The Education Division provides legal services to a broad array of agency clients including the State’s education governance and oversight agencies and 38 institutions of higher education (excluding the University of Washington and Washington State University). The Olympia section of the Division serves as the headquarters for education legal work performed around the State. The clients its seven attorneys advise and represent include: the Superintendent of Public Instruction, The Evergreen State College, Central Washington University, seven community or technical colleges, and eleven other education-related agencies. The position involves a mixture of client advice, transactional work, and litigation. The clients are mission-driven and sophisticated. They highly value responsiveness and clear communication.
 
This assignment is challenging with an opportunity to work on a wide range of topics, such as: labor and employment, student activities and conduct, social media, First Amendment, due process, administrative law, anti-discrimination, land use and public works, contracts and procurement/business transactions, data security, intellectual property, institutional governance, public records, and open public meetings. The subject matter is broad and interesting. The attorney is expected to be able to work collaboratively and coordinate with attorneys for other education-related agencies and keep abreast of education issues both statewide and nationally.
 
This position also represents the client agencies in all non-tort litigation, which may include administrative hearings, labor arbitrations, and original proceedings in state and federal courts. Experience and interest in litigation is desirable.
 
The selected candidate will have a client portfolio consisting of Community/Technical College(s) and smaller education clients depending on Division and client need, with consideration of the candidate’s experience and interests.  
 

The Education Division fosters a collegial, team environment, supports many clients and covers a broad array of subject matters. Collaborative staffing of legal issues is an important part of the division culture. Typical duties for this position include, but are not limited to: 

• Frequent contact with agency representatives to understand legal issues and needs;
• Timely research and synthesis of relevant law, providing options-based legal advice;
• Providing training, reviewing contracts, negotiating on the clients’ behalf;
• Appearing in administrative proceedings and courts to defend agency decisions and actions;
• Drafting briefs and motions; and
• Working with discovery.   

Duties also include travel to client agencies for meetings of governing boards, and travel to courthouses, and administrative forums throughout the state; occasionally requiring multi-day/overnight stays.  

In addition to meeting the requirements to apply and serve as an Assistant Attorney General, we are seeking candidates who have practiced for a minimum of 5 years, who are interested in a diverse and intellectually stimulating practice and are comfortable juggling multiple client assignments.  

The strongest candidates will also possess the following: 

• Experience in one or more of the practice areas described above and/or serving education clients or other public sector entities.
• A strong interest in education law.
• Superior interpersonal skills, including the ability to nurture positive working relationships with sophisticated clients and colleagues.
• Ability to engage in clear, high-quality oral and written communication.
• Diplomacy and outstanding judgment.
• Independent thinking and practical problem-solving skills, and the ability to quickly learn new areas of law.
• High caliber research and analytical skills.
• Experience interviewing and preparing witnesses for testimony, responding to discovery, and conducting hearings or oral arguments before arbitrators, administrative tribunals, or the state or federal courts. 
• Ability to successfully handle competing time-sensitive matters and multiple priorities under pressure.  
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively with coworkers and clients.
• Highest degree of ethics and professionalism.
• Respect and collegiality toward professional staff and attorneys, and the ability to foster teamwork and contribute to our highly-valued positive work environment.