Closing Date: 5th June, 2026

Description:

Summary:
The Civil Division of the King County Prosecuting Attorney's office provides comprehensive legal services to King County government, including all County elected and appointed officials, department and agency heads and managers, and professional staff. Serving in its role as in-house law firm for the County, the Civil Division works closely with clients to address a wide range of issues through legal advising and representing King County and its employees in litigation. The Civil Division is comprised of about 80 lawyers organized into eight practice groups.

The Land Use Section provides a broad array of legal services to King County relating to land use and other environmental issues. The section advises on policies and enforcement of development regulations, project review, and municipal governance. Contemporary policy issues include housing, environment and rural area protection, climate change, and local and regional development. Attorneys in the section also represent the County in various litigation capacities, primarily before administrative agencies, as well as other litigation and appeals in state and federal courts. Regular section clients include the King County Executive, the King County Council, Department of Local Services-Permitting Division, and various other county agencies.

About the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office Guided by our core values of Integrity, Compassion, Professionalism, and Leadership, our mission is to do Justice:

We exercise the power given to us by the people with fairness and humility.
We serve our diverse community, support victims and families, and hold individuals accountable.
We develop innovative and collaborative solutions for King County and the State of Washington.
Our office is composed of six divisions that are further organized into specialized units:

We value diversity and strive to hire a workforce that reflects the community that we serve. It is essential to our mission that we create and maintain an office that is diverse and inclusive. All PAO employees are expected to participate in PAO equity work and attend equity trainings and discussions. PAO employees are expected to comply with race, equity, and social justice principles, and to work with PAO colleagues and management to identify opportunities for improvement.

To learn more about the Prosecuting Attorney's Office (PAO), please visit our website. (https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/pao)

Job Duties:
The attorney in this position will primarily provide legal services to King County agencies and officials on land use, municipal law, and related issues. A focus on equity and social justice is woven throughout this work. The duties will likely evolve over time and include work in the areas of permitting, civil enforcement, and code development/review. This practice will include client advising, the adjudication of various types of appeals, and litigation regarding a variety of land use issues.

Issues may involve the King County Code, the Growth Management Act, the State Environmental Policy Act, and various other land use regulations and development standards. There are also opportunities to collaborate with other Civil Division practice groups on client-driven projects as well as contribute to Division and Officewide continuous improvement goals. The PAO also provides training opportunities including a robust internal CLE program that allows attorneys to both attend and present on various contemporary topics and practice areas. Attorneys have the opportunity to participate in the Civil Division's mentorship program and serve on committees to cultivate professional relationships outside of their assigned section.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills:

Outstanding analytical abilities with initiative and passion for understanding and advising on complex matters
Excellent legal research and writing skills
Willingness to collaborate in a team
Strong dedication to public service
Litigation (administrative or courtroom) experience
Demonstrable commitment to equity and social justice, including continued development of personal cultural humility/competence
Minimum of 3 years' experience in land use, environmental, and/or municipal law (Note: This is a guide, not a prerequisite. Individuals with similar or transferable experience are encouraged to apply.)
Must be Washington State Bar qualified

Supplemental Information:
Salary: $122,671 - $174,028 annually commensurate with experience from step 4 - step 20 on the DPA salary grid.

Application Process:

Fully complete King County application*
Attach Resume & Cover Letter addressed to the Hiring Committee
Answer supplemental questions

Applications or supplemental questionnaires that state "see my resume" or that are blank are considered incomplete and will not be considered competitive.

For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact:
Selene Poulsen (she/her)
Sr. Human Resources Analyst
spoulsen@kingcounty.gov

Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers. Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

The King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office is dedicated to making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer
No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply:
If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.