Paralegal
Office of General Counsel – Washington State Bar Association (WSBA)

Salary Range: $56,875 to $56,875 Washington State Employee Benefits
FLSA - Full-time, Non-Exempt

*WSBA Staff must reside and work in Washington State*

The WSBA's mission is to serve the public and the members of the Bar, to ensure the integrity of the legal profession, and to champion justice.

Purpose and Position Summary:

The OGC Paralegal II provides support and assistance to the lawyers in the Office of General Counsel in administrative, committee-related matters. This position has primary responsibility for supporting litigation, Court Rules and Procedures Committee, the Practice of Law Board, Conflicts Review Officers, and the Character and Fitness Board.

Primary Job Duties and Responsibilities:

Provide staff support to WSBA-Administered Supreme Court Practice of Law Board and assist the Assistant General Counsel:

• Coordinate meeting logistics, host virtual meetings, and process expense reimbursements;
• Draft, organize, prepare, and distribute Board agendas, materials, minutes, and correspondence;
• Maintain Board records, rosters, and applications;
• Assist in projects at the direction of the Assistant General Counsel and Practice of Law Board Chair;
• Management of complaints alleging the Unauthorized Practice of Law (UPL);
• Draft correspondence related to UPL files and to parties involved in UPL complaints;
• Prepare summaries of UPL complaints for Board meetings;
• Respond to inquiries regarding filing UPL complaints with the Board.

Draft documents for review by OGC lawyers as needed:

• Opinions, reports, summaries of research results and conclusions, legal memoranda, pleadings, and other legal documents;
• Meeting minutes, procedure manuals, court rules, articles, and accommodations-related materials, policies and procedures;
• Proofread and edit documents prepared by OGC lawyers.

Provide staff support to WSBA-Administered Supreme Court Character and Fitness Board and assist the Associate Director:

• Prepare annual hearing schedule; assist in annual training/orientation;
• Maintain Board records, rosters, and applications;
• Receive and review hearing records from Regulatory Services Counsel;
• Attend hearings, display documents and exhibits, take notes and meeting minutes;
• Arrange court reporter attendance, pay costs associated with hearings, and process member expense reimbursements;
• Assist in drafting findings for review by the Counsel to the Character and Fitness Board;
• File records pursuant to court rules with the Supreme Court;
• Assist Counsel to the Character and Fitness Board in applicant appeals to the Supreme Court and reinstatement appeals to the Disciplinary Board.

Provide Litigation Support:

• Perform legal research to support preparation of legal documents, draft court rules, other documents;
• Manage and organize OGC litigation files, manage and process legal invoices, insurance notifications;
• Manage trademark portfolios, other case files, and data;
• Court filing in State and Federal Courts, service of documents, etc.

Provide staff support to WSBA Court Rules and Procedures Committee and assist the Assistant General Counsel:

• Coordinate Committee meeting logistics, host virtual meetings, and process reimbursements;
• Draft, organize, prepare, and distribute Committee agendas, materials, minutes, and correspondence;
• Maintain Committee records, rosters, and applications;
• Prepare materials for court rule changes proposed by the Committee for submission to the BOG and Supreme Court, and solicit stakeholder feedback on such;
• Review and analysis of en banc rule orders from the Supreme Court, and draft summaries of such for Executive Director review;
• Update website with current rules for comment pursuant to Supreme Court orders.

Provide staff support to Conflict Review Officers and assist the General Counsel:

• Assign grievances to Conflict Review Officers (CROs), conduct conflicts checks prior to assignment, and serve as the point of contact throughout assignments;
• Submit and prepare materials for the Clerk of the Disciplinary Board for Review Committee review when necessary;
• Manage and upkeep grievance files assigned to CROs, destruct grievance files when appropriate pursuant to records retention schedule, and make updates to GILDA.

Perform other duties as assigned, including:

• Provide back up for other OGC staff as assigned and/or as necessary;
• Respond to requests for information from bar members and members of the public.

Education Required:

Education Preferred:

Experience Required:

Experience Preferred:

• Advanced legal research skills for identifying legal issues and finding relevant case law, court rules, and statutes that are on point and/or cover the principle or issue.
• Previous employment in a paralegal position in a law office or in a government or regulatory environment

Competencies (Skills/Abilities) Required:

• Proven ability to maintain the confidentiality and integrity of information, data, records, personal information, etc.
• Strong Attention to detail; Advanced Writing and editing skills;
• Strong Analytical skills; Ability to prioritize, work efficiently, and use good judgment;
• Strong decision making and problem solving both independently and collaboratively;
• Ability to identify legal issues and find relevant case law, court rules, and statutes that are on point and/or that cover the principle or issue;
• Advanced legal research skills. (Ability to perform Westlaw or Lexis Nexis and other research online);
• Ability to work with minimal supervision, and as a team player;
• Excellent social and verbal communication skills appropriate to maintaining good relations with the public, our members, and WSBA staff;
• Computer (desktop and laptop): keyboarding skills, intermediate to advanced knowledge and experience using Microsoft Office programs (OneDrive, SharePoint, MS 365, MS Teams, Zoom, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, and Outlook);
• Intermediate to advanced knowledge of Adobe Pro;
• Advanced in using basic office equipment: Telephone, copier, scanner, printer and FAX Machines;
• Ability to quickly learn WSBA specific software programs, as well as new systems/software as implemented.

Working Conditions:

This position, while primarily remote, must be flexible to work in office or travel within WA state as deemed necessary, or as required. This position may also have the option to work in-office. For remote work, must have an adequate home/work environment and internet access, for performing work of a highly sensitive and confidential nature.

Employment with the Washington State Bar Association mandates that WSBA Staff must reside within the State of Washington at the time of hire, and during active employment status.

The essential functions of the job that must be performed, with or without a reasonable accommodation: This position must be able to regularly work five days per week in an office type environment (remote or in office), possess the ability to primarily sit/stand and use a computer, and lift/push/pull items weighing up to 25 pounds. Must be able to operate a computer keyboard, and other standard office equipment (e.g., printer/scanner/fax/telephone). This position must be able to read, write, and speak with others in English.

WSBA Benefits Include:

• State of Washington Retirement system (DRS/PERS), including an optional Deferred Compensation Plan
• Medical benefits (including Vision & Rx) through the WA Healthcare Authority, with WSBA paying a majority of the premium cost.
• 100% paid premiums for employee Dental
• Long-Term Disability and Life Insurance Plans
• Generous Paid Time Off Benefits (sick, vacation, holiday, float, emergency leave)
• Transportation incentives, *based on a primary work selection requirements
• Allowance to set up a home office, *based on a Remote work selection option
• Free Employee Assistance Program, and National Employee Discount Program
• A company culture that truly focuses on a quality Work and Life Balance for its Staff
• You will be working with a team of supportive, collaborative, creative, and dedicated colleagues driven to accomplish WSBA’s Mission

For consideration and to apply, interested candidates are required to apply online and submit the following required materials: online application, and both a comprehensive professional cover letter and resume. Applications submitted without a cover letter will be considered incomplete.

WSBA Staff must be authorized and approved to work in the United States, upon hire. This position is not eligible for Sponsorship.

WSBA administers pre-employment background screening upon a contingent verbal offer, and prior to hire.

The Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) operates under the delegated authority of the Washington Supreme Court and exercises a governmental function authorized by the Washington Supreme Court to license and regulate the state’s nearly 40,000 legal professionals, including lawyers, limited practice officers, and limited license legal technicians. The WSBA both regulates legal professionals under the authority of the Court and serves its members as a professional association — all without public funding. The WSBA administers the bar admission process, including the bar exam; provides record-keeping and licensing functions; administers the lawyer discipline system. and provides continuing legal education for legal professionals, in addition to numerous other educational and member-service activities.

The WSBA is committed to fostering a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

The statements contained in this job announcement are not necessarily all-inclusive; additional duties may be assigned, and requirements may vary from time to time.

(Rev. 01/01/2023) Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) Compensation Philosophy and Compensation Grid