Closing Date: 26th October, 2025

Description:

Position Profile:
Staff attorneys assist the court in resolving all types of motions and cases before the court and in handling court administrative matters as requested. They draft prehearing memoranda and opinions, rulings, and orders.

Our Mission: To serve the People by providing an accessible forum for the independent and impartial review of cases, while maintaining an atmosphere that respects the dignity and safeguards the rights of all.

Position Details:
Job #: 2025-70
Status: Regular, Full-Time
Location: Seattle, Washington
Salary: Range 80: $119,977 - $157,399 per year (DOQ), Includes 5% for King County Pay
Opens: October 7, 2025
Closes: October 26, 2025. Candidates are encouraged to apply early. AOC reserves the right to close the recruitment at any time.

Duties and Responsibilities:
(Note: The following is a listing of typical duties; the actual duties of a position may not include all those listed or may include other work of a similar nature.)

Personal Restraint Petitions - Initially reviews personal restraint petitions to determine whether petition is procedurally barred or response is required; reviews petition, responses, and record; requests supplemental responses and record where appropriate; recommends appropriate disposition of motions; researches issues; consults with Chief Judge or Acting Chief Judge; and prepares appropriate orders and/or opinion.
Anders cases - Reviews Anders brief and response; reviews entire record provided by counsel; requests supplemental record where appropriate; researches issues raised by counsel and nonfrivolous issues not raised by counsel; consults with judges where appropriate; and prepares memorandum and per curium opinion or order; with clerk's office maintains list of pending and ready Anders cases.
Nonoral argument cases — Reviews briefs and record; researches issues; consults with judges where appropriate; prepares prehearing memorandum or draft opinion; with secretarial assistance, finalizes opinion or order; addresses motions for reconsideration as requested by judges.
Oral argument cases — Prepares prehearing memorandum and draft opinion in cases that present multiple issues and/or lengthy records; responsibilities include those for nonoral argument cases; and provides editorial comments on opinions in circulation.
Motions on the Merits and other motions — Reviews and assists judges and commissioners in preparing rulings and orders on various motions, including motions on the merits, motions for discretionary review, motions for accelerated review of juvenile and adult sentences, emergency motions and motions to modify.
Screening and Calendar Setting — Screens all briefs filed, identifying key issues and tentatively designating appropriate calendar for disposition; monitors recurrent pending issues; consults with judges, commissioners and clerk's office where appropriate; determines whether to recommend a stay or possible certification; recommends weight to be allocated to certain oral argument cases; prepares orders setting motions to dismiss or to determine mootness where appropriate; with clerk's office sets the oral argument calendar; and maintains informal statistics of allocation of cases across calendars.
Court administration — Assists with training of law clerks and other court personnel; participates in court CLE presentations; serves on division and court-wide committees; assists in developing court programs such as the pro bono program; regularly reviews Supreme Court opinions and disseminates excerpts/summaries to commissioner's office; and prepares case summaries for the court's web page.
Other - Assists the judges, court commissioners and clerk's office as requested; duties may include assisting on oral argument cases, assisting pro tem judges, monitoring emergency motions in the commissioners' absence, and assisting in developing and maintaining technological support.
Performs other duties as required.

Qualifications and Credentials

Graduation from an accredited law school; AND a member in good standing in the Washington State Bar Association

AND

Four (4) years' experience in public or private appellate practice, an appellate court, or judicially related system.

The Ideal Applicant Will Also Have Some or All of The Following Experience, Education, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of: Washington State law and the judicial system, including the rules governing court procedures and the appellate process; relevant citation and cite-checking sources; strong command of legal writing and research skills; and experience with word processing.
Ability to: Work independently and with others, usually under time pressures; interpret and apply court rules; understand complex legal issues; apply legal principles; exercise sound legal judgment; communicate effectively, orally and in writing; maintain confidentiality; and develop working knowledge of significant legal problems and trends. Finally, the job requires establishing and maintaining effective relationships with judges, commissioners, court personnel, the legal community, and others.

Supplemental Information:
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION CAREFULLY TO ENSURE YOU HAVE SUBMITTED THE REQUIRED MATERIALS TO BE CONSIDERED.

Important: To be considered for this position, you MUST include the following, failure to do so will result in your application being disqualified:

Completed online application
Current Resume.
Letter of Interest addressing your qualifications for the position. Please indicate why this position is a good fit for your skills and interests.
Three (3) to five (5) professional references to include a current or recent supervisor with email addresses and phone numbers.

To view the job description, please click here: Detailed Job Description - Insight (neogov.com)

Important Information

The workweek may fluctuate depending on workload or agency needs.
Overnight travel may be required based on business needs.
This position is either exempt from or not covered by the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act and the Washington State Minimum Wage Act.

The Court of Appeals is committed to the practice of equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination for all persons without regard to race, creed, color, national origin, sex, gender and gender identity and expression, marital status, sexual orientation, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability. Persons of disability needing assistance in the application process, or those needing this announcement in an alternative format, please contact the AOC Human Resource Office, at (360) 705-5337, or fax (360) 586-4409, or via email to Recruitment@courts.wa.gov.