Supervising Paralegal 2, Social & Health Services Division, Olympia

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 1- or.

Position and Salary:

The Attorney Generals Office is recruiting for a permanent full time Paralegal 2 in the Social & Health Services Olympia Division. This position is located in Tumwater Washington and is represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE).

Paralegal 2 (Range 55) salary range: $61644 - $82872

The base pay offered will take into account internal equity and may vary depending on the preferred candidates 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 Social & Health Services Olympia Division:

Our team of 44 attorneys and 28 professional staff works at the heart of Washingtons social safety net. We provide legal support for five state agencies including the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) and the Health Care Authority (HCA) to provide benefits protection and care to some of our states most vulnerable and disenfranchised residents.

Our cases range from large federal court class action cases to individual administrative appeals. Our recent cases include challenges to state employee health benefits programs and a challenge to the adequacy of the states mental health services.

We also handle a wide range of legal matters including:

Seeking protections for vulnerable adults at risk of abuse or neglect;

Defending lawsuits brought by legal advocacy groups organizations on behalf of Medicaid recipients and individuals with disabilities;

Complex civil rights challenges by residents of the Special Commitment Center for sexually violent predators;

Civil and felony commitment hearings and trials;

Contract disputes with medical providers and managed care organizations; and

Appeals related to eligibility for medical services.

Our division is dedicated to fostering a positive and supportive workplace. We prioritize employee growth through a culture that recognizes hard work and provides active support for career advancement. Regular social events help us connect and strengthen our collaborative team dynamic - join us!

Duties and Essential Functions of a Supervising Paralegal 2:

• Provide administrative support for court cases and administrative matters
  1. Document Preparation & Filing: Proofread format and finalize legal documents ensuring accuracy. Arrange for legal messenger services using only authorized vendors approved by DES.
  2. Case Management & Processing: Enter and track legal documents in CMS monitor case deadlines update records and maintain the Electronic Case File Mailbox according to protocols.
  3. Administrative & Legal Support: Schedule meetings depositions and conference calls; coordinate with court personnel opposing parties and clients; prepare attorney travel arrangements within approved per diem rates.
  4. Records & File Maintenance: Close and archive case files per AGO and divisional procedures clean out electronic case files and coordinate the return of physical files as needed.
• Supervise train and coach professional staff in the performance of their assigned duties SHO Behavioral Health Sections and serve as a member of the management team.
  1. Supervise & Manage Workloads: Plan assign and review staff work adjusting distribution as needed to balance workloads. Provide training coaching and updated resources.
  2. Evaluate & Develop Staff: Assess staff performance offer ongoing feedback and support skill development while keeping supervisors informed of assignments and workload.
  3. Support Leadership & Operations: Provide backup support to Paralegal 3 and other supervisors lead professional staff meetings and participate in management discussions.
  4. Improve Processes & Procedures: Assist in developing office procedures and recommend improvements to enhance team efficiency and effectiveness.
• Provide technical paralegal support to attorneys in court cases and administrative proceedings.
  1. Legal Document Preparation: Draft correspondence pleadings and discovery materials for attorney review and signature.
  2. Trial & Litigation Support: Assist with trial preparation including exhibit organization trial notebooks and coordinating witnesses. Organize jury instructions and pleadings for jury trials.
  3. Case Coordination & Communication: Confer with litigation experts schedule meetings with clients and counsel and provide case updates.
  4. Deadline & Case Management: Track key case events calculate deadlines and ensure compliance with court rules and agency policies.

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.

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

About the Washington State Office of the Attorney General

The Attorney Generals 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 states 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 AGOs commitment to diversity can be found in its nomination for Rainbow Alliance and Inclusion NetworksOutstanding 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.
• 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 .

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 1- 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 .