Closing Date: 6th April, 2023

Description:

The Wing Luke Civil Rights Division of the Washington State Attorney General’s Office seeks attorneys with a demonstrated commitment to civil rights and public service to join the Division’s affirmative civil rights team. This recruitment will be used to fill up to TWO attorney vacancies with: a DEVELOPING ATTORNEY position and an EXPERIENCED ATTORNEY position.

Duties

These positions will undertake affirmative investigation and litigation to enforce the constitutional and civil rights of Washingtonians. The Civil Rights Division has led some of the most visible and cutting-edge enforcement matters the office undertakes, including Washington's challenges to the federal government’s Travel Ban, Transgender Military Service Ban, and repeal of DACA. We have successfully challenged labor practices at the Northwest Detention Center and in industries ranging from aerospace to agriculture.

The team protects the rights of Washingtonians to live and participate in our communities without discrimination on the bases of protected characteristics including: race, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity (Download PDF reader), veteran or military status, disability, or use of a service animal by a person with a disability. We take on unconstitutional police practices and challenge discrimination by nationwide companies like Motel 6, Greyhound, and Facebook. We also work closely with the Solicitor General’s Office, Consumer Protection Division, and other AGO divisions and state agencies to enforce Washington laws in state and federal courts. For example, we recently partnered to lead a multi-state lawsuit to protect reproductive choice by removing excessively burdensome regulations for a medication abortion drug; and, during the COVID-19 pandemic, we enforced Governor Inslee’s emergency moratorium on evictions, ensuring compliance by housing developers, affordable housing providers, and a national sorority.

Interested candidates are encouraged to review the Division’s full list of cases and amicus briefs.

The Civil Rights Division also engages in public outreach and education on civil rights topics and serves as a resource on civil rights issues within state government. Our attorneys advise the Attorney General, Legislative Director, and the Policy Director on issues impacting civil rights and social justice, including proposed legislation. Civil Rights Division attorneys are routinely asked to represent the Attorney General’s Office in public or media settings on matters that may be sensitive, high-profile, and that carry elevated media interest.

The DEVELOPING ATTORNEY position primarily handles investigations and litigation. Duties include:

Identifying and developing possible enforcement matters under the statutes the Division enforces;
Locating and interviewing witnesses;
Obtaining and reviewing relevant documentary evidence;
Conducting factual and legal analysis to determine whether a matter merits formal enforcement proceedings; and
Litigating cases as part of a litigation team.

For cases that proceed to litigation, the position requires full-scope litigation, from the preparation and filing of the initial complaint through post-judgment briefing. This can include propounding and responding to written discovery, taking and defending depositions, briefing dispositive and non-dispositive motions, negotiation, preparing pre-trial motions, trying cases, and participating in post-trial proceedings including any appeals. The Division works with witnesses from all walks of life, including expert witnesses.

This position will also enforce the Healthy Starts Act’s provisions requiring reasonable accommodations for pregnant employees, and the Fair Chance Act’s prohibition on job advertisements that unfairly exclude applicants because of criminal history.

In addition to AGO-initiated enforcement work, this position will represent the Washington State Human Rights Commission in enforcement matters under the Washington Law Against Discrimination. These matters are prosecuted in the Office of Administrative Hearings or superior court. Like our enforcement work at the direction of the Attorney General, representing the Human Rights Commission involves litigating cases from start to finish, including preparing and filing the complaint, conducting the full scope of civil discovery, presenting evidence and argument at trial, and prosecuting any appeals.

The EXPERIENCED ATTORNEY position is one that handles enforcement actions and is assigned a docket that is fast-paced, innovative, and complex. Duties include:

Identifying and developing enforcement matters; and
Conducting all phases of investigation and litigation, including prosecuting appeals.

The Division practices in federal courts nationwide and superior courts statewide and collaborates significantly with other divisions in the Attorney General’s Office, enforcement units in other states, partner law enforcement agencies, and community members.

In addition to AGO-initiated enforcement work, this position will represent the Washington State Human Rights Commission in enforcement matters under the Washington Law Against Discrimination. These matters are prosecuted in the Office of Administrative Hearings or superior court. Like our enforcement work at the direction of the Attorney General, representing the Human Rights Commission involves litigating cases from start to finish. This position will also enforce the Healthy Starts Act’s provisions requiring reasonable accommodations for pregnant employees, and the Fair Chance Act’s prohibition on job advertisements that unfairly exclude applicants because of criminal history.

Beyond investigation and litigation duties, both positions contribute to the Division’s amicus work on matters affecting the public interest.

The Wing Luke Civil Rights Division is located in Seattle and consists of fifteen attorneys, three investigators, and six professional staff members. Each member of our team is committed to the highest-quality work. We value collaboration, diversity, creativity, and collegiality.

These positions require statewide travel, including overnight trips. Out-of-state travel may also be required.

Qualifications

In addition to meeting the requirements to serve as an Assistant Attorney General, for the DEVELOPING ATTORNEY position, two or more years of civil litigation experience are required. Other, preferred, qualifications include:

Exceptional and positive interpersonal and communication skills, including demonstrated cultural competence and experience working with individuals from diverse cultural, language, educational, and geographic backgrounds;
Experience with multiple phases of civil litigation, including written discovery, depositions, working with witnesses including experts, and presenting evidence in an administrative or courtroom setting;
Commitment to race equity, social justice, community lawyering, or structural reforms to empower vulnerable populations;
Strong analytical, research, and writing skills and the ability to consistently produce high-quality work;
Strong organizational skills and the ability to successfully handle competing, time-sensitive assignments;
A high level of motivation with the ability to work independently, be a team player, and devote whatever time is necessary to complete our work; and
Demonstrated discretion, excellent judgment, and the ability to work well as a member of a larger litigation team that is working under pressure; and
Familiarity with advising an administrative agency or other organizational client.

For the EXPERIENCED ATTORNEY position, all of the following are required qualifications:

Five or more years of civil litigation experience, including experience with written discovery and depositions, working with witnesses including experts, the full range of non-dispositive and dispositive motions, and presenting evidence in an administrative or courtroom setting;
Exceptional and positive interpersonal and communication skills, including demonstrated cultural competence and experience working with individuals from diverse cultural, language, educational, and geographic backgrounds;
Commitment to race equity, social justice, community lawyering, or structural reforms to empower vulnerable populations;
Strong analytical, research, and writing skills and the ability consistently to produce high-quality work;
Excellent organizational skills and the ability successfully to handle competing, time-sensitive assignments;
A high level of motivation with the ability to work independently, be a team player, and devote whatever time is necessary to complete the work; and
Demonstrated discretion, excellent judgment, and the ability to work well as a member of a litigation team that is working under pressure.

For both positions, the ability to read, write, and/or speak a language in addition to English is preferred.

To serve as an Assistant Attorney General, one 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.

Per AGO Policy, employees and volunteers of the AGO must be fully vaccinated as a condition of employment. Being fully vaccinated means that an individual is at least two weeks past their final dose of an authorized COVID-19 vaccine regimen. Effective March 14, 2022, the AGO announced pursuant to its policy, that employees and volunteers must also receive a booster shot as a condition of employment. Employees or volunteers who are not eligible to receive the booster before their start date, due to required waiting times after receiving their initial vaccine(s), must provide confirmation of the vaccine type and date received so the AGO can calculate the date by which they must receive the booster. If you are selected to serve within the AGO as an employee or volunteer, you will be required to provide proof of vaccination and booster (if already received) before you are able to begin work. You may request an accommodation if you are unable to meet the requirement due to a medical or religious necessity.