Paralegal 3, Labor & Industries Section of the Tacoma Division

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 Paralegal 3 in the Tacoma Division. This position is located in Tacoma, Washington, and is represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE).

Paralegal 3 (Range 59) salary range: $67,992 - $91,464
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 Tacoma Division

The Tacoma Division offers a collaborative, collegial, and supportive environment that fosters the success of its members. The Tacoma Division is comprised of 46 attorneys and 57 professional staff.

The division is the “face of the AGO” in Pierce and Kitsap counties.

This division provides a wide variety of legal services for a number of different client agencies, including the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), Department of Social & Health Services (DSHS), Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), Employment Security Department (ESD), and Department of Licensing (DOL).

Employees in the Tacoma office also handle tort matters on behalf of various state agencies.

The Division’s range of legal work is broad, challenging, and complex.

Like the rest of the Attorney General’s Office, the Tacoma Division values diversity and enjoys a collegial, inclusive, and respectful working environment in which every person demonstrates commitment to providing exceptional legal services.

Division members are given the tools to excel professionally.

Duties and Essential Functions of a Paralegal 3

The Labor & Industries Division of the Attorney General's Office serves its client agency and the citizens of the state of Washington by providing quality legal advice and strategic representation with the highest standards of excellence, ethics, and effectiveness.

This position supports that mission by providing advanced paralegal assistance, which, absent the paralegal, would be performed by an assistant attorney general.

These services support attorneys in the practice of law.The duties primarily include, but are not limited to, mediation of appeals and possibly some backup litigation support:Mediation of appeals before the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals

• Under the supervision of an Assistant Attorney General, represent the Department of Labor & Industries at mediation conferences conducted by the Board.
• Review appeal files prior to the first settlement conference.
• Analyze complex legal and factual issues or obtain additional information.
• Conduct investigation to gather relevant information and documents.
• Contact other parties in an effort to resolve appeals.
• Perform legal and medical research as is required by the facts of each appeal and ensure court rules are followed.
• Correspond with others, including potential witnesses and opposing counsel.
• Prepare proposals for settlement and evaluate proposals from other parties, consulting Department employees or senior attorneys.
• Participate in negotiations, discuss and analyze settlement potential with client contacts, and obtain settlement authority to enter into agreements on behalf of the client agency.
• Communicate with the Department by memoranda describing accomplished settlements.
• For assigned cases that do not resolve in mediation, forward files for assignment to attorneys in a timely manner, with a completed review summary that identifies issues, relevant case-related information, potential witnesses, and a narrative as to negotiations in the course of mediation, using prescribed forms.
• Position may require travel to outlying counties within the State.

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.

Qualifications

Research suggests that women and people of color are less likely to apply unless they are confident they meet 100% of the listed qualifications.

We strongly encourage all interested individuals to apply, and allow us to evaluate your combination of knowledge, skills, and abilities demonstrated using an intentional equity lens.

Combination of six years of experience* through:

• Paralegal certification
• Two-year paralegal degree
• Paralegal plus (or nine-month paralegal, post BA) certification,

and/or

• Paraprofessional experience in support of an attorney

OR

• Two years’ experience as a Paralegal 2 in Washington State Service.

*Examples of paraprofessional experience in support of an attorney:

• Preparing legal pleadings and legal correspondence
• Ensuring and verifying timely and proper service of legal documents
• Calculating, verifying, and calendaring critical events and other dates
• Managing case documents, files and exhibits
• Tracking and organizing discovery documents
• Researching legal issues and verifying legal citations and references for accuracy

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of mediation practices.

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.

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.