Supervising Legal Assistant, Torts Division, WA State Office of the Attorney General
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 INFORMATION:
The Attorney General’s Office is recruiting for a permanent full time Legal Assistant 4 in the TORTS Division. This position is located in downtown Seattle, Washington. This position is represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE).
Legal Assistant 4 Salary Range 48: $3,915 - $5,268 monthly
In addition to the salary listed above, Legal Assistant 4 incumbents assigned to our Seattle office location receive a 15% Legal Assistant Assignment Pay stipend plus an additional 5% King County Location Pay stipend. If a position is designated as requiring dual language skills, incumbents will also receive a 5% Dual Language Requirement Pay stipend.
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 telework options for most positions, a Wellness Program, the Employee Assistance Program, and numerous affinity groups to foster community and connection.
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!
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 2021 Zo8 Washington Wellness Award.
Division Information
The Torts Division is comprised of 43 attorneys and 88 professional staff in Olympia, Tacoma, Spokane, and Seattle. The division defends tort claims and lawsuits against all state agencies, officers and employees. The majority of cases are based on actions brought under theories of liability for state actions such as highway design, release of inmates, injuries on state property, medical malpractice, employment, childcare and custody, auto accidents, maritime injuries, false arrests, and unreasonable force. Tort attorneys also provide legal and risk management advice to the Department of Enterprise Services, Office of Risk Management and state agencies on tort matters.
The primary legal service provided by the Torts Division is the resolution of damage claims against state agencies and employees. Many cases are resolved through successful pretrial motions, saving the state significant resources in research, discovery and investigations. The remaining cases are evaluated for settlement after pre-trial discovery. If possible, cases are settled through direct negotiation or mediated negotiation. Cases that cannot be settled, or those which are inappropriate for settlement due to lack of liability, are tried before juries. The Torts Division also handles all appeals resulting from those cases. If you desire work that is different each day, teamwork at all levels, and gives you the flexibility of a good work/life balance, the Torts Division is for you.
What does a Legal Assistant 4 do?
Coordinates with the Administrative Office Manager and other division managers to plan, lead, organize, and control the work performed by direct reports and other office staff. Assists in the hiring, evaluation, and corrective action of designated staff, requiring a thorough understanding and implementation of the Human Resource Management System (HRMS), and agency policies and procedures. Has the authority to approve timekeeping, leave and training for employees under direct supervision. Assures appropriate and optimum use of the organization’s resources and enhances the effectiveness of employees through timely appraisal and professional development opportunities.
Supervises, trains, and coaches legal support staff in the performance of all duties. At the expert level applies independent judgment in completing complex tasks and projects. These include schedules, prepares agendas and conducts team meetings; determines the distribution of subordinates’ workload to resolve workload conflicts using expert knowledge of legal support assignments; assists in the formulation of office procedures and updates office manuals to maximize the efficiency and operations of a legal office.
Develops and/or updates position description forms; interviews and recommends individuals for appointment or promotion; provides training to new and existing staff; provides new staff with orientation; assigns and monitors work of lower level legal assistants; conducts interim and annual performance reviews; takes corrective action, and recommends disciplinary action when needed.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Option 1: High School diploma or equivalent and five years of experience in a legal environment in support of an attorney, administrative law judge(s), review judge(s) or equivalent including at least two years of supervising, leading, mentoring, coaching or training experience;
Option 2: One year as a Legal Assistant 3;
Option 3: A combination of six years of college education and/or relevant experience including at least two years of supervising, leading, mentoring, coaching or training experience.
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Per AGO Policy, employees and volunteers of the AGO must be fully vaccinated as a condition of employment. Being fully vaccinated means that an individual is at least two weeks past their final dose of an authorized COVID-19 vaccine regimen. Effective March 14, 2022, the AGO announced pursuant to its policy, that employees and volunteers must also receive a booster shot as a condition of employment. Employees or volunteers who are not eligible to receive the booster before their start date, due to required waiting times after receiving their initial vaccine(s), must provide confirmation of the vaccine type and date received so the AGO can calculate the date by which they must receive the booster. If you are selected to serve within the AGO as an employee or volunteer, you will be required to provide proof of vaccination and booster (if already received) before you are able to begin work. You may request an accommodation if you are unable to meet the requirement due to a medical or religious necessity.
Applicants or candidates being considered for employment shall not share their vaccination status with hiring managers or interview panels.
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:
- You may not reapply to this posting for 60 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.
- A resume will not substitute for completing the "work experience" section of the application.
- Please be sure to remove private information such as your Social Security number, date of birth, etc.
- All information may be verified and documentation may be required.
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.
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.
For assistance with the application process, please contact Judith Vandergeest or (360) 586-7691.
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