Legal Assistant 1, Agriculture and Health Division, Olympia

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.

Position and Salary
The Attorney General’s Office is recruiting for a permanent full time Legal Assistant 1 in the Agriculture and Health Division. This position is located in Olympia, Washington, and is represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE).

Legal Assistant 1 (Range 42) salary range: $45,024 - $60,132 annually
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 AGO provides a workplace that is understanding of work-life balance and promotes advancement by offering a wide variety of professional development and growth opportunities.

Excellent benefitsWashington 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 part-time/hybrid telework options;
• A Wellness Program, an Infants in the Workplace Program, and the Employee Assistance Program, which provides counseling, webinar, and other cost-free support resources;
• Numerous employee-driven affinity groups to foster community and connection, including Bereavement, Elder Care, Parenting, POC, LGBTQ+, Veterans and more. The AGO is a place to belong and make a difference!

About the Agriculture and Health

The Agriculture and Health Division is made up of 16 attorneys and 9 professional staff when fully staffed.

The division represents the Departments of Agriculture, Archaeology and Historic Preservation, Commerce, and Health, as well as 22 Agricultural Commodity Commissions and the Northwest Interstate Compact on Low-Level Radioactive Waste.

The division's work involves both litigation and advice related to oversight of health care practitioners and facilities, certification of medical marijuana consultants, the regulation of agricultural activities and food processing, pest eradication, threats to human health, shellfish sanitation, drinking water and septic systems, funding of innovative life sciences research and clean energy technology, historic and archaeological artifact preservation and low-level radioactive waste disposal.

The division also assists with legal issues related to the Energy Independence Act and programs to improve the state's economy, infrastructure, and disadvantaged populations.

Duties and Essential Functions of a Legal Assistant 1

• Work alongside driven colleagues who value encouragement, growth, and shared achievements.
• Regular and reliable attendance is a key component to being successful in this position.
• Opening, processing, and distributing all incoming electronic (and the random hard copy) mail to the correct staff.
• Handle out-going hard copy mail by printing and collating documents, correctly creating mailing labels and timely getting prepared mail to the mailroom to meet daily deadlines.
• Opening new cases by independently deciphering which document(s) trigger a new case, reviewing the division’s client assignment list to correctly identify which Assistant Attorney General the case would be assigned to, and accurately decipher and enter the correct information into the office’s Case Management System.
• Care for and keep the work areas and general office spaces presentable, organized, up-to-date, and maintain, track, and order necessary office supplies for the division.
• Make travel arrangements and vehicle reservations, using the offices designated systems by working with and confirming with staff preferred dates and times.
• Assist in the reservation of conference rooms, which may include setting up and running zoom meetings and possibly adjusting conference rooms to meet the requestor’s needs.
• Maintains division's multi-function devices (printer/scanner/copier); assists division personnel with their operation and helps troubleshoot problems; contacts vendor to arrange service calls and assists with periodic maintenance/cleaning as needed.
• Acts as the agency liaison with state boards, tribunals, and court clerk's offices, other attorneys and their staff as well as the public.
• Provides back-up services to paralegals and supervisors with various division projects to meet deadlines as needed; updating instructions, staffing lists, or other documents as directed.
• Enjoys the experience of working with inspiring co-workers and mentors who provide continual growth opportunities while performing work that positively benefits and protects the people of Washington.

This recruitment announcement may be used to fill multiple open positions for the same classification, in addition to the position(s) listed in this announcement.

Required Qualifications

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.

Skill & Abilities

• Strong organizational skills essential for effectively managing tasks and deadlines.

• Effective communication skills both verbal and written to efficiently share ideas, information, and procedures.

• Technical proficiency in Microsoft applications (Word, Outlook, Excel, One Note)

• Familiarity with Adobe to be able to process, combine, merge, and collate documents.

Conditions of Employment

• Be available to work in-office 5 days a week, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

• A valid non-probationary Washington State Driver's License is required for this position.

  • This position has daily runs for the office with taking records to the courts. In order to drive the state owned vehicles, the incumbent must have a valid driver’s license.
    
    

About the Washington State Office of the Attorney GeneralThe 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 2024 Zo8 Washington Wellness Award.

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.
• 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.

The AGO complies with employment eligibility verification requirements of the federal employment eligibility verification form, I-9, and the selected candidate for these roles, on the first day of employment, must be able to provide proof of identity and eligibility to work in the Unities States consistent with the requirements of form I-9.

In order to proceed in the consideration process at AGO, you will need to provide work authorization that would not require the AGO to sign a cooperative education agreement with a school.




Equal Employment Opportunity and Accommodations Requests

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 the recruitment team at HREmployment@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.