Assistant City Attorney, Employment | Civil Division

LMBA; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 79,000 - 128,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work schedule

Benefits package

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

Job summary

Seattle City Attorney's Office seeks an Assistant City Attorney in the Employment Section of the Civil Division with deep experience in labor and employment matters. The role involves advising City departments, managing litigation from discovery to trial, and helping advance the City’s Race and Social Justice Initiative.

The position emphasizes collaboration, tight deadlines, and providing strategic guidance to HR professionals, department leaders, and elected officials in a fast-paced

Qualifications

• Expertise in state and federal employment law and traditional labor law is desirable.
• Experience litigating labor and employment matters and first-chairing complex cases.
• Ability to advise HR professionals, managers, executives, and elected officials on complex issues.

Responsibilities

• Act as legal counsel to policymakers, leadership, HR, and labor negotiators on complex matters.
• Advise departments on employment issues including ADA, leaves, FLSA, investigations, and discrimination.
• Appear in federal, state, and administrative forums; manage discovery and motions.
• Take witness testimony, prepare witnesses, and handle depositions and trials.
• Draft and negotiate settlements; mediate cases and advise on settlements.
• Collaborate to advance equity and align work with the City’s Race and Social Justice Initiative.

Skills

Employment law

Litigation experience

HR advisory

Job description

Assistant City Attorney, Employment | Civil Division

Seattle City Attorney's Office

The Seattle City Attorney’s Office seeks an attorney with experience in employment law and litigation to join 11 other Assistant City Attorneys, four paralegals, and two legal assistants in the Employment Section. Our attorneys play a critical role in advising on and litigating legal issues arising from Seattle’s diverse workforce of over 10,000 employees in various City departments. Employment Section attorneys are generalists in labor and employment law and handle all aspects of litigation in state and federal courts and administrative forums.

The Employment Section's day‑to‑day work is dynamic and fast‑paced. Attorneys are responsible for all aspects of litigation, including setting strategy, discovery, preparing and arguing motions, overseeing mediation and settlement, and taking cases to trial and through any appeal. We take a collaborative, team‑oriented approach to litigation and advice work that is essential for building effective teams and relationships with City Departments and their leadership.

Employment attorneys implement the City’s Race and Social Justice Initiative in all aspects of their work.

Job Responsibilities

Advice

• Act as legal counsel to City policymakers, departmental leadership, human resources professionals, and labor negotiators on complex labor and employment matters, often under time pressure.
• Advise City departments on employment matters, including, but not limited to: ADA accommodations, leaves of absence, employee relations, labor relations, the FLSA, EEO investigations, discrimination claims, and other city, state, and federal labor and employment laws.

Litigation

• Appear and represent the City in litigation before federal court, state court, administrative agencies, and in labor arbitrations.
• Draft and respond to written interrogatories, requests for production, and requests for admission.
• Manage e‑discovery and, with paralegal support, collect, organize, assess, and produce electronically stored information in compliance with court rules and ethical obligations.
• Take witness testimony and prepare witnesses for testifying at depositions, trials, arbitrations, and before other administrative agencies.
• Draft motions for summary judgment and conduct other motion practice as required.
• Mediate cases, including drafting mediation statements and advising City Departments and the City Attorney on settlement.
• Negotiate and draft settlement agreements.

Race and Social Justice

• Collaborate with colleagues and clients to align with the City’s mission of ending institutionalized racism in the City government.

Qualifications

This position requires membership in good standing with the Washington State Bar Association or licensure in another state, and the ability to complete the membership process within four (4) months of an offer of employment.

Additionally, this role requires the following:

• Expertise in state and federal employment law. Expertise in traditional labor law is also desired.
• Experience in litigating labor and employment matters, including the ability to first‑chair complex litigation and appeals.
• Experience advising HR professionals, managers, executives, and elected officials on complex and nuanced employment and labor issues.Experience advising public employers, including public safety clients, is also desired.
• Experience in applying policies and practices related to equity.
• The ability to independently manage a portfolio by meeting deadlines, identifying and adapting priorities, and navigating a fast‑paced environment.
• Ability to develop and maintain positive and productive relationships with clients and colleagues.
• Ability to work effectively and efficiently under tight deadlines set by courts and clients.

Additional Information

Race and Social Justice Initiative – The City of Seattle recognizes every City employee must play a role in ending institutional and structural racism. We seek individuals who will work toward the goals of the Race and Social Justice Initiative.

Compensation – Salaries of Assistant City Attorneys in the Civil Division of the Seattle City Attorney's Office are based on years of relevant legal experience. For example, the 2026 annual salary is $120,311.42 for someone with up to one year of experience, $166,436.91 for someone with ten years of experience, and $187,809.01 for someone with at least 20 years of experience. The full salary range for this position is $57.62 - $92.72 per hour. Salaries are not subject to negotiation.

Benefits – The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package, including vacation, 12 official holidays and 2 floating holidays, sick and paid parental leave, as well as medical, dental, vision, life, and long‑term disability insurance for employees. Additional benefits include executive leave and eligibility for merit leave. City Attorney’s Office employees also have the opportunity to participate in a defined benefits retirement program. More information about benefits is available at https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) – Public Service Loan Forgiveness is a federal program that forgives the remaining balance of your federal student loans after 120 qualifying monthly payments are made while working full‑time for a qualifying public service employer. Forgiveness is tax‑free by statute under 26 U.S.C. § 108(f)(1). Learn more about PSLF and confirm whether your loans and payments qualify. StudentAid.Gov/PSLF

Workplace Environment – Currently, the Seattle City Attorney's Office has a Flexible Work Arrangements Policy. Employees have the option to work a hybrid schedule (3 days in the office, 2 days remote). This is subject to change as circumstances and business needs dictate.

Who may apply – This position is open to all candidates who meet the minimum qualifications.

The City of Seattle values diverse perspectives and life experiences. Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender identity or expression, family or marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, medical condition, pregnancy, or other protected characteristics. The Seattle City Attorney's Office encourages people of all backgrounds to apply.