Assistant Attorney General - 2022 Honors Program
Agency Name: Washington Attorney General's Office
Position / Job Title : Assistant Attorney General - 2022 Honors Program
Location: Multiple Locations Statewide
Category : Law Student
Job Description: The Washington State Attorney General's Office (AGO) is pleased to invite you to apply to our 2022 Honors Program. The Honors Program is a yearly opportunity for qualified third- year law students, as well as judicial clerks of the appellate and federal courts, to apply for permanent, entry-level attorney positions. This year’s program will culminate in offers of an Assistant Attorney General (AAG) position to approximately 5 applicants. Those who receive offers will be placed into AAG positions starting in August/September of 2023. Offers are contingent upon passing the July 2023 Washington State Bar examination or, for judicial clerks not yet members of the Washington State Bar Association, admission to the Washington State Bar by one's start date. Those who receive and accept an offer will be placed in a division that takes into consideration one’s preferences for division and office location assignment. Accordingly, one’s divisional and geographic preferences and flexibility is a critical factor in the AGO’s Honors application and interview process. Regardless of one's specific placement, the AGO offers the opportunity to hit the ground running with meaningful work, collegial colleagues and a strong infrastructure to build a successful legal career in public service. New AAGs can expect to receive immediate responsibility for case or client representation in an environment with ample training, mentorship and guidance. For feedback from other attorneys who have joined the office through the Honors program check out this page.
Duties:
Although every position is unique, typical duties of AAGs include: -Researching legal issues; -Consulting with clients and providing option-based advice as necessary; -Developing litigation strategies; -Identifying and preparing witnesses and exhibits; -Crafting necessary pleadings and briefs; -Litigating cases before administrative entities or various levels of state and federal court; -Working directly and collaboratively with professional staff to meet and support litigation needs; and -Positively contributing to the supportive, inclusive and collegial community that is the Washington Attorney General's Office.
Qualifications:
To be eligible, one must be a third-year law student attending a school accredited by the ABA, or a judicial clerk of an appellate or federal court, who received a JD from a law school accredited by the ABA. The following qualifications are highly desirable: -Superior verbal and written communication skills that allows one to convey accurate and sometimes complex information in a clear, concise and understandable manner; -Interest in litigation and the ability to work both independently and in teams to successfully prioritize and manage one's own caseload; -Strong interpersonal skills including being a team player and being able to work with people of diverse backgrounds with respect and professionalism at all times; -An interest in the work of the AGO and a demonstrated commitment to public service; -A diverse background in terms of education, experience and perspective; -Interest and self-motivation to learn new areas of the law and develop new skills; and -Divisional and geographic preferences that can be reasonably satisfied via the Honors Program's timing and placement process.
* * * * * * * * * * * * 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 your start date. You may request an accommodation if you are unable to meet the requirement due to a medical or religious necessity. * * * * * * * * * * * *
A few positions within the AGO have exposure to information that requires staff be screened and pass a fingerprint-based background check. Although it is unlikely that an Honors Program candidate would be placed into a position that requires such a fingerprint background check, given the positions' inherent experience level and the fact that so few positions require such a check, this nevertheless provides notice that you may be subject to a fingerprint background check and be subject to additional background checks as a condition of employment every five (5) years thereafter.
Supplemental Information:
Additional information such as writing samples and additional letters of recommendation will be accepted, but are not required.
Required documents are: -A letter of interest; -Resume; -Law school transcript (unofficial copy is acceptable); and -Letter of recommendation (This is the ONLY document that can be provided separately, however it must be received by the deadline date of August 7, 2022. The letter should be e- mailed to Letrice Tobin at Letrice.Tobin@atg.wa.gov. If you have ever served as an AGO law clerk, it is required that you provide a letter of recommendation from your AGO supervisor.) Timely and complete applications will be reviewed and invitations to interview will be extended. First and second-round interviews will be held via Zoom in the AGO's Tumwater, Seattle or Spokane offices, as well as on campus at Seattle University School of Law, the University of Washington School of Law and Gonzaga Law School. Third- and final round interviews will be held via Zoom or in-person at the Olympia AGO. The AGO is not able to reimburse applicants for expenses incurred while participating in this recruitment program. Although subject to change, we do expect to extend offers to successful applicant by November 2022.
A CRITICAL NOTE ABOUT DEADLINES!! If you are a student attending a law school at which the AGO conducts on-campus interviews (i.e., the law schools of the University of Washington, Gonzaga and Seattle University) you MUST adhere to your specific law school's OCI deadline. All other applicants MUST apply by August 7, 2022. Questions about this program can be directed to Letrice Tobin at Letrice.Tobin@atg.wa.gov. Information about the Attorney General's Office can be found by visiting our website at www.atg.wa.gov. Most Assistant Attorney General positions are represented by the Association of Washington Assistant Attorneys General (AWAAG) / Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) AFSCME Council 28, AFL-CIO. AAG salaries are set between $69,396 and $129,984. The exact amount is set in accordance with Appendix B of the AWAAG CBA. Positions located in King County are eligible to receive an additional 5% King County Assignment Pay. A competitive state benefits package is also offered which includes a choice of medical/dental insurance plans, retirement, life and basic long-term disability insurance. In addition, there are non-financial benefits that include working in a collaborative and supportive work environment where professional development and work-life balance are highly valued. The health, safety and professional satisfaction of all AGO staff and volunteers is critical to fulfilling the mission of the AGO to provide exceptional legal services. Complementing and fostering this goal is a long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship, as evidenced in the AGO's environmental policies.
Application Deadline: 8/7/2022