LEGAL ASSISTANT 1, Labor & Industries Division, Washington 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 a non-permanent full time Legal Assistant 1 in the Labor & Industries Division. This position is located in Tumwater, Washington, and is represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE). 

Legal Assistant 1 (Range 38) salary range: $39,804 - $52,920

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. 

About the AGO Labor & Industries Division

The Labor & Industries (LNI) Division’s primary responsibility is representing and advising the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries in the following areas:

• Industrial insurance program
• Workers’ compensation benefits
• Fair wages & prevailing wage requirements
• Workplace conditions
• Safe work environments
• Contractor & building issues
• Crime victim claims
• And other matters involving workers & employers

 Recent LNI related legislation or cases resulted in worker protections for Washingtonians, including increasing the state minimum wage, expanding benefits for transportation drivers, protecting workers from health risks of exposure to wildfire smoke and extreme heat, recovering back wages for farmworkers, and enforcing citations for numerous workplace safety violations.

 LNI attorneys defend orders before a multitude of courts, including:

• Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals
• Office of Administrative Hearings
• Superior courts
• State appellate courts
• Federal courts

Duties and Essential Functions of a Legal Assistant 1: 

This position works within the docketing unit of LNI/OL Y which is the central hub for mail and legal documents for the Operational LNI Division statewide. As a Legal Assistant 1, you will be entrusted to perform the following duties: 

• Create new Employer Audit matters in the case management system (CMS) and set-up electronic case folders for timely AAG/Paralegal case assignment.
• Download workers’ compensation claim information through a client MFT-site and decide on appropriate internal routing.
• Monitor division mailboxes for electronically received legal documents and case information from outside parties and decide on appropriate internal routing.
• Scan, date stamp and name incoming mail items and decide on appropriate internal routing.
• Prepares and efile paralegal notices of appearance with the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals.
• Prepares routine correspondence. Print and mail correspondence via USPS.

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.

 Ideal Candidate Profile

 Qualifications: 

 Option 1: High School diploma or equivalent and two years of clerical experience including a minimum of one year of experience in a legal environment;

 Option 2: Two years of legal office experience;

 Option 3: A combination of three 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.

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.

 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.

 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.

 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 Judith Vandergeest @ (360) 586-7691 or Judith.Vandergeest@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.