Assistant Attorney General - Tacoma Division’s Social & Health Services Section
Agency Name: Washington Attorney General's Office
Position / Job Title : Assistant Attorney General - Tacoma Division's Social & Health Services Section
Location: Tacoma
Category : Attorney
Job Description: The Washington State Attorney General's Office's Tacoma Division has an immediate opening for an Assistant Attorney General (AAG) in the Social and Health Services (SHS) Section.
Duties
ABOUT THE POSITION
The attorney in this position will maintain a very active caseload of juvenile dependency and/or termination matters. These cases generally arise based on allegations of child abuse or neglect by the parents or legal custodians. The immediate client is the Division of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) typically appearing through social workers and/or supervisors.
A typical day for an AAG in this section may involve: -Appearances in juvenile court; -Meetings with the client; and -Preparing for motions, appeals, dependency or termination trials, and other hearings. -Handling appellate litigation arising from trials. -Other duties as assigned The person hired for this fulltime position will join the Tacoma Division's Social and Health Section, comprised of 22 AAGs, 8 paralegals, and 15 legal assistants. However, in light of concerns related to COVID and the Governor's mandate, it is expected that the person hired will immediately and for the foreseeable future perform a significant portion of their work remotely by telecommuting. The Office will provide all necessary equipment and support. If you meet the qualifications, share our vision, and have a desire to do important work that makes a difference for our community, then we invite you to apply.
Qualifications
To be considered, one must meet the qualifications to serve as an Assistant Attorney General and offer: -Strong writing and oral advocacy skills; -Excellent organizational skills; -A demonstrated familiarity with state and federal laws governing child welfare cases and the Administrative Procedures Act; -The ability to handle a heavy caseload through multi-tasking in cases involving often difficult subject matter; -Ability to work in a fast-paced team environment and the desire to promote a positive work environment based upon mutual respect and professionalism; and -Experience communicating or working with people from diverse backgrounds and experiences.
To be successful in this position, the attorney hired must possess the skills necessary to effectively negotiate contested matters, interview witnesses, review discovery, and provide effective client advice. While litigation experience or experience in juvenile law is a plus, they are not required.
To serve as an Assistant Attorney General, one must have graduated from a law school accredited by the ABA or completed the WSBA's Rule 6 Law Clerk Program and be licensed to practice law in Washington state. (Applicants who meet the other stated qualifications and are actively pursuing admission by motion will also be considered.) The AGO seeks applicants who are committed to public service as demonstrated by an applicant's background, talents, attitude, and enthusiasm for public law practice. The AGO greatly encourages, celebrates and values diversity, appreciating that a workforce composed of those from different backgrounds and experiences creates an inclusive environment, strengthens positive relationships with the local community and brings new perspectives and approaches to fulfill its mission of providing excellent, independent and ethical legal services to the State of Washington and protecting the rights of its people.
* * * * * * * * * * * * Important Update! 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. Currently all staff, whose duties permit, are teleworking, though the AGO plans to re-open its offices for visitors and staff beginning April 4, 2022.
Supplemental Information
This Assistant Attorney General position is 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. 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.
In addition to the on-line application, one must upload, via the system, preferably as PDFs: -A letter of interest; -Resume; -Law school transcript (unofficial copy is acceptable); and -Writing sample. Important Note: Redact from any document social security numbers and do not include documents that are password protected. If you have questions about this position and/or want to learn more about it before applying, you are welcome and encouraged to contact Section Chief Barbara Bailey at Barbara.Bailey@atg.wa.gov or (253) 597-4117. This position is open until filled, applications, however, will be reviewed and interviews scheduled throughout the duration of the recruitment thus you are strongly encouraged to apply as soon as possible.