Veteran Law Clerk - Summer 2026

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.

The Washington State Attorney General’s Office (AGO) is currently seeking law students who are also veterans as defined by RCW 41.04.007 to apply to serve as a paid law clerk or legal extern for academic credit beginning Summer 2026! This position will be located in our downtown Seattle office.

The Attorney General's Office (AGO) serves more than 230 state agencies, boards, commissions, colleges and universities, as well as the Legislature and the Governor. The mission of the Office is to deliver the highest quality professional legal services to officials, agencies, and citizens of the state of Washington. The Office is comprised of over 800 attorneys and over 700 professional staff.

For more information about the AGO, we encourage you to review the Office's Annual Report which can be found HERE.

Duties

The selected candidate will support the AGO’s Office of Military and Veteran Legal Assistance (OMVLA) within the Policy Division.

Duties of the selected candidate include, but are not limited to:

• Assisting veterans, service members, and their families seeking civil legal assistance. This may include conducting intake interviews with individuals requesting help, identifying appropriate resources for community members, or drafting plain-language emails and letters to inform individuals about resources available to them. OMVLA does not provide legal advice to community members.
• Researching and drafting memoranda on legal issues affecting service members, veterans, and their families,
• Contributing to the AG’s outreach efforts to Washington’s military and veteran community, including attending events such as Stand Downs for veterans experiencing homelessness, and
• Identifying and developing training topics for community partners, including attorneys, service providers, and other stakeholders.

Salary

• $23 - $24/hour

Qualifications

We are looking for a law student who:

• Served or is currently serving in any branch of the Armed Forces, including the National Guard and Reserves and either fulfilled their initial military service obligation or, as a member of the armed forces reserves, national guard, or coast guard, was called into federal services by a presidential select reserve call up for at least one hundred eighty cumulative days, and
• Received a qualifying discharge under RCW 73.04.005.

Candidates must also be currently enrolled in an ABA accredited law school and must maintain that status during the duration of the clerkship. The AGO seeks applicants who are committed to public service and who possess a diverse background in education, previous work experience, law school activities, extracurricular activities, community service and areas of interest that enhance our office. Candidates must be able to work in WA State for the duration of the clerkship.

Other Information

Salary for those who have completed one year of law school will be $23.00/hr. Salary for those who have completed two years of law school will be $24.00/hr. Positions located in King County are eligible for 5% King County Assignment Pay.

Required Application Materials/Deadline:

Qualified first and second-year students interested in serving as a law clerk during Summer 2026 must apply to this posting by clicking the "apply" button and submitting a profile and uploading the following documents by January 14, 2026:

• Letter of Interest

• Resume

• Law School Transcript (official/unofficial)

• One letter of recommendation (2L only)

• List of 3 professional references (1L only)

• Writing sample (no more than 10 pages)

* Second-year law students are required to submit one letter of recommendation by the application deadline. The letter of recommendation is the only document that will be accepted separately. The letter of recommendation can be submitted by the recommender directly to the recruitment office by e-mail to HRemployment@atg.wa.gov. First-year law students must submit a list of three professional references with their application materials.

For questions about this opportunity, please contact Office of Military and Veteran Legal Assistance Manager Mariah Hanley at Mariah.hanley@atg.wa.gov or (206) 342-6407.

Additional information (e.g., additional writing samples, additional letters of recommendation) will be accepted, but are not required. Incomplete applications will not be accepted or considered.

Recruitment Process:

The division will determine who to interview and will directly contact students to set up interviews. Any qualified candidate not selected can apply for and participate in the AGO's spring process for law clerks (culminates in offers of summer clerkships), the process for which will immediately follow this recruitment.

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.

Honoring diversity, equity and inclusion means that 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 at1-800-676-3777 or www.washingtonrelay.com.

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, or for loss of pregnancy, are entitled to five (5) 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 07-21-2025