Legal Assistant (LA1)

State of Washington; Olympia (WA); On-site; USD 48,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

The State of Washington Department of Licensing (DOL) is seeking a Legal Assistant to support the Administrative Law Office in a fast-paced environment, managing high-volume emails, processing case materials, and maintaining audit-ready records to advance proceedings.

Required qualifications include two years of clerical and customer service experience or one year clerical plus one year in a legal setting, or a two-year degree in Legal Secretary or Paralegal studies.

Qualifications

• Two years of clerical and customer service experience.
• One year of clerical experience with one year in a legal environment.
• Two-year degree in Legal Secretary Studies, Paralegal Studies, or related field.
• Experience with standard office software and legal databases.

Responsibilities

• Maintain clear, timely communication with petitioners, attorneys, law enforcement, and customers, resolving inquiries and supporting due process activities.
• Process requests, route incoming documents accurately and upload legal documents within required deadlines.
• Manage case records in DRIVES and related systems, including entering evidence, tracking case status, and resolving stakeholder issues.
• Serve as a custodian of records, routing disclosure requests to the correct unit and maintaining confidentiality.

Skills

Clerical experience

Customer service

Written and verbal communication

Detail-oriented

Prioritization

Professionalism and diplomacy

Education

Two-year degree in Legal Secretary Studies or Paralegal Studies

Tools

DRIVES

Microsoft SharePoint

Court data storage system

Job description

We are dedicated to growing a culture of belonging through our values:

Respect | Trust | Diversity | Inclusion | Equity

At the Department of Licensing (DOL), we recognize the importance of work life harmony and strive to create a culture where employees feel valued and respected. Our employees are trusted and encouraged to be a part of process improvements that impact their work, create value for our customers and help build trust in our government.

We are currently recruiting a Legal Assistant who thrives in a fast-paced environment, has great attention to detail, and able to handle changing priorities in a professional and calm manner.

As one of the most visible state agencies and the second-largest revenue generator in Washington State, we engage with over 6 million residents each year and collect nearly $3 billion in taxes and fees. We understand that our services are vital to the daily lives of our customers, enabling them to live, work, drive, and thrive. We take this responsibility to heart and are dedicated to providing equitable and meaningful access to our services for every resident.

In this role, you will support the Administrative Law Office by being able to independently manage high-volume emails, process case materials, and maintain accurate, audit-ready records to ensure the timely progression of administrative legal proceedings. Responsibilities include prioritizing and routing incoming documents, coordinating with internal teams, external agencies, courts, and the public to obtain and verifying information. With a strong focus on detail, organization, and productivity, this position serves as a key point of contact for routine inquiries and contributes to the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the office while supporting the Department of Licensing’s mission to help Washington residents live, work, drive, and thrive.

Some of what you will do:

• Maintain clear, timely communication with petitioners, attorneys, law enforcement, and customers, resolving inquiries and supporting due process activities.
• Apply knowledge of administrative rules and driving records to process requests, route incoming documents accurately and upload legal documents within required deadlines.
• Manage case records in DRIVES and related systems, including entering evidence, tracking case status, and resolving stakeholder issues.
• Serve as a custodian of records, by routing disclosure requests to the correct unit. Maintain confidentiality while handling documents, while providing general office and operational support as needed.

What you will bring to the role:

Two (2) years of clerical and customer service experience.

OR

One (1) year of clerical experience in combination with one (1) year of experience in a legal environment.

OR

A two-year degree in Legal Secretary Studies, Paralegal Studies, or a related field of study.

Experience can be obtained concurrently.

Two (2) years of relevant education may substitute year for year for experience.

Experience must include:

• One (1) year of the following:
  • Proficiency in standard office software and the ability to learn legal-specific databases.
  • Organizational skills and attention to detail to manage multiple assignments and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
  • Written and verbal communication skills, along with tact and diplomacy when interacting with the public, clients, and legal professionals.
• Six (6) months experience completing basic office practices, procedures, and terminology.
• The ability to:
  • Understand and follow agency values of respect, trust, diversity, equity, and inclusion through behaviors, and decisions.
  • Promote and support a respectful, equitable, and inclusive workplace for all employees.
  • Promote and support respectful, equitable, and inclusive delivery of services to customers.
  • Take action to learn and grow.
  • Take action to meet the needs of others.

What may help set you apart:

• One (1) year of experience composing emails, memos, letters, and documents, applying "plain talk" principles and clear communication guidelines.
• Experience reading and interpreting a drive record and taking appropriate action based on licensing laws, rules, policies, and procedures.
• Experience signing on and verifying data within the court data storage system.
• Experience uploading and updating Microsoft SharePoint.

Additional Conditions of employment:

• This position requires you to work in office at our Olympia, WA location at least twice a week and as business needs dictate.
• Prior to a new hire, a pre-employment check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the position.

DOL is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. In keeping with our commitment, we will take the steps to assure that people with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations.

For information about available accommodations, the interview process, or the position contact Nicole Walters.

Come join us in changing the way government delivers services and help build a legacy of commitment to and excellence in diversity, equity, and inclusion!

Candidates who are offered a job with DOL must possess work authorization that does not require sponsorship by the employer for a visa now or in the future.

You are welcome to include the name and pronoun you would like to be referred to in your materials and we will honor this as you interact with our award-winning diverse and inclusive organization.

We value diverse perspectives and life experiences.

We employ and serve people of all backgrounds including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, and veterans. We value the unique traits and attributes that each employee brings to the job. Through the diverse perspectives of an inclusive workforce, we will create a more respectful, productive, and unified team to better serve the public of Washington.

Veteran/Military Spouse Preference Notice

To take advantage of veteran/military spouse preference, please notify the Talent Acquisition Team. Please include the title of this position in the subject line.

The Washington State Department of Licensing is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex (including gender identity), marital status, sexual orientation, race, religion, 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 dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability.

Persons requiring accommodation in the application process, during the recruitment process, or who need this job announcement in an alternative format, may contact the Human Resources Office at 360-902-4000 or may email [e-mail]. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call our ASL interpreter via Video Phone at 360.339.7344.

The candidate pool certified from this recruitment may be used to fill future similar vacancies for up to sixty days.

We do 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.