Closing Date: 23rd January, 2025

Description:

The University of Washington Division (UW) of the Office of the Attorney General is seeking an experienced employment attorney to join the Division's Employment Team as an Assistant Attorney General. This full-time position will advise and represent UW in a wide range of challenging and interesting employment, labor relations, and personnel matters.

The UW Division provides comprehensive legal services to UW, which operates three campuses (Seattle, Tacoma, and Bothell) and a large medical enterprise. UW enrolls more than 60,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students, employs over 45,000 faculty and staff, and is ranked among the best higher education research institutions in the country. The UW Division's office is located in the University District in Seattle and is comprised of 19 attorneys, organized into three teams (General Practice, Employment, and Healthcare), and 10 support personnel. The UW Division handles a multitude of interesting, complex, and challenging legal issues related to UW's vast array of activities.

Duties:
This position will be responsible for representing UW in litigation, both in labor arbitrations and in cases before the Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC) that involve unfair labor practice charges, unit clarifications, and representation petitions. This position will also provide advice and representation to UW on compliance with local, state, and federal labor and employment laws, regulations, and legal requirements, including those related to the following: state civil service, public employer collective bargaining, public employee benefits and compensation, disability accommodation, leaves of absence, wage and hour, 1st Amendment rights, and discrimination. Substantive legal knowledge and experience in these areas is required for this position (including, for example, Washington Law Against Discrimination, Washington Minimum Wage Act, Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, Family Medical Leave Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and the Fair Labor Standards Act).

Practice on the Employment Team also includes knowledge of other laws, including, but not limited to, the Washington Administrative Procedure Act, Washington Public Records Act, the state Ethics in Public Service Act and privacy laws such as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and related state requirements.

This position may also be required to work on matters with other attorneys on the UW Division's other teams, depending on the Division's needs.

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

Minimum Qualifications:
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 (or see below);
At least six years of legal experience in employment law, labor law, or some combination;
Significant litigation experience (labor litigation preferred);
Demonstrated superior communication skills (written and verbal), practical problem-solving abilities, and outstanding interpersonal skills;
High caliber research skills;
Demonstrated knowledge and significant experience with many of the laws mentioned above (all preferred);
Excellent judgment, analytical and advocacy skills;
Demonstrated ability to provide high level, practical and complex legal advice;
Demonstrated ability to work well in a team environment;
Strong organizational skills and the ability to successfully handle competing time-sensitive matters and manage multiple priorities under pressure;
The ability to work independently as well as collaboratively with coworkers and clients;
The ability to establish and maintain productive working relationships with knowledgeable and high-level clients;
The ability to quickly learn new areas of law.

Preferred Qualifications:
The strongest candidates also will possess:

Experience in practicing higher education law;
Experience advising a health care entity or public employer;
Experience in advising public sector clients on employee benefits;
Experience in advising public sector clients on immigration;
Experience advising a health care entity or a public employer;
Strong litigation skills.

Attorneys who enjoy providing options-based advice, problem-solving in partnership with client workgroups, and a variety of interesting employment and labor issues will enjoy our hard-working and collegial team. We seek an active listener and quick study who has a strong interest in understanding the client's strategic business interests and whose interpersonal skills will be an asset in advising a complex client and collaborating with UW Division colleagues.

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.