Job Description

Description

Persons requiring reasonable accommodation in the application process or requiring information in an alternative format may contact the recruitment team at . Those with a hearing impairment in need of accommodation are encouraged to contact the Washington Relay Service at 1- or .

All employees and volunteers of the Washington State Attorney Generals Office serve a crucial role in the protection of the state its people and resources thereby providing an incomparable degree of job satisfaction. The AGO is composed of diverse collegial and supremely talented legal professionals who are resolute in their commitment to public service and share the common goal of advancing the public interest. For more information about the AGO we encourage you to review the Offices Annual Report which can be found .

The Office appreciates the benefits of a healthy life-work balance as well as a respectful inclusive and diverse workplace. Successful candidates will join an Office in which every person is committed to providing exceptional legal services and where individual professional development is encouraged and supported. The exceptional benefits of joining the AGO include:

• 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 $82212 and $153996. The exact amount is set in accordance with Appendix B of the

• 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

• Flex schedules and telecommuting options

• A formal AAG mentoring program that complements the AGOs 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

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If you are interested in being part of a supportive team that has a culture of learning and collaboration then the of the WA State Attorney Generals Office has the perfect opportunity as an Assistant Attorney General representing a combination of higher education institutions and K-12 clients. The Education Division has two sections - Olympia and Seattle WA. This full-time or part-time temporary position will be located in the Olympia section of the Education Division. Some travel is required for client meetings and other responsibilities.

The work of the Education Division is wide ranging and varied and there are ample opportunities for learning challenges and fun. Our greatest asset is the people on the Education team and the knowledge and support that we share freely with one another.

The Education Division serves more than 50 education-related clients. Higher education clients include EWU CWU WWU The Evergreen State College 34 community and technical colleges and state higher education boards the Washington Student Achievement Council and the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating the K-12 system clients include the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and the State Board of Education. The Division has 11 attorneys 4 professional staff and supervises the education work for 14 attorneys in the Regional Services and Spokane Divisions.

Olympia Washington sits on Budd Inlet at the south end of the Puget Sound. It is a very livable city with ready access to outdoor recreation opportunities and great schools. The Education Division is a small cohesive unit with a supportive culture focused on fostering respect and belonging. The Olympia section of the Education Division is located in the Highways-Licenses Building in Olympia on the east capitol campus with excellent access to downtown Olympia and the beautiful State Capitol grounds.

Duties

The Education Division has an exciting opportunity in its Olympia office for an experienced attorney interested in working with a collegial team of attorneys and professional staff for the next nine months to one year. This position can be full-time or part-time and will provide legal advice and representation to one or more institutions of higher education and other State education agencies (K-12).

The Education Division provides legal services to a broad array of agency clients including the States education governance and oversight agencies and 38 institutions of higher education (excluding the University of Washington and Washington State University). The Olympia section of the division serves as the headquarters for education legal work performed around the State. The clients its seven attorneys advise and represent include: the Superintendent of Public Instruction The Evergreen State College Central Washington University seven community or technical colleges and eleven other education-related agencies. The position involves a mixture of client advice transactional work and litigation. The clients are mission-driven and sophisticated. They highly value responsiveness and clear communication.

This assignment is challenging varied with an opportunity to work on a wide range of topics including but not limited to labor and employment student activities and conduct social media First Amendment due process administrative law anti-discrimination land use and public works contracts and procurement/business transactions data security intellectual property institutional governance public records and open public meetings. The subject matter is broad and interesting. The attorney is expected to be able to work collaboratively and coordinate with attorneys for other education-related agencies and keep abreast of education issues both statewide and nationally.

This position also represents the client agencies in all non-tort litigation which may include administrative hearings labor arbitrations and original proceedings in state and federal courts. Experience and interest in litigation is desirable.

The Education Division fosters a collegial team environment supports many clients and covers a broad array of subject matters. Collaborative staffing of legal issues is an important part of the division culture. Typical duties for this position include frequent contact with agency representatives to understand legal issues and needs timely research and synthesis of relevant law providing options-based legal advice providing training reviewing contracts negotiating on the clients behalf appearing in administrative proceedings and courts to defend agency decisions and actions drafting briefs and motions and working with discovery. Duties also include travel to client agencies for meetings of governing boards and travel to courthouses and administrative forums throughout the state; occasionally requiring multi-day/overnight stays.

Qualifications

In addition to meeting the requirements to apply and serve as an Assistant Attorney General we seek candidates who have practiced for a minimum of 5 years who are interested in a diverse and intellectually stimulating practice and are comfortable juggling multiple client assignments.

The strongest candidates will also possess the following:

• Experience in one or more of the practice areas described above and/or serving education clients or other public sector entities.
• A strong interest in education law.
• Superior interpersonal skills including the ability to nurture positive working relationships with sophisticated clients and colleagues.
• Ability to engage in clear high-quality oral and written communication.
• Diplomacy and outstanding judgment.
• Independent thinking and practical problem-solving skills and the ability to quickly learn new areas of law.
• High caliber research and analytical skills.
• Experience interviewing and preparing witnesses for testimony responding to discovery and conducting hearings or oral arguments before arbitrators administrative tribunals or the state or federal courts.
• Ability to successfully handle competing time-sensitive matters and multiple priorities under pressure.
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively with coworkers and clients.
• Highest degree of ethics and professionalism.
• Respect and collegiality toward professional staff and attorneys and the ability to foster teamwork and contribute to our highly-valued positive work environment.

Applicants must have graduated from a law school accredited by the ABA or completed the WSBAs Rule 6 Law Clerk Program; and be licensed to practice law in Washington state. (Applicants who meet the other stated qualifications and are actively pursuing admission by motion will also be considered.) The AGO seeks applicants who are committed to public service as demonstrated by an applicants background talents attitude and enthusiasm for public law practice. The AGO greatly encourages celebrates and values diversity appreciating that a workforce composed of those from different backgrounds and experiences creates an inclusive environment strengthens positive relationships with the local community and brings new perspectives and approaches to fulfill its mission of providing excellent independent and ethical legal services to the State of Washington and protecting the rights of its people.

Supplemental Information

This Assistant Attorney General position is 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 $82212 and $153996 . The exact amount is set in accordance with Appendix B of the . A competitive state benefits package is also offered which includes a choice of medical/dental insurance plans retirement life and basic long-term disability 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 AGOs .

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

• A letter of interest;
• Resume;
• Law school transcript (unofficial copy is acceptable) showing date law degree was conferred; and
• A Writing sample (10 pages or less).

If you have questions about this position and/or want to learn more about it before applying we welcome and encourage you to contact Division Chief Aileen Miller at / .

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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 .

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 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 . Those with a hearing impairment in need of accommodation are encouraged to contact the Washington Relay Service at 1- or .

For questions regarding the application process please contact the recruitment team at . If you are having technical difficulties creating accessing or completing your application please call NEOGOV toll-free at or .

Required Experience:

Junior IC

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