Staff Attorney

About the Washington State Office of Public Defense (OPD)

We are an independent judicial branch agency mandated to implement the constitutional and statutory guarantees of counsel and to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of indigent defense services funded by the state.

Mission: Upholding the rights of all people who are facing the loss of liberty or family by providing statewide leadership, administration, and support to the multidisciplinary public defense profession.

Vision: Public defense clients, everywhere in the state, receive truly equitable and client-centered representation from fully supported professionals.

Values: Justice * Service * Equity * Excellence

We administer a variety of programs, including systemic improvement programs and programs providing direct representation. To learn about OPD’s programs click here. We are dedicated to excellence in public law and indigent defense, and we seek talented candidates who share this commitment to client-centered service. We value employees who bring diverse backgrounds in education, employment, community activities, and life experiences to enhance our office.

The Disproportionality Unit

The Disproportionality Unit is dedicated to challenging systemic racial and economic inequities by supporting public defenders and strengthening advocacy for indigent persons throughout Washington. The unit develops litigation strategies, creates trainings, provides resources, and promotes policies to fight injustice in the legal system.

Duties

The Position

The Washington State Office of Public Defense seeks an experienced attorney to develop legal trainings, strategies, and policies for challenging racial and economic disproportionality. The attorney should understand how race, gender, national origin, disability, and class intersect to create disparities for individuals and families that become involved in the legal system.

The successful candidate will collaborate with OPD leadership, attorneys, staff, and external partners to promote social justice and system reforms. The position will report to the Disproportionality Unit Supervising Attorney.

The daily work site is at the OPD office in Olympia, with remote options by policy. Periodic travel is required in Washington, including occasional overnight travel. Out-of-state travel occurs infrequently.

This recruitment is open until the position is filled with a first review of applications on July 15, 2025.

General Responsibilities

• Professionally network with external partners and stakeholders to develop relationships and collaborations that promote social justice and system reforms applicable to public defense advocacy.

• Exercise mature judgment in potentially sensitive, high-stress situations.
• Participate in and foster a collaborative working environment at OPD, statewide stakeholder groups, and demographically diverse local court systems.
• Diligently follow attorney and state employee ethics requirements.
• Conduct all activities with the highest degree of professionalism in furtherance of OPD’s Mission, Vision, and Values.
• If not admitted to the Washington State Bar Association, you must become admitted within a year of your start date.

Salary

• $126,168 - $142,692/year

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Licensed attorney in good standing in any state, with the ability to join the Washington State Bar Association within the next year.

• Five years of trial or appellate litigation experience in public defense or civil rights and social justice.
• Experience advocating and litigating against bias, discrimination, and differential treatment of individuals and communities disproportionately impacted by the legal system.
• A demonstrated commitment to racial and social justice, and a fundamental understanding of the historical context underlying current challenges in the judicial system faced by Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC), individuals who identify as LGBTQIA+, individuals with disabilities, immigrants, and individuals with limited English proficiency.
• An interest in using data and statistical research to promote social justice and legal system reform.
• Strong legal writing and research skills.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills, including the capacity to develop and sustain respectful professional relationships with stakeholders in communities throughout Washington.
• Ability to think strategically, prioritize tasks, and function independently and as a team in a collaborative environment.

Desired Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in working with clients living in poverty and from diverse backgrounds.
• Experience with training attorneys on issues related to public defense or civil rights and social justice.
• Experience in advocating for policy changes on issues related to public defense or civil rights and social justice.
• The ability to provide individual consultation with attorneys seeking technical assistance on disproportionality issues throughout the state.

Other Information

Compensation $126,168 TO $142,692 annually.
Washington State employees are offered a comprehensive benefit package that includes: paid holidays, vacation and sick leave, retirement and health, dental and life insurance coverage for self and family. There are also options for deferred compensation and pre-tax flexible spending accounts.

Application Process
To be considered, interested candidates must apply online at www.careers.wa.gov (Click on the APPLY button above.) You must complete the entire online application. In addition to the online application:

• Letter of interest
• Current résumé
• A list of at least three professional references
• A writing sample that is your original work

If you have problems navigating the online application process of uploading the required documents, email tracy.sims@opd.wa.gov for assistance.

If you have questions about application requirements, email lei.young@opd.wa.gov for assistance.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
We vigorously pursue diversity in the work force. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons over 40 year of age, LGBTQIA+, persons with disabilities, formerly incarcerated, prior child welfare involvement, and military veterans are encouraged to apply. Pursuing diversity, equity and inclusion means that as an agency, and as individuals, we are committed to ensuring that all employees enjoy a respectful, safe, and supportive working environment.

Remote Work
Our offices are in Olympia, Washington. We have teleworking options available by policy, and will be considered on an individual basis depending on the needs of the position and the availability of adequate equipment. Benefits

More than Just a Paycheck!
Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation.

We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career. Like everyone, your first priority is ensuring that you and your family will maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.

Read about our benefits:
The following information describes typical benefits available for full-time employees who are expected to work more than six months. Actual benefits may vary by appointment type or be prorated for other than full-time work (e.g. part-time); view the job posting for benefits details for job types other than full-time.

Note: If the position offers benefits which differ from the following, the job posting should include the specific benefits.

Insurance Benefits
Employees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout the state.

Staff are eligible to enroll each year in a medical flexible spending account which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care expenses. Employees are also covered by basic life and long-term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts.

To view premium rates, coverage choice in your area and how to enroll, please visit the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) website. The Washington Wellness program from the Health Care Authority works with PEBB to support our workplace wellness programs.

Dependent care assistance allows the employee to save pre-tax dollars for a child or elder care expenses.

Other insurance coverage for auto, boat, home, and renter insurance is available through payroll deduction.

The Washington State Employee Assistance Program promotes the health and well-being of employees.

Retirement and Deferred Compensation
State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs. For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site.

Employees also have the ability to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP). This is a supplemental retirement savings program (similar to an IRA) that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.

Social Security
All state employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The state and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness
If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, and meet the qualifying criteria, you may be eligible to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Holidays
Full-time and part-time employees are entitled to paid holidays and one paid personal holiday per calendar year.

Note: Employees who are members of certain Unions may be entitled to additional personal leave day(s), please refer to position specific Collective Bargaining Agreements for more information.

Full-time employees who work full monthly schedules qualify for holiday compensation if they are employed before the holiday and are in pay status for at least 80 nonovertime hours during the month of the holiday; or for the entire work shift preceding the holiday.

Part-time employees who are in pay status during the month of the holiday qualify for the holiday on a pro-rata basis. Compensation for holidays (including personal holiday) will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status in the month to that required for full-time employment, excluding all holiday hours. Pay status includes hours worked and time on paid leave.

Sick Leave
Full-time employees earn eight hours of sick leave per month. Overtime eligible employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month, earn a monthly proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Overtime exempt employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month do not earn a monthly accrual of sick leave.

Sick leave accruals for part-time employees will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.

Vacation (Annual Leave)
Full-time employees accrue vacation leave at the rates specified in WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Full-time employees who are in pay status for less than 80 nonovertime hours in a month do not earn a monthly accrual of vacation leave.

Part-time employees accrue vacation leave hours in accordance with WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on a pro rata basis. Vacation leave accrual will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment.

Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.

As provided in WAC 357-58-175, an employer may authorize a lump-sum accrual of vacation leave or accelerate the vacation leave accrual rate to support the recruitment and/or retention of a candidate or employee for a Washington Management Service position. Vacation leave accrual rates may only be accelerated using the rates established WAC 357-31-165.

Note: Most agencies follow the civil service rules covering leave and holidays for exempt employees even though there is no requirement for them to do so. However, agencies are required to adhere to the applicable RCWs pertaining holidays and leave.

Military Leave
Washington State supports members of the armed forces with 21 days paid military leave per year.

Bereavement Leave
Most employees whose family member or household member dies, are entitled to three (3) days of paid bereavement leave. In addition, the employer may approve other available leave types for the purpose of bereavement leave.

Additional Leave
Leave Sharing
Parental Leave
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Leave Without Pay

Please visit the State HR Website for more detailed information regarding benefits.

Updated 12-31-2022