Legal Assistant 1 | Consumer Protection Division | Seattle

State of Washington; Olympia (WA); On-site; USD 46,000 - 61,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible schedules

Hybrid telework options

Wellness program

Job summary

The State of Washington Attorney General’s Office, Consumer Protection Division in Seattle, seeks a Legal Assistant 1 to provide essential administrative support to division attorneys and management. The role includes processing mail, managing case matter openings/closings, and handling invoices and document preparation to ensure court formatting and compliance.

Ideal candidates bring a high school diploma with clerical/legal experience or a relevant two-year degree, with opportunities for

Qualifications

• High School diploma or equivalent with two years of clerical experience, including at least one year in a legal environment.
• Alternatively two years of legal office experience.
• Or combination of three years of college education and/or relevant experience.
• Or a two year degree in Legal Secretary Studies, Paralegal studies or related field.

Responsibilities

• Provide essential administrative support to CP Division attorneys, management, and programs.
• Process mail and oversee opening/closing of investigation and litigation case matters.
• Process invoices and review various legal documents for proper formatting and court compliance.

Skills

Administrative support

Legal environment experience

Document preparation

Education

Two-year degree in Legal Secretary/Paralegal studies

Job description

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.

Position and Salary

The Attorney General’s Office is recruiting for a permanent full time Legal Assistant 1 in the Consumer Protection Division. This position is located in Seattle, Washington, and is represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE).

Legal Assistant 1 (Range 42) salary range: $45,924 - $61,332 Annually. The base pay offered will take into account internal equity and may vary depending on the preferred candidate’s job‑related knowledge, skills, and experience.

The AGO provides a workplace that is understanding of work‑life balance and promotes advancement by offering a wide variety of professional development and growth opportunities.

Excellent benefits

Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation, including Medical/Dental/Vision for employees & dependent(s); Vacation, Sick, and Other Leave; 11 Paid Holidays per year; Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) plans; and Life Insurance. Beyond these traditional benefits, we offer Dependent Care Assistance, Flexible Spending Accounts, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver, Deferred Compensation, Employee Recognition Leave, and more. With the goal of employee health and wellness, we also offer:

• Flexible schedules and part‑time/hybrid telework options;
• A Wellness Program, an Infants in the Workplace Program, and the Employee Assistance Program, which provides counseling, webinar, and other cost‑free support resources;
• Numerous employee‑driven affinity groups to foster community and connection, including Bereavement, Elder Care, Parenting, POC, LGBTQ+, Veterans and more. The AGO is a place to belong and make a difference!

About the Consumer Protection Division

The Consumer Protection Division (CP) is composed of attorneys and professional staff. The division enforces the Consumer Protection Act (RCW 19.86) and other statutes to help keep the Washington marketplace free of unfair and deceptive practices. The division investigates and files legal actions to stop unfair and deceptive practices, recovers refunds for consumers, seeks penalties against offending entities, and recovers costs and fees to ensure that wrongdoers pay for their actions. Division staff participate in the many legislative initiatives that affect consumer protection each year. The Consumer Protection Division also includes public service programs including the Consumer Resource Center and administers the Washington State Lemon Law Program and the Manufactured Housing Dispute Resolution Program.

Professional staff can expect to participate in high‑profile consumer protection litigation such as the State v. Navient (student lending), State v. Providence (charity care violations), State v. Google (unlawful privacy practices), State v. Chuck’s Towing (failure to comply with Servicemembers’ Civil Relief Act), State v. CA Certificate Services (government imposter), State v. Federal Way Discount Guns (unlawful sale of large capacity magazines), State v. Puppyland (predatory lending), State v. CLA Estate Services, Inc., et al. (financial exploitation of seniors), and State v. LuLaRoe (misrepresentations regarding profitability).

In support of the Mission and Values of the Attorney General’s Office, Consumer Protection Division, the primary purpose of this position is to provide routine administrative legal support to the CP Division AAGs enforcing the Consumer Protection Act.

Professional staff in the Consumer Protection Division are valued members of litigation teams. Their input is critical to case management and strategy. The division is a collaborative environment where individuals’ contributions are equally valued. If you are offered this position, you can expect to be an active participant in providing valuable input when decisions are being made.

The Division’s management strives to find engaging, interesting, and fulfilling work that is well suited to the experience level and interests of the individual staff members. The Division does a good job of balancing the staffing needs of the various investigations and cases with finding teams that work well together and foster a collaborative work environment. The Division’s management also makes professional growth a priority. Professional staff are encouraged to take on more responsibility as their careers progress, and training, leadership, and professional development are all opportunities this position will provide.

If you enjoy helping people and being a part of a collaborative team environment, this position is for you! You will provide essential administrative support to division attorneys, management, and programs, including processing mail, overseeing the opening and closing of investigation and litigation case matters, and processing invoices. At the attorney’s request you will prepare and review various legal documents for proper formatting and ensure they are in compliance with court rules prior to filing in various courts.

This recruitment announcement may be used to fill multiple open positions for the same classification, in addition to the position(s) listed in this announcement.

Required Qualifications

Option 1: High School diploma or equivalent and two years of clerical experience including a minimum of one year of experience in a legal environment;

Option 2: Two years of legal office experience;

Option 3: A combination of three years of college education and/or relevant experience;

Option 4: A two year degree in Legal Secretary Studies, Paralegal studies or related field of study.

About the Washington State Office of the Attorney General

The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) touches the lives of every resident in this state. We serve more than 230 state agencies, boards, commissions, colleges and universities, as well as the Legislature and the Governor. The Office is comprised of nearly 700 attorneys and 800 professional staff, all working together to deliver the highest quality professional legal services to Washington state officials, agencies, and entities. This includes:

• Economic justice and consumer protections (safeguarding consumers, protecting youth, seniors, and other vulnerable populations)
• Social justice and civil rights (addressing discrimination, environmental protection, and veteran and military resources)
• Criminal justice and public safety (investigative and prosecutorial support, financial crimes)
• And much more!

Our agency also has national reach, representing the State of Washington before the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals and trial courts in all cases that involve the state’s interest. If you want to make a difference, we may be the perfect fit for you! Learn more about the AGO.

Commitment to Diversity

Diversity is critical to the success of the mission of the AGO. This means recognizing, respecting, and appreciating all cultures and backgrounds-- and fostering the inclusion of differences between people. Appreciating, valuing and implementing principles of diversity permits AGO employees to achieve their fullest potential in an inclusive, respectful environment.

One recent measure of the AGO's commitment to diversity can be found in its nomination for Rainbow Alliance and Inclusion Network's Outstanding Agency Award in 2019. Our commitment to employee wellness is reflected in earning the 2024 Zo8 Washington Wellness Award.

Equal Employment Opportunity and Accommodations Requests

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.