Paralegal 2 | Social and Health Services | Tumwater

State of Washington•Thurston County – Tumwater, WA

7h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Attorney General’s Office is recruiting for a permanent full-time Paralegal 2 in the Social and Health Services Division. This position is located in Tumwater, Washington, and is represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE). The AGO provides a workplace that is understanding of work-life balance and promotes advancement by offering a wide variety of professional development and growth opportunities. Our team of 44 attorneys and 29 professional staff works at the heart of Washington’s social safety net. We provide legal support for five state agencies, including the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) and the Health Care Authority (HCA), to provide benefits, protection, and care to some of our state’s most vulnerable and disenfranchised residents. Our cases range from large federal court class action cases to individual administrative appeals. Our division is dedicated to fostering a positive and supportive workplace. We prioritize employee growth through a culture that recognizes hard work and provides active support for career advancement. Regular social events help us connect and strengthen our collaborative team dynamic - join us!

Requirements

Combination of four years of experience through: Paralegal certification, Two-year paralegal degree, Paralegal plus (or nine-month paralegal, post BA) certification, and/or Paraprofessional experience in support of an attorney OR One year experience as a Paralegal 1 in Washington State Service.
Preparing legal pleadings and legal correspondence
Ensuring and verifying timely and proper service of legal documents
Calculating, verifying, and calendaring critical events and other dates
Managing case documents, files and exhibits
Tracking and organizing discovery documents
Researching legal issues and verifying legal citations and references for accuracy
Initiative: Independently identifies priorities, manages tasks, and takes proactive steps to meet deadlines while maintaining accuracy and quality.
Knowledge of Court Rules: Maintains and applies knowledge of local, state, federal, and appellate court rules and filing requirements.
Case Preparation Skills: Supports attorneys by coordinating discovery, reviewing case materials, and assisting with witness coordination and case preparation.
Workload Management: Effectively manages multiple cases and competing deadlines while producing accurate, timely work.
Technology & Litigation Support: Uses case management systems, litigation databases, and legal software to organize discovery and track case activity.
Organization: Manages large volumes of information, maintains accurate records, and prioritizes work efficiently.
Communication: Communicates clearly and professionally with attorneys, clients, witnesses, court personnel, and colleagues.
Investigation Skills: Identifies and gathers relevant information through research, document review, and witness interviews.

Responsibilities

Provide administrative support for court cases and administrative matters
Proofread, format, and finalize legal documents, ensuring accuracy.
Arrange for legal messenger services using only authorized vendors approved by DES.
Enter and track legal documents in CMS, monitor case deadlines, update records, and maintain the Electronic Case File Mailbox according to protocols.
Schedule meetings, depositions, and conference calls; coordinate with court personnel, opposing parties, and clients; prepare attorney travel arrangements within approved per diem rates.
Close and archive case files per AGO and divisional procedures, clean out electronic case files, and coordinate the return of physical files as needed.
Supervise, train and coach professional staff in the performance of their assigned duties SHO Behavioral Health Sections and serve as a member of the management team.
Plan, assign, and review staff work, adjusting distribution as needed to balance workloads. Provide training, coaching, and updated resources.
Assess staff performance, offer ongoing feedback, and support skill development while keeping supervisors informed of assignments and workload.
Provide backup support to Paralegal 3 and other supervisors, lead professional staff meetings, and participate in management discussions.
Assist in developing office procedures and recommend improvements to enhance team efficiency and effectiveness.
Draft correspondence, pleadings, and discovery materials for attorney review and signature.
Assist with trial preparation, including exhibit organization, trial notebooks, and coordinating witnesses.
Organize jury instructions and pleadings for jury trials.
Confer with litigation experts, schedule meetings with clients and counsel, and provide case updates.
Track key case events, calculate deadlines, and ensure compliance with court rules and agency policies.