Paralegal 3 | Worker Rights Unit | Seattle

State of Washington; Olympia (WA); On-site; USD 69,000 - 93,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

King County Location Pay 5%

Group C Assignment Pay 5%

Dual Language Pay 5%

Job summary

The State of Washington's Attorney General's Office seeks a Paralegal 3 to join the newly formed Worker Rights Unit in Seattle. This role focuses on high-profile investigations and litigations advancing worker protections, wage and entitlement laws, and related civil duties.

The Paralegal 3 will supervise staff, manage office operations, coordinate recruitments, and assist attorneys with all facets of pretrial discovery, pleadings, and documentation.

Qualifications

• Paralegal certification is required or preferred.
• Two-year paralegal degree is required or preferred.
• Paralegal plus (or nine-month paralegal, post BA) certification is an option.
• Two years’ experience as a Paralegal 2 in Washington State Service is acceptable.

Responsibilities

• Provide essential administrative support to the Worker Rights Unit, supervising paralegal staff and acting as office manager.
• Coordinate and oversee recruitments and interviews as a hiring manager for unit candidates.
• Assist attorneys with case analysis, drafting, filing, discovery, and trial preparation.

Skills

Paraprofessional experience

Education

Paralegal certification

Two-year paralegal degree

Paralegal plus (or nine-month paralegal, post BA) certification

Two years’ experience as a Paralegal 2 in WA Service

Job description

Position and Salary

The Attorney General’s Office is recruiting for a permanent full time Paralegal 3 in the Worker Rights Unit. This position is located in Seattle, Washington, and is represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE).

Paralegal 3 Salary Range (Range 59): $69,348 - $93,288/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.

• Incumbents assigned to our Seattle office location receive an additional 5% King County Location Pay stipend.
• Paralegal 3s assigned to work within King County receive a 5% Group C Assignment Pay in addition to their base pay. The Group C pay percentage received at this classification is a limited premium and applies at the Paralegal 3 classification.
• Incumbents assigned to a position designated as requiring dual language skills will receive a 5% Dual Language Requirement Pay stipend.

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.

• 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 Worker Rights Unit

The Washington Attorney General’s Office seeks a proficient and passionate paralegal to serve as a founding member of our newly established Worker Rights Unit (WRK).

The Unit will focus on high-profile investigations and litigations in industries such as agriculture, the gig economy, construction and domestic service. The Worker Rights Unit will work closely with the Civil Rights Division, the Consumer Protection Division, the Antitrust Division, and the Labor and Industries Divisions of the AG’s Office, to enforce Washington laws in state and federal courts. Specifically, the Unit will enforce Washington’s nation-leading worker protections, including the minimum wage act, the equal pay and opportunity act, paid family and sick leave, the immigrant worker protection act (if enacted), and others. The team will have particular emphasis on cases involving serious or persistent violations of laws as well as violations impacting low- and moderate-income workers who would otherwise struggle to obtain legal recourse. Some of the types of cases the Unit will bring include challenges to paying immigrants $1 per day for work performed in private detention, abusing temporary farmworker programs, subjecting workers to noncompete agreements, and retaliating against workers for organizing and asserting their rights.

The position preferably will be located in Seattle but may be located in Olympia or Tacoma. Travel around the state may be necessary and may include litigation duties throughout the state.

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!

Duties and Essential Functions of a Paralegal 3

This position provides essential administrative support to the work of the Worker Rights Unit (WRK) through supervising and developing paralegal staff, acting as office manager, and providing paralegal support to attorneys as needed.

The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, highly organized, adaptable to complex legal demands, and committed to the AGO’s values of integrity, professionalism, and public service. This is an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the defense of the State of Washington while mentoring staff and supporting high-quality legal work in cases of statewide importance.

Essential responsibilities include:

• Operational Administration: Serve as the primary administrative support responsible for day-to-day operations of the unit. This includes assisting the Unit Chief in developing office procedures and manuals to maximize office efficiency, coordinating and overseeing recruitments and interviews as a hiring manager for unit candidates, and connecting with other divisions to ensure clear communication among all involved parties. This position also serves as Workers’ Rights Unit’s Public Records Coordinator.
• Supervision: Plan, assign, prioritize, and review the work of assigned staff; balance workloads to meet shifting priorities and operational needs; and provide ongoing feedback, training, and coaching to support employee performance, skill development, and professional growth.
• Paralegal Duties: Organize case files for attorneys. Oversee the drafting and filing of pleadings to ensure compliance with AGO timelines for filing and citations. Assist attorneys with analysis of case facts for legal issues and identification. Identify and develop legal strategies. Obtain, organize, and analyze legal documents, and other information in order to identify and process relevant evidence for use at trial. Identify potential exhibits and witnesses. Assist attorneys with all aspects of pretrial discovery, including investigations, gathering relevant information and documents, and recommending follow-up or other action to the AAG. Coordinate client correspondence and conduct preliminary interviews.

Required 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 six 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

• Two years’ experience as a Paralegal 2 in Washington State Service.

*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

Supervisory Experience: Supervisory experience is preferred but not required, as a Paralegal 3 or Lead.

• Adaptability and Flexibility: Adapts easily to changing business needs, conditions and work responsibilities, using methods to achieve successful solutions.

• Communication Effectiveness: Conveys clear, timely, persuasive messages, verbally or written, that impact the thoughts and actions of others; giving and receiving information; use appropriate language for the knowledge and understanding of audience or reader; maintain appropriate confidentiality; use tact and diplomacy in all interactions; use of written communication using adequate and accurate grammar, punctuation, and spelling in written correspondence, including e-mail.

• Interpersonal Skills: Build and maintain strong, courteous relationships with peers, managers and customers; provides assistance, information or other support to others to build or maintain relationships with them.

• Accountability & Dependability: Takes personal responsibility for the quality and timeliness of work, and achieves results with little oversight.

• Workload Management: Effectively handles and organizes multiple assignments and competing priorities and urgent situations, making sound decisions to produce accurate work product thoroughly and on time.

• Decision Making & Judgment: Makes timely, informed decisions that take into account the facts, goals, constraints, and risks.

• Attention to Detail: Diligently attends to details and pursues quality in accomplishing tasks.

• Analysis: Use data and information in a clear and rational thought process to assess and understand issues, evaluate evidence, form accurate conclusions, and make appropriate decisions.

• Stress Tolerance: Maintains composure in highly stressful or adverse situations.

Commitment to Diversity

Diversity is critical to the success of the mission of the AGO and we are committed to building an anti-racist and equitable agency. It is our goal to identify, discuss, and challenge racial inequity in the workplace and the impact it has on our employees, and, within our authority, combat racism that impacts the people of the State of Washington. 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 a professional, inclusive, respectful environment.

Our commitment to employee wellness is reflected in earning the 2025 "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.