Paralegal 1, Regional Services Division, Wa State Office Of The Attorney General

Description

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 1 in the Regional Services Division. This position is located in Port Angeles, Washington, and is represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE). Note: there is the possibility of an in-training from the Legal Assistant 3 level.

Paralegal 1 (Range 51) salary range: $54,204 - $72,924

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 Regional Services Division:

The Attorney General’s Office Regional Servies Division (RSD) is comprised of seven offices located statewide, including the Port Angeles Office. RSD provides legal services for a variety of client agencies including Social & Health Services; the Division of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF); Labor & Industries; Education; and the Department of Licensing.

The Port Angeles RSD office has a managing attorney, four assistant attorneys general, and five professional support staff. This position works in a team environment to provide paraprofessional support in juvenile dependency and termination of parental rights cases for DCYF in Clallam and Jefferson Counties.

Duties and Essential Functions of a Paralegal 1:

Our Paralegal 1 staff provide critical support to Assistant Attorneys General (AAGs) in the litigation of state matters. This includes preparing for trial and hearings and applying knowledge of court rules, subject matter, and court filing procedures. This position will support attorneys by preparing orders for weekly dependency dockets in Clallam and Jefferson Counties and help prepare for hearings and trials.

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 case preparation for litigation
• Track the status of cases from case filing to trial
• Draft legal notices.

This position will coordinate with co-workers to make sure all assignments are timely completed. This is a small office and everyone works together to further the AGO mission and make sure the office runs professionally and efficiently.

Ideal Candidate Profile

Paralegal 1 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.

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:

Organizational skills are a definite plus in this position. Not only keeping yourself organized on a case and what needs to happen next – especially if a case is going to a termination trial / appeal but also helping the assigned attorney to be organized and able to access any needed information.

Legal Assistant 3 Qualifications:

High School diploma or equivalent and four years of experience in legal environment in support of an attorney, administrative law judge(s), industrial insurance appeals judge(s), review judge(s) or equivalent

OR

One year as a Legal Assistant 2

OR

A two-year degree in Legal Secretary Studies, Paralegal Studies or related field of study plus two years of legal office experience

OR

A combination of five years of college education and/or relevant experience.

A Bachelor’s degree may substitute for the Legal Secretary or Paralegal degree.

Note: Candidates may be required to demonstrate skills in keyboarding, filing, proofreading, grammar, spelling and use of office equipment through agency specific skills testing.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

A Washington state driver’s license is desirable – but not required. We often have out of area trainings or meetings. This office is definitely focused on ICWA and have yearly training / meetings supporting ICWA as our office, as are all RSD offices, very involved with ICWA and carry a caseload involving Indian children.

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 Jenny Wilding @ (360) 753-6216 or Jenny.Wilding@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.