Description
The Washington State Attorney General's Office is looking for an attorney to serve in its Regional Services Division in Yakima, WA.
Yakima offers a variety of attractions as a place to live and work. Situated in the Yakima Valley, the city has a population of just over 96,000. Located on the east side of the Cascade Mountain range, Yakima has a climate with 300 sunny days in most years. Ski, mountain bike, and golf, all in the same day. Hand pick your own fruits and vegetables. No matter how you decide to explore the Yakima Valley, you're bound to find a pleasant mix of perfect weather, delightful craft beverages, farm fresh produce and outdoor adventure. From Yakima, you can get to Seattle in 2 hours and 15 minutes. To get to Spokane or Portland, Oregon will take you just over 3 hours.
This attorney will work in a fast-paced litigation environment entailing frequent state court docket and trial appearances. All attorneys in this division may be assigned to a wide variety of clients according to the needs of the client agencies and the office, as well as the skills, experiences, and professional development needs of attorneys. The Yakima location consists of 12 attorneys and 13 professional staff working in a variety of legal practice areas representing various state agencies and higher education institutions in Yakima, Klickitat and Kittitas counties. Client agencies served by this division in this location include Department of Children Youth and Families, Department of Social and Health Services, Department of Labor and Industries, Department of Early Learning, Department of Licensing, Employment Security Department, and Yakima Valley College.
It is anticipated that the attorney in this position will carry a mixed caseload. The attorney in this position is anticipated to primarily represent the Department of Labor and Industries in worker’s compensation litigation. Worker’s compensation litigation involves frequent depositions of medical and vocational experts, hearings before the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals and Superior Court jury trials and bench trials. The Attorney General’s Office defends the orders and decisions of the Department of Labor and Industries regarding workers seeking benefits under the Industrial Insurance Act. The position will involve regular regional travel within Washington State.
For representation of the Department of Labor and Industries, the assigned AAG can expect to:
- Analyze court files;
- Evaluate cases for settlement possibilities;
- Conduct discovery;
- Consult witnesses;
- Prepare witnesses and evidence for hearing or trial;
- Review reports submitted to the court;
- Prepare and respond to motions; and
- Issue briefs and memoranda within a relatively short time-frame.
The attorney hired for this position will need to be flexible, adaptive, organized, and able to work well with technical staff. The attorney will also need to handle technically challenging subject matter involving medical and vocational experts. The Regional Services Division offers great mentors, a team atmosphere, and supports and encourages flexibility and creativity.
The selected candidate will also be responsible for a small caseload representing Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) in child welfare cases to protect abused and neglected children in dependency, guardianship, and termination of parental rights cases. The subject matter can be difficult, but the work is remarkably rewarding. These cases directly influence the lives of children in our state, in a very meaningful way. The position will also likely include representation of DCYF in childcare, foster care, and group care licensing cases. These cases involve advising the client regarding regulatory enforcement matters, representing the agency in contested matters before the Office of Administrative Hearings, and related Superior Court judicial review proceedings under the Washington Administrative Procedures Act.
The attorney hired for this position will join a division composed of talented and dedicated colleagues, all of whom are determined to provide the best legal services for the clients and people they serve. At the same time, the Regional Services Division, like the whole of the Attorney General's Office, is committed to creating and maintaining an atmosphere which is supportive, inclusive and collegial for its employees, with the shared goal of achieving a high level of personal and professional satisfaction.
The Office appreciates the benefits of a healthy life-work balance as well as a respectful, inclusive and diverse workplace. Successful candidates will join an Office in which every person is committed to providing exceptional legal services and where individual professional development is encouraged and supported. The exceptional benefits of joining the AGO include:
- A competitive benefit package that includes affordable medical plan options, dental benefits and retirement plans
- Vacation Leave, Sick Leave, Military and Civil Leave and Paid Holidays
- Transparent salary schedule - AAG salaries are set between $76,752 and $149,508. The exact amount is set in accordance with Appendix B of the AWAAG CBA
- The AGO will pay the general bar dues of someone who begins their assignment on or before January 31st per Article 10.8 of the AWAAG CBA
- Flex schedules and telecommuting options
- A formal AAG mentoring program that complements the AGO's inherently collegial and supportive environment
- Health and wellness program
- Training and career development program that is recognized for its excellence and efficacy by AGOs nationwide
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To view qualifications and to apply, please visit the posting by clicking here or going to www.careers.wa.gov, filtering by department (Attorney General's Office) and selecting “Assistant Attorney General - Regional Services Division, Yakima (rep. Dept. of Labor & Industries).”
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If making a difference in these ways appeals to you, we invite you to explore opportunities by registering for the Office's attorney E-Mail Subscription and visiting the site which will hold all attorney and law clerk opportunities at careers.wa.gov.