Assistant Attorney General (Temporary) - Education Division, Olympia

Full Job Description

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 $82,212 and $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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If you are interested in being part of a supportive team that has a culture of learning and collaboration, then the Education Division of the WA State Attorney General’s 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, 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 Board.

In 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.

Requirements

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 or so months.

This position 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 State’s 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 Divison 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:

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 by motion 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 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 $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, 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 (360) 753-2582 / aileen.miller@atg.wa.gov.

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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 www.uscis.gov.

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 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.