Closing Date: 1st April, 2026

Description:

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.

All employees and volunteers of the Washington State Attorney General's Office serve a crucial role in the protection of the state, its people and resources, thereby providing an incomparable degree of job satisfaction. The AGO is composed of diverse, collegial and supremely talented legal professionals who are resolute in their commitment to public service and share the common goal of advancing the public interest. For more information about the AGO, we encourage you to review the Office's Annual Report which can be found HERE. (https://www.atg.wa.gov/publications-reports)

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 $82,212 and $153,996. The exact amount is set in accordance with Appendix B of the AWAAG CBA (https://ofm.wa.gov/hr-policies/labor-relations/collective-bargaining-agreements/washington-federation-of-state-employees-association-of-washington-assistant-attorneys-general-wfse-awaag-2025-27/)
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 (https://ofm.wa.gov/hr-policies/labor-relations/collective-bargaining-agreements/washington-federation-of-state-employees-association-of-washington-assistant-attorneys-general-wfse-awaag-2025-27/)
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

Are you interested in working on a supportive and collaborative team of attorneys representing and advising the Department of Corrections on a wide variety of legal issues? The Department of Corrections provides incarcerated individuals with medical care, religious services, mail and legal access, a disciplinary process, rehabilitative programming, and more; and with each of those programs comes the need for legal advice and representation in litigation.

The Corrections Division of the WA State Attorney General's Office is looking for an attorney interested in working as an Assistant Attorney General in an advice and civil litigation practice. This position can be located in Tumwater or Spokane.

The attorneys in Corrections defend the Department of Corrections and its employees in Section 1983 civil rights actions, Washington Public Records Act cases, and personal restraint petitions related to prison conditions. These cases critically impact the state's ever-evolving corrections system and range from pro se civil rights matters to class action litigation challenging the constitutionality of prison conditions and programs. In addition, attorneys in the unit serve as client contacts and legal advisers for the Department of Corrections and frequently work closely with DOC officials. In the Corrections Division, attorneys and professional staff pride themselves on working together closely in a collegial and fun environment to provide high quality legal services on challenging and interesting issues.

Duties:
The duties for this position will include:

Litigating civil matters from initiation of the case to verdict, which includes drafting pleadings, discovery practice, dispositive motions, settlement or other alternative dispute resolution, and possible trial in both state and federal courts;
Handling appeals, including briefing and oral argument, in state and federal appellate courts;
Advising the Department of Corrections as requested by client representatives on legal options available related to prison programs;
Appearing in courts around Washington, both in-person and via remote appearance;
Working with Community Corrections Officers to prosecute community supervision violations before the Indeterminate Sentence Review Board;
Working closely with professional staff to accomplish litigation goals and meet all deadlines;
Working closely with Department of Corrections employees to investigate claims and gather evidence; and
Communicating with incarcerated individuals and opposing counsel about their claims and litigation against the State.

Qualifications:
In addition to meeting the requirements to serve as an Assistant Attorney General, qualified candidates should have:

Strong work ethic and can-do attitude;
Excellent judgment;
A desire to represent the Department of Corrections
The ability to multitask and independently manage a robust caseload, with appropriate supervision and mentorship;
Superior communication and analytical skills;
Working knowledge of the state and federal rules of civil procedure;
Ability to advance legal arguments by writing persuasively, concisely, and respectfully; and
Commitment to constantly striving for improvement and professional growth and contributing to the professional growth of colleagues.

The Corrections Division is a collegial office that values the insight and contributions of every employee. The ideal candidate for this position will have several years of civil litigation experience; however, our team has had a lot of success mentoring and training newer attorneys and we welcome applicants of all experience levels who want to work hard and achieve excellent results. Although not required, if you have any of the following experience, please make sure to highlight it in your application materials:

Experience in a practice focused on civil litigation defense and planning for the full life cycle of a civil case—from the answer to the verdict;
Experience in propounding and reviewing discovery, and litigating issues connected to discovery disputes;
Experience in federal court motions practice and in applying the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure;
Experience with class action or complex civil litigation.

Applicants must have graduated from a law school accredited by the ABA or completed the WSBA's Rule 6 Law Clerk Program; and be licensed to practice law in Washington state. (Applicants who meet the other stated qualifications and are actively pursuing admission by motion will also be considered.) The AGO seeks applicants who are committed to public service as demonstrated by an applicant's background, talents, attitude, and enthusiasm for public law practice. The AGO greatly encourages, celebrates and values diversity, appreciating that a workforce composed of those from different backgrounds and experiences creates an inclusive environment, strengthens positive relationships with the local community and brings new perspectives and approaches to fulfill its mission of providing excellent, independent and ethical legal services to the State of Washington and protecting the rights of its people.

Supplemental Information:
This Assistant Attorney General position is represented by the Association of Washington Assistant Attorneys General (AWAAG) / Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) AFSCME Council 28, AFL-CIO. AAG salaries are set between $82,212 and $153,996. The exact amount is set in accordance with Appendix B of the AWAAG CBA (https://ofm.wa.gov/hr-policies/labor-relations/collective-bargaining-agreements/washington-federation-of-state-employees-association-of-washington-assistant-attorneys-general-wfse-awaag-2025-27/). A competitive state benefits package is also offered which includes a choice of medical/dental insurance plans, retirement, life and basic long-term disability insurance. In addition, there are non-financial benefits that include working in a collaborative and supportive work environment where professional development and work-life balance are highly valued. The health, safety and professional satisfaction of all AGO staff and volunteers is critical to fulfilling the mission of the AGO to provide exceptional legal services. Complementing and fostering this goal is a long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship, as evidenced in the AGO's environmental policies. (https://www.atg.wa.gov/environmental-policies)

Interested applicants must apply by hitting the "apply" button above. In addition to the on-line application, one must upload, via the system, preferably as PDFs:

A letter of interest;
Resume;
Law school transcript (unofficial copy is acceptable) showing date JD conferred; and
A Writing sample (10 pages or less).

If you have questions about this position and/or want to learn more about it before applying, we welcome and encourage you to contact Division Chief Nick Williamson, Unit Leads Katie Faber, or Tim Feulner at (360) 586-1445.