Assistant Attorney General (Temporary)- Public Lands and Conservation Division, Olympia

State of Washington Attorney General's Office; Olympia (WA); Hybrid; USD 84,000 - 157,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive benefits

Vacation and holidays

Telecommuting options

Mentoring program

Health & wellness

Career development

Job summary

The Washington State Attorney General's Office, Public Lands & Conservation Division, seeks a temporary Assistant Attorney General for the Forestry and Real Estate Section through June 2027, with potential for extension or permanent placement within PLC.

You will provide client advice on land management, real estate transactions, contracts, and environmental matters to the Department of Natural Resources and related agencies, while working in a collaborative team that values work-life balance

Qualifications

• Three or more years of legal experience are preferred
• Experience in complex natural resource or environmental advice and litigation is preferred
• Strong analytical, research, and writing skills
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to handle competing, time-sensitive assignments
• Demonstrated ability to foster teamwork and collaboration and promote a positive work environment that recognizes and respects all employees
• Ability to maintain productive working relationships within the division and with clients and stakeholders

Responsibilities

• Providing options-based client advice, both oral and written
• Appearance in federal and state courts across the state, and in proceedings before administrative tribunals such as the Pollution Control Hearings Board or the Shorelines Hearings Board
• Motions practice, trials, and participating in post-trial proceedings including any appeals
• Conducting all aspects of discovery
• Representing the AGO in public settings on matters that may be of a sensitive or high-profile nature; and
• Working individually and as part of a team

Job description

Persons requiring reasonable accommodation in the application process or requiring information in an alternative format may contact the recruitment team at [e-mail]. 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.

The Office appreciates the benefits of a healthy life-work balance as well as a respectful, inclusive and diverse workplace. Successful candidates will join an Office in which every person is committed to providing exceptional legal services and where individual professional development is encouraged and supported. The exceptional benefits of joining the AGO include:

• A competitive benefit package that includes affordable medical plan options, dental benefits and retirement plans
• Vacation Leave, Sick Leave, Michael and Civil Leave and Paid Holidays
• Transparent salary schedule - AAG salaries are set between $86,386 and $157,080. The exact amount is set in accordance with Appendix B of the AWAAG CBA
• The AGO will pay the general bar dues of someone who begins their assignment on or before January 31st per Article 10.8 of the AWAAG CBA
• Flex schedules and telecommuting options
• A formal AAG mentoring program that complements the AGO's inherently collegial and supportive environment
• Health and wellness program
• Training and career development program that is recognized for its excellence and efficacy by AGOs nationwide

The Washington State Attorney General's Office’s Public Lands & Conservation Division (PLC) seeks to fill a temporary contract position for an Assistant Attorney General in our Forestry and Real Estate Section through June of 2027 with potential for extension, permanent assignment within the PLC Division or opportunity to apply for other attorney positions within the AGO.

This position reports to the Section Chief and provides legal services to the Department of Natural Resources on a broad array of issues.

The Public Lands and Conservation Division provides a broad spectrum of client advice, dispute resolution, and litigation services to agency clients. The division represents the Commissioner of Public Lands, the Department of Natural Resources, the Board of Natural Resources, the Forest Practices Board, the Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the State Parks and Recreation Commission. You will have the opportunity to work with a team of 39 experienced professionals with extraordinary commitment to serving the needs of the client and the state of Washington. Staff are offered flexible and/or telecommute schedules. We support work-life balance and thrive in this collegial, team-orientedenvironment. Additionally, the PLC Division is located on the Capitol Campus, which is minutes from downtown and offers scenic views of the Puget Sound, Olympic Mountains, and Mount Rainier.

The Forestry and Real Estate Section represents the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in its land management planning, real estate transactions, contracts, and other proprietary decisions. DNR manages 5.6 million acres of forest, range, commercial, agricultural, and aquatic lands. Much of this land (3 million acres) is state trust land that provides revenue to help pay for construction of public schools, universities, and other state institutions and funds services in many counties. These lands also provide other public benefits, including outdoor recreation, habitat for native fish and wildlife, and watersheds for clean water. Attorneys in this section primarily represent the following DNR divisions: Recreation and Conservation; Product Sales and Leasing; Forest Resources; and Asset Management. Practice areas include real property, contracts, environmental, natural resource, and constitutional law. Legal work may include advice or litigation involving land use agreements and other contracts, real property transactions, valuable materials sales, boundary and ownership disputes, claims arising from the landlord-tenant relationship, special writs reviewing agency action, or compliance with environmental laws including the National and State Environmental Policy Acts (NEPA/SEPA), state and federal cleanup laws (CERCLA and MTCA), the Clean Water Act (CWA), and the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

Duties typical of attorneys within the Public Lands and Conservation Division include:

• Providing options-based client advice, both oral and written;
• Appearance in federal and state courts across the state, and in proceedings before administrative tribunals such as the Pollution Control Hearings Board or the Shorelines Hearings Board;
• Motions practice, trials, and participating in post-trial proceedings including any appeals;
• Conducting all aspects of discovery;
• Representing the AGO in public settings on matters that may be of a sensitive or high-profile nature; and
• Working individually and as part of a team.

In addition to meeting the requirements to serve as an Assistant Attorney General, preferred requirements for this position include:

• Three or more years of legal experience are preferred;
• Experience in complex natural resource or environmental advice and litigation is preferred;
• Strong analytical, research, and writing skills;
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to handle competing, time-sensitive assignments;
• Demonstrated ability to foster teamwork and collaboration and promote a positive work environment that recognizes and respects all employees; and
• Ability to maintain productive working relationships within the division and with clients and stakeholders, helping to identify and resolve problems.

Applicants 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. 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.

This AAG 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 $83,856 and $157,080. 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.

• A letter of interest;
• Resume;
• Law school transcript (unofficial copy is acceptable) showing the date law degree was conferred; and
• Writing sample (10 pages or less).

If you have questions about this position and/or wish to learn more about it before applying, we encourage and welcome you to contact Terra Moulton at [e-mail] or 360-753-6204.

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.

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 age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, national origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained 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 [e-mail]. 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 the application process, please contact [e-mail]. If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing or completing your application, please call NEOGOV toll-free at 855-524-5627 or [e-mail].