Legal Assistant 1, Agriculture & Health Division, Olympia

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 or

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 38) salary range: $39,804 - $52,920

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 following stipends may apply based on position requirements:

Incumbents assigned to our Seattle office location receive an additional 5% King County Location Pay stipend.

Incumbents assigned to a position designated as requiring dual language skills will receive a 5% Dual Language Requirement Pay stipend.

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 benefits

Washington 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 Division:

The Agriculture and Health Division is made up of 15 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:

Regular and reliable attendance is a key component to being successful in this position.

Opening, processing, and distributing all incoming electronic mail to the correct staff and mail processing folders.

Opening new cases by independently deciphering which document(s) trigger a new case, reviewing the division’s client assignment list to correctly identify which AAG the case would be assigned to, and accurately decipher and enter the correct information into the office’s Case Management System.

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.

Care for and keep the work areas and general office spaces presentable, organized, up-to-date, and maintains, tracks, and orders necessary office supplies for the division.

Makes travel arrangements and vehicle reservations, using the Corporate Travel Management system by working with and confirming with staff preferred dates and times.

Assists in the reservation of conference rooms which may include setting up and running zoom meetings and possibly setting up of conference room to meet the requestors needs.

Maintains division's multi-function devices (printer/scanner/copier); assists division personnel with operation of 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 general public.

Provides back-up services to Paralegals and supervisor with various division projects to meet deadlines as needed; updating of instructions, staffing lists, or other documents as directed by supervisor.

Uses independent judgment to seek out other projects/work to assist division staff and may occasionally provide back-up to GSE reception and deliver documents to local courts, boards, or client agencies.

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.

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:

Possess a valid Driver’s license to be able to deliver documents to courts, boards, or client agencies, or to different delivery businesses if needed.

About the Washington State Office of the Attorney General

Join an agency whose work impacts the lives of every resident of Washington State. The 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 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.

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

For questions regarding this recruitment or assistance with 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

completing your application, please call NEOGOV toll-free at or .