Paralegal 1 (with In-Training from LA3) - Labor and Personnel Division - Attorney General's Office

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 (AGO) is recruiting for a full-time, permanent Paralegal 1 position. This position will be based in our Labor and Personnel Division at our Tumwater office location. This position is not represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) and an in-training option from Legal Assistant 3 is available. 

If you are a legal support professional looking for a supportive, collaborative environment where you can contribute meaningfully to Washington State’s legal matters, we invite you to consider joining our team as a Paralegal 1 OR Legal Assistant 3 with a six month in-training program to Paralegal 1.

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.  

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.

Salary

Paralegal 1

Paralegal 1 candidates will be set within Range 51, $54,204 - $72,924 (annual).

Legal Assistant 3

If you start as an in-training candidate at the Legal Assistant 3 level, your salary range will be $45,732 - $61,404 (Range 44).

Note: Legal Assistant 3s assigned to work within Thurston County receive Group C Assignment Pay in addition to their base pay. Group C pay is a limited premium and applies only at the Legal Assistant 3 classification, ending at the time of promotion into the Paralegal 1 goal classification.

• Thurston County Legal Assistant 3s – 10% Group C Assignment Pay

For both Paralegal 1 and Legal Assistant 3

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.

When promoting from the Legal Assistant 3 classification to the Paralegal 1 classification, Article 42.10 of the WFSE CBA or WAC 357-28-110 will be applied to your base salary.

In addition to the base pay salary, the following types of assignment pay may be applied when:

• Incumbents assigned to a position designated as requiring dual language skills will receive a 5% Dual Language Requirement Pay. 

In-Training Defined 

An in-training is on-the-job instruction designed for candidates with less experience than the required goal classification to learn and grow into a higher-level role. In this job posting, we are open to considering those eligible at the Legal Assistant 3 level who are interested in learning on-the-job with the goal of moving into the Paralegal 1 role. You’ll gain the competencies and skills needed to successfully perform your duties while being supported by your supervisor, manager, and coworkers. Upon successful completion of your training and demonstrating knowledge of the position requirements, you will be promoted into the Paralegal 1 level.

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!

Position Description

Our paralegal 1 staff provide critical support to Assistant Attorneys General (AAGs) in the litigation of state matters, preparing for trial, and applying knowledge of court rules related to legal practice, subject matter, and court filing procedures in civil and appellate matters. As a Paralegal 1, you may be entrusted to perform some of the following duties:

• Analyze facts
• Compose documents and pleadings
• Schedule and/or interview witnesses
• Research legal issues and evaluate the facts of the cases
• Coordinate the preparation for litigation
• Track status of cases from summons to trial
• Draft legal notices

Specific to the Labor and Personnel Division, you will: monitor mail, telephone calls, and cases, and route to supervisor or another attorney any matter deemed emergent based on experience and independent analysis. Prioritize and coordinate workflow of assigned attorneys. Use Microsoft Outlook and Law Manager to continually maintain and update individual attorney calendars, noting important dates/deadlines relating to case files. Screen telephone calls, schedule appointments, witness interviews, depositions, mediations, hearings, arbitrations, and meetings. Schedule, coordinate and cancel subpoenaed witnesses. Identify and resolve scheduling conflicts for case matters, witnesses, clients, and attorneys. Review and route incoming mail and faxes to assigned attorneys, checking docketing deadlines and important information in Law Manager and individual calendars, noting for the attorney those times requiring immediate attention. Review all mail to ensure dates are calculated correctly pursuant to court rules and the critical events policy.

Prepare briefs for administrative boards and courts according to court and administrative rules. Examine legal documents to assure that all necessary legal steps and points have been covered, and that all legal deadlines and due process requirements are met; advises attorneys of upcoming hearing commitments and special items needing their attention, organize documents and information; check legal citations and references for correct format. 

Independently and routinely review files and prepare pleadings and correspondence for service and filing. Prepare, assemble, organize, and maintain pleadings, correspondence, research, and investigation files. Close files upon completion of matter. Coordinate photocopying and timely delivery/service of exhibit notebooks, prepare exhibit and witness lists, prepare subpoenas for hearings/trials and coordinate prompt delivery/service of same to appropriate arbitrator, board, court, and opposing parties. Perform file management on an ongoing basis by reading, reviewing, and monitoring status of cases for orders, court dates, discovery requests, responses to discovery, and other legal requirements and keep attorneys/paralegals informed of significant and important items requiring review or response through email or written notification. Use division procedures and AGO business rules to open new advice files at the request of the attorneys, logging all information into Law Manager and timekeeping as instructed.

Draft standard interrogatories, assist attorneys or paralegals in deposition summaries and case summaries; conduct basic legal research, draft requests for production of documents and responses; organize and prepare trial notebooks, pleadings and exhibits to be used at trial. Prepare trial/administrative hearing exhibits and courtroom aids incorporating current technology. Compose, organize, and enter discovery information in legal databases; summarize depositions and other discovery materials. Review discovery requests provided by opposing party and identify necessary information needed to obtain appropriate records.

Provide travel and contract support to assigned attorneys. Act as a specialist by performing assigned duties in one or more areas to include, but not limited to, reviewing requests for legislative bill analysis from AGO and client agency, act as the CCTN coordinator, prepare case status reports, act as the Personnel Manager's Meeting coordinator for the division, or provide backup support to the legal office assistant as needed, to include opening new litigation and advice matters. Other duties as assigned.

If you are interested in furthering your legal support career and want to have a direct impact on the people of Washington, the AGO is the place for you.

Division Information – Labor and Personnel Division, Tumwater, WA

The Labor and Personnel Division is comprised of 19 attorneys and 12 professional staff located in Tumwater and Spokane. The Labor and Personnel Division represents and advises all state agencies and most colleges and universities on labor and employment issues, including labor negotiations and arbitrations, anti-discrimination laws, wage laws, employee discipline, public disclosure laws, and state and federal family and medical leave laws. The division also handles civil litigation related to wage and hour law, and public disclosure. 

Agency Information – Washington State Office of the Attorney General 

The work of the AGO touches the lives of every resident in Washington, providing excellent, independent, and ethical legal services to the State and protecting the rights of its people. 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.

Qualifications

Entering at the Legal Assistant 3 Level with In-Training to Paralegal 1:  
Combination of two 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

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

Entering at the Paralegal 1 Level:   
Combination of three 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

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

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:

• 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.
• A resume will not substitute for completing the "work experience" section of the application.
• Please be sure to remove private information such as your Social Security number, date of birth, etc. 
• All information may be verified and documentation may be required.

Commitment to Diversity

Diversity is critical to the success of the mission of the AGO and we are committed to building an anti-racist and equitable agency. It is our goal to identify, discuss, and challenge racial inequity in the workplace and the impact it has on our employees, and, within our authority, combat racism that impacts the people of the State of Washington. 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 a professional, inclusive, respectful environment.

Our commitment to employee wellness is reflected in earning the 2024 "Zo8 Washington Wellness Award".

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 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.