Paralegal 2 Supervisor | Ecology Division | Olympia

State of Washington; Olympia (WA); On-site; USD 63,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible schedules and hybrid telework

Wellness program

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

The State of Washington, Office of the Attorney General, Ecology Division in Olympia seeks a Paralegal 2 Supervisor. You will supervise one to two paralegals, mentor staff, and support litigation efforts for environmental matters. The role offers professional development and a competitive benefits package.

The position is full-time and located in Olympia, with a base salary of $62,880–$84,528 per year. Internal equity and experience-based adjustments apply.

Qualifications

• Combination of four years of experience through: Paralegal certification, Two-year paralegal degree, Paralegal plus certification
• OR Paraprofessional experience in support of an attorney
• One year experience as a Paralegal 1 in Washington State Service

Responsibilities

• Supervise one to two paralegals and report to the administrative operations manager
• Mentor/train assigned staff and support staff development
• Perform litigation support tasks and back up other attorneys
• Act as a critical events reader and contribute to division management

Skills

Paralegal experience

Paraprofessional experience

Paralegal 1 WA State Service

Education

Paralegal certification

Two-year paralegal degree

Paralegal plus certification

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.

Position and Salary

The Attorney General’s Office is recruiting for a permanent full time Paralegal 2 Supervisor in the Ecology Division. This position is located in Olympia, Washington, and is represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE).

Paralegal 2 Salary Range (55): $62,880 - $84,528 (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 Ecology Division

The Ecology Division of the Attorney General's Office is comprised of 30 attorneys and 12 professional staff. The division represents the Department of Ecology, Puget Sound Partnership, State Conservation Commission, Pollution Liability Insurance Agency, and the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council. The division works to resolve environmental problems and disputes using a variety of legal tools, including negotiation, multi-party mediation and litigation, when necessary. Division attorneys provide advice on a broad spectrum of matters, including permitting, legislation, rulemaking, and enforcement. The division's practice includes hearings before administrative boards, as well as trials and appeals before state and federal courts. The work is interesting and varied, and includes some high profile and long running cases. The ideal Paralegal 2 candidate would enjoy fast-paced work in a collegial team atmosphere.

Duties and Essential Functions of a Paralegal 2 Supervisor

This Paralegal 2 will be the direct supervisor for one to two paralegals and will report to the administrative operations manager. Additionally, the incumbent is part of the extended division management team (DMT+) and the professional staff supervisory team. In cooperation with the administrative manager and the direct report, this position is responsible for preparing annual performance and development plans, and reviewing the performance of supervised employees, as well as making recommendations for awards and promotions. This includes mentoring/training of assigned paralegal 1 and/or legal assistant staff, and recommendations for necessary training. The incumbent will also perform litigation support tasks in assigned cases, will back up other attorneys, and will act as a critical events reader.

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

Qualifications

Research suggests that women and people of color are less likely to apply unless they are confident they meet 100% of the listed qualifications. We strongly encourage all interested individuals to apply, and allow us to evaluate your combination of knowledge, skills, and abilities demonstrated using an intentional equity lens.

Combination of four years of experience* through:

• Paralegal certification
• Two-year paralegal degree
• Paralegal plus (or nine-month paralegal, post BA) certification,

and/or

• Paraprofessional experience in support of an attorney

OR

• One year experience as a Paralegal 1 in Washington State Service.

*You may have gained applicable paraprofessional experience through previous Paralegal or Legal Assistant work.

Examples of paraprofessional experience in support of an attorney:

• Preparing legal pleadings and legal correspondence
• Ensuring and verifying timely and proper service of legal documents
• Calculating, verifying, and calendaring critical events and other dates
• Managing case documents, files and exhibits
• Tracking and organizing discovery documents
• Researching legal issues and verifying legal citations and references for accuracy

Preferred Qualifications

The most competitive candidates will posses the following skills and abilities:

Strong critical thinking skills with a solutions-oriented focus and experience supervising and/or mentoring others. Familiarity with the Blue Book, Westlaw, Filevine, Everlaw, MS Office Suite, and Adobe Acrobat software is also desirable.

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 here.

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.

The AGO is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation/gender identity, age, disability, honorably discharged veteran or military status, retaliation or the use of a trained dog guide or 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.