Paralegal 2 Supervisor | Regional Services Division | Kennewick | Internal Applicants Only

Persons requiring reasonable accommodation in the application process or requiring information in an alternative format may contact the recruitment team at [email protected]. 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.

This position is open to current permanent employees of the Washington State Office of the Attorney General only.

Position and Salary The Attorney General’s Office is recruiting for a permanent full time Paralegal 2 in the Regional Services Division. This position is located in Kennewick, Washington, and is represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE).

Paralegal 2 Salary Range (55): $62,880 - $84,528 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 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 Regional Services Division Regional Services Division is made up of seven sections located in communities across Central, Eastern, and Western Washington outside the Seattle-Tacoma-Olympia corridor. The division provides legal services to a variety of state agencies and institutions of higher education in the counties surrounding each of the seven locations. By sharing information and strategies across the division, the employees in Regional Services are able to provide excellent legal services through the efforts of employees who live in and play an active part in the communities they serve. Legal Services Provided: The office provides representation to our clients through both litigation and client advice. Litigation includes hearings and trials in juvenile court and superior court and administrative hearings under the Administrative Procedures Act. Client advice is provided to clients on a broad range of subjects, particularly in the representation of education clients. Attorneys are also responsible for handling cases appealed to the Court of Appeals and Washington Supreme Court.

Duties and Essential Functions of a Paralegal 2 Supervisor This position supports the mission and values of the Attorney General’s Office by performing expert-level paralegal work and supervision of professional staff in support of cases assigned to Assistant Attorneys General in litigation of state matters in the Regional Services Division’s Kennewick Office representing Department of Child, Youth and Families, Department of Social and Health Services, and the Department of Labor and Industries. The primary assignments for this position include providing litigation support in juvenile litigation cases for the Department of Child, Youth and Families; and supervising Paralegal 1s. Other litigation and supervision assignments may be made depending on the business needs of the office. While telework is supported within the division, in-person supervision of assigned professional staff is desired. This position regularly performs work within the following court venues: Benton, Franklin, Garfield, Walla Walla, and Columbia Counties, as well as before the Office of Administrative Hearings. At times, this position may also perform within other venues such as other state Superior and Appellate Courts. This recruitment announcement may be used to fill multiple positions for the same classification, in addition to the position(s) listed in this announcement.

Required Qualifications - This position is open to current permanent employees of the Washington State Office of the Attorney General only. 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 four 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

• One year experience as a Paralegal 1 in Washington State Service.

*You may have gained applicable paraprofessional experience through previous Paralegal or Legal Assistant work. 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

The most competitive candidates will exhibit the following:

• Experience with litigation and expert knowledge of pleadings and the deadlines they trigger;
• Ability to remain calm and help calm others during stressful events;
• Strong communication skills, with an emphasis on listening and bringing people together;
• Experience with supervising, leading, mentoring, coaching, or training others;
• Washington State civil litigation experience;
• Experience working with court rules and statues supporting litigation work; and
• Discovery production and assisting at hearings and trials.

About the Washington State Office of the Attorney General 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 Instructions 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 [email protected]. 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 [email protected]. If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing or completing your application, please call NEOGOV toll-free at (855) 524-5627 or [email protected].