Paralegal 1, Regional Services Division, 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 is recruiting for three permanent full-time Paralegal 1 positions in the Regional Services Division. These positions are located in Kennewick, Washington. With the exception of a few, most of the positions are represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE). 

Paralegal 1 (Range 51) salary range: $55,836 – $75,108 /annually.
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 a position designated as requiring dual language skills will receive a 5% Dual Language Requirement Pay stipend.

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 telework options for most positions, a Wellness Program, the Employee Assistance Program, and numerous affinity groups to foster community and connection.
  
 
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. 
 
 
About the Regional Services Division in Kennewick
The seven offices of the Regional Services Division are the "face of the AGO" in communities across the state.  These offices provide a wide variety of legal services for a number of different client agencies, such as the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF), Department of Labor and Industries (L&I), Employment Security Department and Department of Licensing.  The offices also represent education institutions, including Western Washington University, as well as local community and technical colleges:  Peninsula, Whatcom, Bellingham Technical, Skagit Valley, Everett, Edmonds, Clark, Lower Columbia, Walla Walla, Columbia Basin, Yakima Valley and Wenatchee Valley.  The Regional Services Division also represents and advises the Center for Childhood Deafness and Hearing Loss, the School for the Blind, and several Educational Service Districts.  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.

 
Paralegal 1 Position Description and Job Duties  
Our Paralegal 1 staff provide critical support for Assistant Attorneys General in 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 cases, coordinate the preparation for litigation, track status of cases from summons to trial, and draft legal notices.
    
 If you are interested in a dynamic career that protects the interests of the people of Washington, please apply and become part of our team.
  
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.
  
 
Required Qualifications
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.
 
 
Preferred Qualifications
The most competitive candidates will possess the following skills and abilities:
Demonstrated knowledge of and experience in: 

• Experience in local court processes and procedures
• Proficiency in e-filing
• Reasonable understanding of state and federal regulations pertaining to HIPAA
• Knowledge of Paralegal processes and procedures
• Experience in all components of trial preparation
• Experience in state and federal courts filing procedures
• Utilization of court systems, i.e., Odyssey, JIS/JABS
• Understand the components of electronic discovery processes

Demonstrated Ability to: 

• Demonstrate accuracy and efficiency in daily work assignments
• Calendaring and reviewing data for upcoming tasks or assignments for various deadlines determined by local court rules
• Effectively communicate in both written and verbal forms
• Ability to problem solve and implement decision-making skills in the daily performance of work assignments 
• Multi-task and/or shift priorities to conduct necessary business
• Work independently
• Research and comply with state and agency policies and procedures
• Effectively use Microsoft Office Suite applications, case management systems, and databases
• Willingness to work as a team, demonstrating cooperation and compromise

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 2025 "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 Talent Acquisition 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 orwww.washingtonrelay.com. 
 
For questions regarding this recruitment or assistance with the application process, please contactHREmployment@atg.wa.gov.  If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing or completing your application, please call NEOGOV toll-free at 855-524-5627 orsupport@neogov.com.