Paralegal 3 | Worker Rights Unit | Seattle

State of Washington; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 69,000 - 93,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

5% King County Location Pay

5% Group C Assignment Pay

5% Dual Language Requirement Pay

Job summary

Washington State Office of the Attorney General in Seattle seeks a Paralegal 3 to join the newly established Worker Rights Unit. The role focuses on supervising paralegal staff and providing essential administrative support to attorneys.

Travel around the state may be necessary as the unit handles high-profile investigations and litigations. The position offers competitive benefits and the possibility of hybrid telework.

Responsibilities

• 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

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 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. The following stipends may apply based on position requirements:

• 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.

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 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 non-compete 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!

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.

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