Paralegal 2 | Complex Litigation | Seattle & Tumwater at State of Washington

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 2 in the Complex Litigation Division . This position is located in Seattle or Tumwater , Washington, and is represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE). Paralegal 2 (Range 55) salary range: $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 following stipends may apply based on position requirements: • Note : Paralegal 2s assigned to work within King County receive Group C Assignment Pay in addition to their base pay. The Group C pay percentage received at this classification is a limited premium and applies at the Paralegal 2 classification. • King County Paralegal 2s – 5% Group C Assignment Pay • Incumbents assigned to our Seattle office location receive an additional 5% King County Location 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 Complex Litigation Division The Complex Litigation Division is comprised of 28 Attorneys, 26 Paralegals, 1 Administrative Office Manager, 1 Investigator, and 1 Legal Office Assistant. The Division has staff in Tumwater, Tacoma, Seattle, and Spokane, Washington. The Division has many ongoing cases challenging overreach by the federal government, such as HUD homelessness grants, public benefits programs, student mental health grants, gender-affirming care, FEMA disaster mitigation funding, the dismantling of HHS, teen reproductive health education, and public health grants, as well as a lengthy history of challenging past federal government action. The Division also litigates cases such as Washington’s lawsuits related to the opioid epidemic; lawsuits against gambling apps; challenges to the constitutionality of the State’s law restricting gun magazine capacity size and the law banning the sale of assault weapons; and issues stemming from the tobacco Master Settlement Agreement. Case teams of AAGs and paralegals generally range in size from three to eight. The Division’s cases have substantial motion practice and frequently involve large amounts of documents and data. Duties and Essential Functions of a Paralegal 2 DUTIES • Provide advanced litigation and trial support to Assistant Attorneys General in civil litigation and administrative proceedings. • Manage complex and voluminous discovery, document review, and litigation support databases. • Conduct legal research and prepare research summaries to support litigation strategy. • Collaborate with attorneys, clients, experts, and litigation team members to ensure effective case management and successful litigation outcomes. • Drafts and executes expert contracts per Agency and Division policies. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS • Independently analyze complex litigation matters to identify legal issues, discovery needs, and case management requirements. • Draft pleadings, correspondence, discovery requests, discovery responses, subpoenas, and other legal documents for attorney review. • Coordinate and manage all phases of discovery, including organizing records, preparing privilege logs, tracking productions, and maintaining discovery databases. • Utilize litigation support software, including Everlaw, to review documents, apply redactions, create review workflows, manage productions, and maintain case databases. • Identify, collect, organize, and manage documentary, electronic, statistical, and demonstrative evidence for use in litigation and administrative hearings. • Assist attorneys with trial and hearing preparation by organizing exhibits, preparing trial notebooks, coordinating fact and expert witnesses, and providing in-person litigation support during hearings and trials. • Conduct legal research using statutes, regulations, case law, administrative rules, and agency policies; prepare legal research memoranda and verify legal authorities. • Coordinate with litigation experts, clients, and opposing counsel regarding case scheduling, document exchange, and litigation activities. • Monitor case progress, track deadlines, and collaborate with litigation teams to ensure timely completion of case assignments. • Maintain confidentiality while exercising sound judgment, attention to detail, and professionalism in handling sensitive legal information. • Manage both testifying and consulting contracts, including drafting, executing, amending and paying invoices for a variety of client agencies. We’re Looking for Somone Who • Has experience supporting complex civil litigation or administrative proceedings. • Enjoys organizing large volumes of information and solving challenging legal and procedural issues. • Has strong legal research and writing skills. • Is comfortable managing discovery and working with electronic litigation support platforms such as Everlaw or similar document review software. • Communicates effectively with attorneys, clients, experts, courts, and team members. • Thrives in a collaborative, fast-paced legal environment. • Demonstrates exceptional attention to detail, sound judgment, and the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously. • Comfortable initiating conversations and generating work flows to coordinate projects and other assignments independently. 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 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 • Assisting attorneys with hearing and trial preparation Preferred Qualifications • Initiative: Independently identifies priorities, manages tasks, and takes proactive steps to meet deadlines while maintaining accuracy and quality. • Knowledge of Court Rules: Maintains and applies knowledge of local, state, federal, and appellate court rules and filing requirements. • Case Preparation Skills: Supports attorneys by coordinating discovery, reviewing case materials, and assisting with witness coordination and case preparation. • Workload Management: Effectively manages multiple cases and competing deadlines while producing accurate, timely work. • Technology & Litigation Support: Uses case management systems, litigation databases, and legal software to organize discovery and track case activity. • Organization: Manages large volumes of information, maintains accurate records, and prioritizes work efficiently. • Communication: Communicates clearly and professionally with attorneys, clients, witnesses, court personnel, and colleagues. • Investigation Skills: Identifies and gathers relevant information through research, document review, and witness interviews. • Trial & Hearing Preparation Skills : Recommend strategic options to trial team during case development and trial preparation, including analysis of legal issues, correlation of evidence, witness preparation, and presentation of case at trial. 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 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 .

Requirements

Must-haves

Position and Salary
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.
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
Flexible schedules and part-time/hybrid telework options;
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 Complex Litigation Division
Case teams of AAGs and paralegals generally range in size from three to eight. The Division’s cases have substantial motion practice and frequently involve large amounts of documents and data.
Duties and Essential Functions of a Paralegal 2
Provide advanced litigation and trial support to Assistant Attorneys General in civil litigation and administrative proceedings.
Manage complex and voluminous discovery, document review, and litigation support databases.
Conduct legal research and prepare research summaries to support litigation strategy.

Nice-to-haves

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.
Initiative: Independently identifies priorities, manages tasks, and takes proactive steps to meet deadlines while maintaining accuracy and quality.
Knowledge of Court Rules: Maintains and applies knowledge of local, state, federal, and appellate court rules and filing requirements.
Case Preparation Skills: Supports attorneys by coordinating discovery, reviewing case materials, and assisting with witness coordination and case preparation.
Workload Management: Effectively manages multiple cases and competing deadlines while producing accurate, timely work.
Technology & Litigation Support: Uses case management systems, litigation databases, and legal software to organize discovery and track case activity.
Organization: Manages large volumes of information, maintains accurate records, and prioritizes work efficiently.
Communication: Communicates clearly and professionally with attorneys, clients, witnesses, court personnel, and colleagues.
Investigation Skills: Identifies and gathers relevant information through research, document review, and witness interviews.
About the Washington State Office of the Attorney General
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)

Application prep

Use the role’s language and application details while tailoring your materials.

Platform: governmentjobs
Effort: medium

Benefits

Benefits detected in the listing.

Dental

Vision

Wellness

Professional Development