AAG - Children, Youth, and Families Division's Juvenile Lit. Section, Tumwater

Full Job 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.

All employees and volunteers of the Washington State Attorney General's 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 Office's Annual Report which can be found HERE.

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 $82,212and $153,996. The exact amount is set in accordance with Appendix B of the AWAAG CBA
• 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 AWAAG CBA
• Flex schedules and telecommuting options
• A formal AAG mentoring program that complements the AGO's 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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The Children, Youth, and Families Division (CYF) of the WA State Attorney General's Office has an immediate opening for an Assistant Attorney General (AAG) in its Juvenile Litigation Section.

The CYF Division is made up of two sections, the Juvenile Litigation (JUV) Section and the Program Advice and Litigation (PAL) Section.

The JUV Section has an exciting opportunity for an AAG to represent the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) in juvenile litigation cases.

This position will have a fast-paced litigation assignment that involves appearing in court frequently to represent DCYF in contested shelter care hearings, dependency fact-findings, and termination of parent rights trials.

If you are an energetic attorney who wants a challenging and rewarding position, enjoys being in the court, are committed to protecting vulnerable children, and is looking for an extremely collaborative and collegial work environment, this would be an excellent fit for you.

The satisfaction that comes from doing this work and supporting the professional development of other attorneys and staff is profoundly rewarding.

Requirements

The Section’s Work:

The JUV Section provides legal representation to the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) to protect abused and neglected children in dependency, guardianship, and termination of parental rights cases.

This position involves a fast-paced litigation workload, with weekly in person court appearances and frequent trials. The subject matter can be difficult, but the work is remarkably rewarding.

These cases directly influence the lives of children in our state in a very meaningful way.

The seventeen-attorney JUV Section represents DCYF in child welfare cases in Thurston, Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, and Pacific Counties' juvenile and superior courts and in appellate courts, as well as foster care and child care licensing cases before the Office of Administrative Hearings.

This team spends significant time appearing and litigating in superior court, advising clients, identifying and developing legal strategy, and achieving resolution of cases through settlement and trial.

Section attorneys also provide ongoing training to DCYF social workers and colleagues in the AGO.

The AAG will join a division and section with staff who are talented, compassionate, highly collegial, and dedicated to serving in an essential role in the protection of the State’s most vulnerable people.

Members of the division and section are uniformly committed to creating a workplace that is cooperative, inclusive, and supportive of personal and professional growth.

This full-time position is located in Tumwater, and involves travel to other nearby counties.

Qualifications

In addition to meeting the requirements to serve as an Assistant Attorney General, desirable qualifications include:

• The ability to juggle competing priorities and emergent issues,
• The ability to work well with a variety of people,
• Strong desire to litigate and be in the courtroom,
• A passion for child welfare, and
• Due to the challenging subject matter, flexibility and empathy are also desirable qualities.

Applicants must have graduated from a law school accredited by the ABA or completed the WSBA's 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 will also be considered.) The AGO seeks applicants who are committed to public service as demonstrated by an applicant's 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.

Additional Information

This AAG 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 $82,212 and $153,996. The exact amount is set in accordance with Appendix B of the AWAAG CBA.

A competitive state benefits package is also offered which includes a choice of medical/dental insurance plans, retirement, life and basic long-term disability insurance.

In 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 AGO's environmental policies.

Interested applicants must apply by hitting the "apply" button above. In addition to the on-line application, one must upload, via the system and preferably as PDFs:

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

If you have questions about this position and/or want to learn more about it before applying, you are welcome and encouraged to contact Section Chief Margaret MacRae at 360-999-7748 or by email at margaret.macrae@atg.wa.gov or Division Chief Carrie Wayno at 360-586-6498 or by email at Carrie.Wayno@atg.wa.gov.

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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 atHREmployment@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.