Paralegal 3, Corrections Division, Washington State Office of the Attorney General - State of Washington
Thurston County – Olympia, WA
About the Job
Position and Salary
The Attorney General’s Office is recruiting for a permanent full time Paralegal 3 in the Corrections Division. This position is located in Olympia, Washington, and is represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE).
Paralegal 3 Salary Range 59, $66,012 - $88,800
The base pay offered will take into account internal equity and may vary depending on the preferred candidate’s job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.
The following stipends may apply based on position requirements:
- Incumbents assigned to our Seattle office location receive an additional 5% King County Location Pay stipend.
- Incumbents assigned to a position designated as requiring dual language skills will receive a 5% Dual Language Requirement Pay stipend.
The mission of the Corrections Division is to work with and support its partners in the criminal Justice community to create and maintain safe communities. Corrections Division staff represent and advise the Department of Corrections, Indeterminate Sentence Review Board, Governor’s Clemency and Pardons Board, and Governor’s Office on extraditions and detainers. Pursuant to RCW 9.94A.880, the division provides administrative staff for the operation of the Clemency and Pardons Board.
Duties and Essential Functions of a Paralegal 3
This position provides direct support to the Governor’s Clemency and Pardons Board (CPB or Board) and supervises the other team members providing support services to help the Board fulfill its statutory responsibilities. The Clemency and Pardons Board, pursuant to RCW 9.94A.885, receives petitions for review related to commutation of sentences and pardoning of incarcerated individuals and others convicted of crimes, and makes recommendations thereon to the Governor. This position serves as a primary point of contact for and coordinates with the Clemency and Pardons Board and Governor’s Office in identifying goals and priorities to achieve both the Board’s and Governor’s objectives.
Under direct supervision of the division chief, duties of this position include but are not limited to:
Ensure the Board has the support needed to fulfill its statutory responsibility to receive and consider petitions for commutations, pardons, and restoration of civil rights.
Build and maintain relationships with petitioners, counsel for petitioners, prosecutors, and other stakeholders involved in the clemency process. Serve as primary liaison with the Governor’s Office for Board matters.
Supervise and manage staff assigned to support the CPB, assigning work to most effectively meet the Board’s needs and review work of staff as necessary. Monitor and assist with the day-to-day work as necessary to ensure procedures are followed and to avoid backlogs. Support, coach, train, and mentor staff with an interest in growth and development. Complete quarterly formal check-ins and annual written performance evaluations. Assist in recruitment for vacant positions. Monitor workloads and evaluate staffing needs.
Evaluate and implement improvements in workflow procedures for each step in the clemency process to ensure timely and efficient processing. This includes initial receipt and review of petitions for completeness, acknowledgment of receipt, preparing petition files for the Board’s preliminary review, communicating Board decisions to grant/deny hearings, closing files for which petitioners are denied hearings, preparing files/matters for petitioners granted hearings, and sending transcripts and results of hearings to the Governor’s Office for final action.
Provide timely communication to petitioners when the Board takes action on petitions. Develop and/or update, with Board approval, template letters used to communicate relevant information to petitioners and others involved in the clemency process. Implement a system for promptly acknowledging initial receipt of petitions and notifying petitioners when the Board takes action on their petitions.
Facilitate quarterly public hearings, securing a location for in-person hearings, preparing and filing the hearing agenda, providing required notice to prosecutors, arranging for hearing transcription and TVW broadcast, and processing requests for reimbursement of expenses.
Assist with records requests directed to the Board. Thoroughly search for potentially responsive CPB records held by the AGO, document the search, and timely provide identified records to the Governor’s Office once identified, and with appropriate redactions.
This recruitment announcement may be used to fill multiple open positions for the same classification, in addition to the position(s) listed in this announcement.
Ideal Candidate Profile
Combination of five years of experience through paralegal certification, two-year paralegal degree, and/or paraprofessional experience in support of an attorney.
OR
Three years’ experience as a Paralegal 2 in Washington State Service.
SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
Knowledge of SharePoint and other various electronic database programs.
About the Washington State Office of the Attorney General
Join an agency whose work impacts the lives of every resident of Washington State.
The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) touches the lives of every resident in this state. We serve more than 230 state agencies, boards, commissions, colleges and universities, as well as the Legislature and the Governor. The Office is comprised of nearly 700 attorneys and 800 professional staff, all working together to deliver the highest quality professional legal services to Washington state officials, agencies, and entities. This includes:
- Economic justice and consumer protections (safeguarding consumers, protecting youth, seniors, and other vulnerable populations)
- Social justice and civil rights (addressing discrimination, environmental protection, and veteran and military resources)
- Criminal justice and public safety (investigative and prosecutorial support, financial crimes)
- And much more!
Commitment to Diversity
Diversity is critical to the success of the mission of the AGO. This means recognizing, respecting, and appreciating all cultures and backgrounds-- and fostering the inclusion of differences between people. Appreciating, valuing and implementing principles of diversity permits AGO employees to achieve their fullest potential in an inclusive, respectful environment.
One recent measure of the AGO's commitment to diversity can be found in its nomination for Rainbow Alliance and Inclusion Network's "Outstanding Agency Award" in 2019. Our commitment to employee wellness is reflected in earning the 2021 Zo8 Washington Wellness Award.
Excellent benefits
Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation, including Medical/Dental/Vision for employees & dependent(s); Vacation, Sick, and Other Leave; 11 Paid Holidays per year; Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) plans; and Life Insurance. Beyond these traditional benefits, we offer Dependent Care Assistance, Flexible Spending Accounts, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver, Deferred Compensation, Employee Recognition Leave, and more.
With the goal of employee health and wellness, we also offer flexible schedules and telework options for most positions, a Wellness Program, the Employee Assistance Program, and numerous affinity groups to foster community and connection.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
In addition to completing the online application, applicants must attach the following documents to their profile in order to be considered for this position:
- A letter of interest, describing your specific qualifications for the position.
- A current resume detailing experience and education.
- Carefully review your application for accuracy, spelling and grammar before submitting.
- You may not reapply to this posting for 30 days.
- The initial screening of applications will be solely based on the contents and completeness of the “work experience” and “education” sections of your application in www.careers.wa.gov, completeness of the application material submitted, and responses to the supplemental questionnaire.
- A resume will not substitute for completing the “work experience” section of the application.
- All information may be verified and documentation may be required.
The AGO is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation/gender identity, age, disability, honorably discharged veteran or military status, retaliation or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability. 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.
For questions regarding this recruitment or assistance with the application process, please contact Judith Vandergeest @ (360) 586-7691 or Judith.Vandergeest@atg.wa.gov.
If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing or completing your application, please call NEOGOV toll-free at (855) 524-5627 or support@neogov.com.