Deputy Prosecuting Attorney - Family Support Division

King County; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 93,000 - 154,000; Full time

Job summary

The Family Support Division attorney role at King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office focuses on establishing legal parentage and child support obligations, enforcement, and related family law matters for the State of Washington. The position supports equity and social justice in public service, with a hybrid work arrangement and formal office presence as needed.

Qualified candidates will be in good standing with the Washington State Bar and subject to a criminal history check.

Qualifications

• Member in good standing with the Washington State Bar.
• Criminal history check required.
• Public sector legal experience is a plus but not required.

Responsibilities

• Establish legal parentage and child support obligations for children.
• Modify and enforce child support orders and appear in related family law cases where the State has a financial interest.

Skills

Team environment

Public service

Race equity & social justice

Confidentiality

Adaptability

Job description

Summary

The Family Support Division is in search of an enthusiastic and public service-focused attorney to join our team. The Family Support Division (FSD) represents the State Department of Social and Health Services Division of Child Support (DCS) in superior court pursuant to an intergovernmental agreement. Family Support Division Attorneys appear in cases when the State of Washington has a financial interest due to the payment of public assistance, or when a parent or caregiver has requested services from DCS. DCS provides services regardless of need.

About the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office

Guided by our core values of Integrity, Compassion, Professionalism, and Leadership, our mission is to do Justice:

• We exercise the power given to us by the people with fairness and humility.
• We serve our diverse community, support victims and families, and hold individuals accountable.
• We develop innovative and collaborative solutions for King County and the State of Washington.

Our office is composed of six divisions that are further organized into specialized units:

We value diversity and strive to hire a workforce that reflects the community that we serve. It is essential to our mission that we create and maintain an office that is diverse and inclusive. All PAO employees are expected to participate in PAO equity work and attend equity trainings and discussions. PAO employees are expected to comply with race, equity, and social justice principles, and to work with PAO colleagues and management to identify opportunities for improvement.

To learn more about the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office (PAO), please visit our website.

Job Duties

FSD’s primary practice areas include establishing legal parentage and child support obligations for children, modification of child support orders, enforcement of child support orders, and appearing in other family law cases in which the State has a financial interest. FSD currently has 7 attorneys and approximately 22 legal support professionals.

This position will be located in Kent. FSD currently has two offices, one in Seattle and one in Kent. FSD will be consolidating to one primary office in Kent during 2027. FSD attorneys have the opportunity to work a hybrid schedule with a minimum of three full days in office per week. Our office is customer service-focused and requires in-office employees to be present and available for the entire workday unless taking approved leave. When telecommuting, employees must maintain an approved workspace in their home with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours.

We value diversity and strive to develop a workforce that reflects the community that we serve. It is essential to our mission that we create and maintain an office that is diverse and inclusive. All PAO employees are expected to participate in PAO race, equity and social justice work and attend equity trainings and discussions. PAO employees are expected to comply with equity and social justice principles, and to work with PAO colleagues and management to identify opportunities for improvement and growth.

The attorney in this position may work in any of FSD’s practice areas. A focus on equity and social justice is woven throughout the work. Attorneys may work in more than one practice area simultaneously to broaden their legal knowledge and experience and develop the ability to provide comprehensive support to their colleagues. FSD employees are provided training opportunities including a yearly CLE conference that allows attorneys to both attend and present on topics related to FSD work.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

• The desire and ability to work successfully in a team environment
• Strong dedication to public service
• Demonstrable commitment to race, equity and social justice, including continued development of personal cultural humility/competence
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and discretion with sensitive issues, materials, and information
• Ability to adapt to changes in practice, caseload, and staffing
• Ability to communicate effectively, particularly with pro se litigants
• Receptive to ongoing instruction, feedback, and coaching from attorneys and legal professionals
• Member in good standing with the Washington State Bar.
• Family law or civil motion-based practice is a plus but is not required

Special Requirements

• Member in good standing with the Washington State Bar.
• Must submit to a criminal history check.

Supplemental Information

Salary: $92,770 - $153,722 annually commensurate with 0 - 10 years of experience.

Please note that in 2027, King County employee salaries will receive a 3.75% wage increase.

Location: 724 W Smith St suite #101, Kent, WA 98032, USA

Work Schedule: Our office is open Monday – Friday from 8:30 am – 4:30 pm.

Telecommuting

Attorneys in the Civil Division enjoy a hybrid work schedule that allows telecommuting up to three days one week, two days the next, with in-office work required on Wednesdays. If a successful candidate is new to the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, they may be required to work in-office three days every week for six months. All employees will be provided with a County issued laptop. Employees approved to telecommute must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection and equipment where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours. The ratio of remote to onsite work will be dependent on business needs and is subject to change. Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

Union Representation

This position is not represented by a labor union.

Rules of Professional Conduct

We are providing a courtesy link to the Rules of Professional Conduct for candidates to consider and review to ensure they are meeting any requirements, particularly for those who currently represent individuals in any King County-related matters. In the supplemental question section, you are required to acknowledge you have reviewed this information and that you’re aware of these obligations.

Contact

Selene Poulsen (she/her)

Sr. Human Resources Analyst

[e-mail]

Selection Process

Materials will be reviewed for qualifications, and the most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in a panel interview process.

Company Overview

Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers. Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

The King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office is dedicated to making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, and meet the qualifying criteria, you may be eligible to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Equal Employment Opportunity

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on sex, race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religious affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age except by minimum age and retirement provisions, pregnancy, status as a family caregiver, parental status, marital status, military status or status as a veteran who was honorably discharged or who was discharged solely as a result of the person's sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, citizenship or immigration status, genetic information, or other protected class. However, to the extent that distinction or differential treatment on the basis of citizenship or immigration status is authorized by either federal or state law, regulation, or government contract, it is not an unfair practice.

Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.