Petitioning Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Description Persons requiring reasonable accommodation in the application process or requiring information in an alternative format may contact the recruitment team at HREmployment@atg.wa.gov. 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 in the Corrections Division

This position is located in Tumwater, Washington, and is represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE). Paralegal 2 (Range 55) salary range: $61,644 - $82,872 (Effective 7/1/2025) | $62,880 - $84,528 (Effective 7/1/2026) 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.

The following stipends may apply based on position requirements: 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 Corrections Division: The Corrections Division is looking for a professional who thrives in a fast-paced, collegial environment to join our team.

The Corrections Division consists of legal assistants, paralegals and attorneys who are located in the Olympia and Spokane Offices. The mission of the Corrections Division is to work with and support its partners in the criminal justice community to create and maintain safe communities. Corrections Division staff represent and advise the Department of Corrections, Indeterminate Sentence Review Board, Governor's Clemency and Pardons Board, and Governor's Office on extraditions and detainers.

Pursuant to RCW 9.94A.880, the division provides administrative staff for the operation of the Clemency and Pardons Board. The professional staff and AAGs in the Corrections Division are a collaborative and collegial team, and work closely with client agency staff. Professional staff within the Corrections Division are engaged in challenging and interesting work

Opportunities to learn and achieve professional growth through experience, mentorship and training are encouraged and supported. Duties and Essential Functions of a Paralegal 2 This position provides direct support to the Governor's Office Clemency and Pardons Board (CPB or Board) and works with the other CPB team members providing support services to help the Board fulfill its statutory responsibilities. The Clemency and Pardons Board consists of five members appointed by the Governor.

The Board receives and reviews petitions for commutation of sentences and pardons of criminal convictions submitted by individuals and others, and makes recommendations on those petitions to the Governor. This position serves as one of the primary points of contact for and coordinates with the Clemency and Pardons Board and Governor's Office in identifying goals and priorities to achieve both the Board's and Governor's objectives. Some of the duties of this position include but are not limited to: Ensure the Board has the support needed to fulfill its statutory responsibility to receive and consider petitions for commutations, pardons, and restoration of civil rights.

Build and maintain relationships with petitioners, counsel for petitioners, prosecutors, and others involved in the clemency process. Serve as one of the primary liaisons with the Governor's Office for Board matters. Timely and efficiently review new petitions for completeness, send acknowledgment of receipt of petitions, prepare and transmit electronic petition files for the Board's preliminary review via SharePoint, communicate Board decisions to grant/deny hearings, close files for which petitioners are denied hearings, prepare files/matters for petitioners granted hearings, and send transcripts and results of hearings to the Governor's Office for final action.

Provide timely communication to petitioners when the Board acts on petitions. Utilize template letters used to communicate relevant information to petitioners and others involved in the clemency process. Follow the implemented system for promptly acknowledging initial receipt of petitions and notifying petitioners when the Board acts on their petitions.

Facilitate quarterly live public hearings either via Zoom or in-person, securing a location for in-person hearings as needed. Communicate with prosecuting attorney offices, victims, and advocates to schedule and arrange their testimony at hearings. Create hearing agendas, file with the Code Reviser's Office, and post the schedule on the Governor's Office public website.

Provide required notice to prosecutors, arrange for interpreters and court reporters for hearing transcription and TVW broadcast, and process requests for reimbursement of expenses. Assist with public records requests directed to the Board. Thoroughly search for potentially responsive CPB records held by the AGO, document the search, and timely provide identified records to the Governor's Office once identified, and with appropriate redactions.

Provide backup to other paralegals in the Corrections Division on various tasks, including litigation and administrative support of the Division's work. This recruitment announcement may be used to fill multiple open positions for the same classification, in addition to the position(s) listed in this announcement. 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 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 The most successful candidate will have: Knowledge of SharePoint and other various electronic database programs Records management Workload management Organizational skills Conditions of Employment A background check consisting of employment history, professional references and educational verification (e.g., degree, license, or official transcript) may be conducted. Prior to any offer, the applicant selected will be required to submit to and pass a fingerprint-based criminal background check conducted by the Washington State Patrol, Criminal Records Division. The incumbent will submit to additional background checks as a condition of employment every five (5) years thereafter

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.

Application Instructions In addition to completing the online application, applicants must attach the following documents to their profile in order to be considered for this position: A letter of interest, describing your specific qualifications for the position; A current resume detailing experience and education. Read The Following Information Completely: Carefully review your application for accuracy, spelling and grammar before submitting. You may not reapply to this posting for 30 days.

The initial screening of applications will be solely based on the contents and completeness of the "work experience" and "education" sections of your application in www.careers.wa.gov, completeness of the application material submitted, and responses to the supplemental questionnaire. A resume will not substitute for completing the "work experience" section of the application. All information may be verified and documentation may be required

The Washington State Office of the Attorney General does 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. 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 HREmployment@atg.wa.gov

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. For questions regarding this recruitment or assistance with the application process, please contact the recruitment team at HREmployment@atg.wa.gov. If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing or completing your application, please call NEOGOV toll-free at (855) 524-5627 or support@neogov.com.