Legal Office Assistant, Children, Youth, and Families (CYF) Division, Olympia

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 Legal Office Assistant in the Children, Youth, and Families (CYF) Division. This position is located in Olympia, Washington, and is represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE).
 
Legal Office Assistant Salary Range 40: $42,972 - $57,252

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 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 Children, Youth, and Families Division:

The Children, Youth, and Families Division (CYF) is located in Tumwater and is comprised of 34 attorneys and 31 professional staff members who together provide legal advice and representation to the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF). Staff in each Attorney General’s Office handles litigation for DCYF, and the CYF Division has the responsibility of doing so locally, as well as coordinating this work statewide for the AGO. Additionally, the division advises DCYF’s leadership team.

Duties and Essential Functions of a Legal Office Assistant:

We are looking for a Legal Office Assistant to join our team, providing essential services to families in need of support for the safety and care of their children. This position involves high-volume, fast-paced clerical and legal work, covering a wide range of subjects from juvenile dependency to program-wide cases, which can significantly impact statewide budgets and programs. Given the responsibilities of this position, the Legal Office Assistant will not be able to participate in the hybrid remote schedule. However, we offer alternative, flexible scheduling options that promote a work-life balance.

The Legal Office Assistant will provide general clerical support and some legal assistance to the Juvenile Litigation section. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: 

• Processing incoming mail and preparing outgoing mail 
• Performing data entry 
• Preparing and submitting payment vouchers 
• Requesting certified court orders 
• Preparing and filing court pleadings and calendaring court dates
• Handling in-person filing and mail deliveries as requested by attorneys or paralegals
• Providing limited support to paralegals in retrieving weekly court orders 
• Archiving both physical and electronic files

The Legal Office Assistant will also provide backup support to the division's Administrative Legal Office Assistant. This support includes tasks such as:

• Receiving and sorting mail
• Answering and screening phone calls
• Managing the supply inventory 
• Submitting supply orders
• Maintaining the division's devices

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.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Strong written and verbal communication abilities, strong attention to detail, adaptability to shifting priorities, capability to multitask and thrive in a fast-paced environment, proficiency in managing both short and long-term projects, and being a collaborative team member.

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 1-855-524-5627 or support@neogov.com.