Legal Assistant 3 with in-training, Licensing & Administrative Law, Attorney General's Office

Description

This position is open to current permanent employees of the Attorney General's Office only.

Agency Information

The AGO serves more than 230 state agencies, boards, commissions, colleges and universities, as well as the Legislature and the Governor. The mission of the Office is to deliver the highest quality professional legal services to officials, agencies, and citizens of the state of Washington. The Office is comprised of over 550 attorneys and 700 professional staff. Diversity is critical to the success of the mission of the AGO. It is the recognition, respect, and appreciation of all cultures and backgrounds and the fostering of 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. The core values of the AGO are served by a strong commitment to the value of diversity and by promoting an inclusive workplace.

For more information about the AGO, we encourage you to review the Office's newest Annual Report which can be found HERE.

Do you want to be a part of a diverse team that is making a difference? View our VIDEO to learn more about the Washington State Attorney General's Office.

The Opportunity

The Attorney General's Office is recruiting for a permanent full time Legal Assistant 3 in Licensing and Administrative Law Division. This position is located in downtown Olympia, Washington. Note: There is the possibility of an in-training from the Legal Assistant 1 level.

Its work touches the lives of all Washingtonians and focuses on promoting public safety, protecting the economy, and preserving public integrity and trust. The division handles litigation and advice for the Department of Licensing, including its regulation of drivers and professionals and businesses in roughly 45 occupations, Employment Security Department, Liquor and Cannabis Board, Lottery Commission, Board of Accountancy, Executive Ethics Board, Commission on Judicial Conduct, Sunshine Committee, Certified Professional Guardianship Board, Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals, Environmental and Land Use Hearings Office, and Columbia River Gorge Commission. The work of the division includes client advice and litigation before the Office of Administrative Hearings, Washington superior and appellate courts, and federal courts, and ranges from entry-level to high-profile and cutting-edge. LAL prides itself as an energetic, collegial, and high-performing organization of professionals who strive to provide the most ethical and high-quality legal services to our clients. We enjoy our work, our colleagues, and our clients.

Salary

The salary listed above is for the Legal Assistant 3 level. Applicants qualifying at the Legal Assistant 1 level will start at a salary range 36 ($31,764 - $41,040) and after successful completion of the in-training will move to a second in-training at the Legal Assistant 2 level. Applicants qualifying at the Legal Assistant 2 level will start at a salary range 40 ($34,860 - $45,288 annually) and after successful completion of the in-training will move to the Legal Assistant 3 range.

Duties

In support of the mission and values of the Attorney General's Office, in a legal setting and in conjunction with other legal staff, this position independently performs a variety of complex legal support assignments such as: identifying and pursuing next steps in litigation or adjudication process; verifying legal citations and references for accuracy, consistency and case relevance; composing correspondence for signature; scheduling arrangements for witness appearances at hearings; independently composing and preparing pleadings per attorney direction, checking legal citations, references and quotation information in briefs, and preparing table of contents and authorities for appellate briefs; performing basic legal research; organizing and preparing trial notebooks, pleadings and exhibits to be used at hearing; assisting an attorney or paralegal with drafting of standard pleadings, records, and interrogatories; assisting an attorney or paralegal with deposition summaries and case summaries; and, drafting requests for production of documents and responses.

The following competencies are desired:

• Demonstrated ability to foster teamwork and collaboration and promote a positive work environment that respects others;
• Ability to maintain productive working relationships across the division, section, agency and with clients and stakeholders, helping to identify and resolve problems;
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, which includes being approachable and demonstrating active listening;
• Exhibiting proactive problem solving skills and maintaining perspective, as part of a team; and,
• Ability to multitask by partnering with assigned attorneys and co-workers to manage an active caseload while meeting deadlines and providing timely client services.

LAL is a collaborative environment providing opportunities for a great variety of administrative and legal experiences for individual and professional growth. We strive to consistently exemplify AGO core values, i.e., to deliver high quality legal services; conduct ourselves with integrity, professionalism, civility, and transparency; and promote a collegial and diverse workplace that values, respects, and supports our employees.

Qualifications

To qualify at the Legal Assistant 3 level:

Option 1: High School diploma or equivalent and four years of experience in a legal environment in support of an attorney, administrative law judge(s), review judge(s) or equivalent;

Option 2: One year as a Legal Assistant 2;

Option 3: A two-year degree in Legal Secretary Studies, Paralegal Studies or related field of study plus 2 years of legal office experience.

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

To qualify at the Legal Assistant 2 level:

Option 1: High School diploma or equivalent and two years of experience in a legal environment in support of an attorney, administrative law judge(s), review judge(s) or equivalent;

Option 2: One year as a Legal Assistant 1;

Option 3: A two-year degree in Legal Secretary Studies, Paralegal Studies or related field plus 1 year of legal office experience.

A Bachelor's degree may substitute for the Legal Secretary or Paralegal degree but not the experience.

To qualify at the Legal Assistant 1 level:

Option 1: High School diploma or equivalent and two years of clerical experience including a minimum of one year of experience in a legal environment;

Option 2: Two years of legal office experience;

Option 3: A combination of three 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.

Supplemental Information

Applicants for legal assistant positions with the Attorney General's Office are required to take a skills assessment prior to appointment in our agency.

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, education, and current salary.

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 Tracy Robinson at 360-586-7693. 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 Judith Vandergeest at (360) 586-7691 or judithv@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.