Assistant Attorney General - Washington State University Division, Pullman

• A competitive benefit package that includes affordable medical plan options, dental benefits and retirement plans
• Vacation Leave, Sick Leave, Military and Civil Leave and Paid Holidays
• Transparent salary schedule - AAG salaries are set between $76,752 and $149,508.  The exact amount is set in accordance with Appendix B of the AWAAG CBA

• The AGO will pay the general bar dues of someone who begins their assignment on or before January 31st per Article 10.8 of the AWAAG CBA

• Flex schedules and telecommuting options
• A formal AAG mentoring program that complements the AGO's inherently collegial and supportive environment
• Health and wellness program
• Training and career development program that is recognized for its excellence and efficacy by AGOs nationwide 

The Washington State University (WSU) Division of the Washington State Office of the Attorney General is seeking two attorneys for its office in Pullman, WA. The WSU Division provides a full range of legal services to WSU, the state’s land grant university. 

WSU employs over 8,000 faculty and staff and serves over 26,000 professional, graduate, and undergraduate students and the public through its campuses in Pullman, Spokane, Tri-Cities, Vancouver, and Everett, and its Global (online) campus, as well as its research stations and cooperative extension offices located in each county of the state. The Division includes a talented group of six attorneys, each practicing in several different areas of the law, and three administrative staff. The wide variety of legal issues presented on a day-to-day basis makes for a challenging yet rewarding practice. The WSU Division team is a supportive, inclusive, and collegial group that is passionate about providing excellent and comprehensive legal services to WSU. The team recognizes the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance and taking time to help colleagues with tough issues and workload to provide timely, well-reasoned, and practical advice even in high-pressure situations.

Assistant attorneys general in the WSU Division handle a wide variety of complex and challenging legal issues related to WSU’s broad array of operations and activities. It is not expected that the new team member will have significant expertise in all legal areas covered by the Division, but the successful hire must be willing and able to learn new areas of law quickly (with the support of Division colleagues). The new team member’s strengths, experience, and interest will be considered in determining work assignments, but are not determinative. Examples of the work the new attorney could be expected to practice include:

• Providing timely, sound, and practical options-based legal advice to high-level WSU clients in writing and verbally on diverse and varied legal issues while keeping in mind the client’s goals and desire to minimize legal risk;
• Providing legal advice on compliance with laws common to higher education, such as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Clery Act, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Open Public Meetings Act, the Public Records Act, Washington’s Minimum Wage Act, Washington’s Law Against Discrimination, Title IV, Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, and Washington’s Administrative Procedure Act, among others;
• Reviewing and drafting legal documents, including, for example, purchasing/procurement contracts, employment contracts, leases, settlement agreements, patent/trademark applications, confidentiality agreements, interagency agreements, affiliation agreements, and gift agreements;
• Reviewing and drafting external communications to third parties potentially adverse to the client;
• Providing strong, effective advocacy when responding to legal claims, including engaging in occasional litigation in administrative hearings or in courts of record;
• Being supportive of, and working cooperatively with, others in the office while maintaining a calm demeanor and an appropriate sense of humor, even in highly charged or stressful situations;
• Being available and responsive to clients and colleagues; and
• Regularly attending AGO, Division, and client meetings.

In addition to meeting the qualifications to serve as an assistant attorney general, candidates must also have:

• At least three years of legal experience;
• Willingness and ability to quickly learn new areas of law;
• Strong interest in practicing higher education law;
• Excellent analytical, research, and writing skills;
• Attention to detail as well as an ability to understand that the risks posed by a specific project relate to the client’s overall risk profile and to advise accordingly;
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to communicate legal advice clearly, concisely, and effectively, both orally and in writing;
• Ability to exercise excellent independent judgment as well as work collaboratively as the situation requires while keeping supervisor apprised of significant issues;
• Ability to coordinate and manage client advice requests of a diverse and complex nature;
• Ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines and manage stress and workload in a fast-paced, challenging environment;
• Ability to provide high quality, option-based advice while problem solving in partnership with the client; and
• Demonstrative practical problem-solving abilities.

Preferred candidates will have experience providing legal advice and/or representation to an institution of higher education or a public entity.

These assistant attorney general positions are represented by the Association of Washington Assistant Attorneys General (AWAAG) / Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) AFSCME Council 28, AFL-CIO.  AAG salaries are set between $76,752 and $149,508. The exact amount is set in accordance with Appendix B of the AWAAG CBA.  A competitive state benefits package is also offered which includes a choice of medical/dental insurance plans, retirement, life and basic long-term disability insurance. In addition, there are non-financial benefits that include working in a collaborative and supportive work environment where professional development and work-life balance are highly valued.  The health, safety and professional satisfaction of all AGO staff and volunteers is critical to fulfilling the mission of the AGO to provide exceptional legal services. Complementing and fostering this goal is a long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship, as evidenced in the AGO's environmental policies.  

Interested applicants must apply by hitting the "apply" button above.  In addition to the on-line application, one must upload, via the system, preferably as PDFs: 

• Letter of interest;
• Resume;
• Law school transcript (unofficial copy is acceptable); and
• Writing sample (10 pages or less).

If you have questions about this position and/or wish to learn more about it before applying, we encourage and welcome you to contact Division Chief Adam Malcolm at Adam.Malcolm@wsu.edu or 509-335-2636. 

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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 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 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.