Paralegal 2

Position and Salary

The Attorney General’s Office is recruiting for a permanent full time Paralegal 2 in the Consumer Protection Division – Public Counsel Unit. This position is located in Seattle, 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 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. 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 Consumer Protection Division – Public Counsel Unit

As a Public Counsel Paralegal 2, you will join a collegial and collaborative unit within the AGO’s Consumer Protection Division and serve as an advocate for residential and small business customers of regulated public utility companies, including electric, natural gas, telecommunications, and water companies, as well as customers of regulated transportation companies. Your work in cases that set rates, establish and enforce service quality standards, review merger and acquisition petitions, and establish clean energy standards and your participation in policy-focused practice in rulemakings before the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (WUTC) and the Legislature will have a direct and measurable impact on the lives of millions of Washingtonians.

Duties and Essential Functions of a Paralegal 2 Supervisor

In support of the Mission and Values of the Attorney General’s Office, Public Counsel Unit the primary purpose of this position is to provide routine legal support to the PCU AAGs and regulatory analysts in litigation and policy dockets in front of the WUTC.

Professional staff in the Public Counsel are valued members of litigation teams. Their input is critical to case management and strategy. The division is a collaborative environment where individuals’ contributions are equally valued. If you are offered this position, you can expect to be an active participant in case planning and provide valuable input when decisions are being made. The Public Counsel Unit also makes professional growth a priority. Professional staff are encouraged to take on more responsibility as their careers progress, and training, leadership, and professional development are all opportunities this position will provide.

If you enjoy helping people and being a part of a collaborative team environment, this position is for you! You will provide support to unit attorneys and analysts by acting as the case manager for all the cases of your assigned AAG. Organize and maintain litigation, policy, and compliance dockets. Identify and track case deadlines. Track case status, documents, and witnesses using tracking logs and case management system. Utilize document databases for tracking, analyzing, reviewing and coding documents. Prepare, review and summarize data requests. Compose filings, letters, and/or other legal documents in accordance with AGO policies and procedures, and WUTC statutes and regulations. Manage and track expert contracts and coordinate with experts to prepare testimony and exhibits. Participate in litigation team meetings. Identify, organize, and prepare exhibits and testimony for contested hearings.

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.

Required 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

The most successful candidate will have the following skills and abilities:

• Experience preparing filings for the Washington State Utilities Commission
• Researching legal issues and verifying legal citations and references for accuracy
• Preparing legal pleadings and legal correspondence
• Calculating, verifying, and calendaring critical events and other dates

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.