Paralegal 2, Labor and Industries Division, Seattle

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 permanent full time Paralegal 2 in the Labor and Industries Division. This position is located in Seattle, Washington, and  is represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE).
 
Paralegal 2 (Range 55) salary range: $61,644 - $82,872 (Effective 7/1/2025)
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:

• Note: Effective July 1, 2025, Paralegal 2s assigned to work within King County receive Group C Assignment Pay in addition to their base pay. The Group C pay percentage received at this classification is a limited premium and applies at the Paralegal 2 classification.
  • King County Paralegal 2s – 5% Group C Assignment Pay

• Incumbents assigned to our Seattle office location receive an additional 5% King County Location 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 Labor and Industries Division:

The Labor and Industries Division is comprised of 51 attorneys and 55 professional staff in Tumwater and Seattle. There is someone handling L&I litigation at every AGO location, but the Labor and Industries Division has primary responsibility for assigning cases and providing advice to the Department of Labor and Industries. The Labor and Industries Division represents and advises the Department regarding the state's industrial insurance program, workers' compensation benefits, questions about fair wages and prevailing wage requirements, workplace conditions, and safe work environments, contractor and building issues, crime victim claims, and other issues for workers and employers. The division handles a wide variety of cases from entry level to highly complex matters, and has a robust appellate litigation program. The work touches all businesses and workers in Washington, and is of central importance to the business economy of our state.

Attorneys defend L&I orders before the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals and state courts that are appealed by injured workers who are seeking benefits or additional benefits. They also defend L&I orders that assert worker fraud, orders that are appealed by employers who challenge the amount assessed for their workers' compensation premiums, or penalties assessed for violations of WISHA standards. Attorneys also represent L&I before the Office of Administrative Hearings and state courts on contractor and electrical citations, wage and hour citations, prevailing wage citations, employment standards matters, and WISHA discrimination cases, as well as provide client advice on these matters.

With such a diverse practice, our professional staff are continuously engaged in challenging and interesting work. Opportunities to learn and achieve professional growth through experience, mentorship and training are encouraged and supported. Our teams consist of attorneys, paralegals, and legal assistants.

Duties and Essential Functions of a Paralegal 2:

This position will provide legal support statewide for L&I’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) and perform work as a Critical Event Reader. This position will offer a lot of challenges, as well as rewards. 

DOSH – You’ll work with AAG’s to independently compose formal discovery requests. Review and prepare responses to formal discovery requests, including interrogatories, requests for production, and requests for admission, as well as CR30(b)(6) deponents. Draft and prepare motions pertaining to discovery and motions for default. Review opposing parties’ answers to discovery requests for completeness, evasiveness, and propriety of objections. 

Working as part of a trial team, you’ll collaborate, coordinate and cooperate in the completion of all required discovery in a case, as well as:

• Research, review and analyze facts of cases;
• Identify legal issues;
• Develop rapport with, secure cooperation from and interview potential witnesses;
• Compose comprehensive interview memoranda/reports;
• Identify possible witnesses and other possible sources of information and evidence;
• Recommend and carry out further investigative activities;
• Prepare case for hearing or trial, including exhibits, ER 904 Disclosures; documentary evidence and
• demonstrative exhibits;
• Assist attorney in preparing for and taking part in depositions, hearing or trial; and
• Prepare deposition summaries, objection logs and organize trial notebooks.
• As directed by AAG, appear on behalf of the Department at mediation conferences (either in person or by phone) before the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals.
• Prepare written report on the results of each mediation conference attended.
• Design and utilize computer databases to organize, maintain, summarize and prepare documents, records, transcripts, audio recordings, photographs and other tangible records and documents, as well as case analysis.

Critical Event Reader – Enter essential case data into the case management system (CMS) per agency and divisional business rules and established office procedures. Apply specialized knowledge of various court rules related to legal practice subject matter and court filing procedures to set critical events in CMS.

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: 

Research suggests that women and people of color are less likely to apply unless they are confident they meet 100% of the listed qualifications. We strongly encourage all interested individuals to apply, and allow us to evaluate your combination of knowledge, skills, and abilities demonstrated using an intentional equity lens. 

Combination of four 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

OR

• Three years’ experience as a Paralegal 1 in Washington State Service.

*You may have gained applicable paraprofessional experience through previous Paralegal or Legal Assistant work.

Examples of paraprofessional experience in support of an attorney:

• Preparing legal pleadings and legal correspondence
• Ensuring and verifying timely and proper service of legal documents
• Calculating, verifying, and calendaring critical events and other dates
• Managing case documents, files and exhibits
• Tracking and organizing discovery documents
• Researching legal issues and verifying legal citations and references for accuracy

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Candidates for this position are preferred to have knowledge and/or experience as follows:

· Litigation experience

· Discovery experience

· Industrial insurance law, worker’s compensation benefits and premiums, worker fraud, and crime victims’ compensation claims. 

· Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act (WISHA) law, safety and health regulations

· Contractor and electrical citations

· Practice and procedure of the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals

· Practice and procedure of the Office of Administrative Hearings

About the Washington State Office of the Attorney General

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 2024 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.
• 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.

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.