Legal Office Assistant, Complex Litigation Division, Multi-State locations

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.

*This position is open to current permanent employees of the Washington State Office of the Attorney General only.*

Position and Salary:
 
The Attorney General’s Office is recruiting for a permanent full time Legal Office Assistant in the Complex Litigation Division. This position can be located in Tumwater or Seattle, Washington, and is represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE).
 
Salary range (36): $38,004 - $50,328
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 Complex Litigation Division: 

The Complex Litigation Division is comprised of 28 Attorneys, 26 Paralegals, 1 Administrative Office Manager, 1 Investigator, and 1 Legal Office Assistant.

The affirmative litigation in which members of the Complex Litigation Division may participate includes cases similar to Washington v. McKesson Corp. and Washington v. Johnson & Johnson, two of Washington’s lawsuits related to the opioid epidemic; Washington v. Meta (Facebook), a campaign finance enforcement action against Meta/Facebook related to its political advertisements; Washington v. JUUL, a consumer protection lawsuit challenging the e-cigarette company’s targeting of underage consumers; and innovative financial institution litigation focused on recovering the state unemployment benefits stolen during the pandemic.

The defensive litigation in which members of the Complex Litigation Division may participate includes cases defending the constitutionality of state statutes and class action litigation brought against state agencies. These cases may be similar to the many state and federal cases challenging the constitutionality of COVID-19-related emergency proclamations issued by Governor Inslee and the Legislature; Wahkiakum School District v. Washington, an action seeking to require funding of school building construction; and Mitchell v. Atkins, a challenge to the constitutionality of a voter-approved gun control initiative. The Division also fulfills a leading role for the Office in the enforcement of the tobacco Master Settlement Agreement.

Duties and Essential Functions of a Legal Office Assistant:

The Legal Office Assistant is a great position to begin your career in the legal field at the AGO. This position performs routine legal support and complex clerical duties for attorneys, investigators, paralegals, and leads. The duties are varied, and every day is different. Some of the work activities include:

• Receive and process all incoming mail and deliveries.  
• Process purchasing invoices and vouchers for payment through the payables system.  
• Maintain record of billings and payments in Law Manager.  
• Answer the main phone line.  
• Assisting trial team with proofreading, scanning, and copy projects.
• Photocopies, organizes, and assembles legal documents.
• Opens, closes, and archives case files in accordance with AGO policies and requirements.  
• Arrange travel for the division and process travel reimbursements.  
• Assist in performing Public Records searches and projects.  
• Deliver/pick up legal documents.

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: 

Option 1: High School diploma or equivalent and two years of clerical experience including a minimum of six months of experience in a legal office environment.
  
 Option 2: One year of legal office experience.
  
 Option 3: A combination of two years of college education and/or relevant experience.
  
 Option 4: A two-year degree in Legal Secretary Studies, Paralegal studies or related field of study.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• Driver’s License
• Current permanent employment with Washington State Office of the Attorney General.

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.