and divisional procedures, clean out electronic case files, and coordinate the return of physical files as needed.
• Supervise, train and coach professional staff in the performance of their assigned duties SHO Behavioral Health Sections and serve as a member of the management team. 
  1. Supervise & Manage Workloads: Plan, assign, and review staff work, adjusting distribution as needed to balance workloads. Provide training, coaching, and updated resources.
  2. Evaluate & Develop Staff: Assess staff performance, offer ongoing feedback, and support skill development while keeping supervisors informed of assignments and workload.
  3. Support Leadership & Operations: Provide backup support to Paralegal 3 and other supervisors, lead professional staff meetings, and participate in management discussions.
  4. Improve Processes & Procedures: Assist in developing office procedures and recommend improvements to enhance team efficiency and effectiveness.
• Provide technical paralegal support to attorneys in court cases and administrative proceedings.
  1. Legal Document Preparation: Draft correspondence, pleadings, and discovery materials for attorney review and signature.
  2. Trial & Litigation Support: Assist with trial preparation, including exhibit organization, trial notebooks, and coordinating witnesses. Organize jury instructions and pleadings for jury trials.
  3. Case Coordination & Communication: Confer with litigation experts, schedule meetings with clients and counsel, and provide case updates.
  4. Deadline & Case Management: Track key case events, calculate deadlines, and ensure compliance with court rules and agency policies.

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.

Qualifications: 

Research suggests that women and people of color are less likely to apply unless they are confident they meet 100% of the listed qualifications. We strongly encourage all interested individuals to apply, and allow us to evaluate your combination of knowledge, skills, and abilities demonstrated using an intentional equity lens. 

Combination of four 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

OR

• Three years’ experience as a Paralegal 1 in Washington State Service.

Examples of paraprofessional experience in support of an attorney:

• 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

About the Washington State Office of the Attorney General
 
 Join an agency whose work impacts the lives of every resident of Washington State.
 
The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) touches the lives of every resident in this state.  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.  
 
Commitment to Diversity 
Diversity is critical to the success of the mission of the AGO. 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 an inclusive, respectful environment.
 
One recent measure of the AGO's commitment to diversity can be found in its nomination for Rainbow Alliance and Inclusion Network's "Outstanding Agency Award" in 2019.  Our commitment to employee wellness is reflected in earning the 2021 Zo8 Washington Wellness Award.

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.

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.