Legal Assistant 2 (Non Permanent, Internal Only) Office of Administrative Hearings Tacoma Field Office
NOTE: This position is internal only and is only available for current OAH employees. External candidates will not be considered.
NOTE: The duties of this position allow for full-time telework.
NOTE: This non-permanent position is expected to last 12 months.
NOTE: Interviews for this position will take place on Monday, June 13.
About the Agency: The 1981 Legislature created the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) to offer Washingtonians an independent, fair and neutral forum to hold administrative hearings on disputed matters referred by state and local government agencies. Operating out of field offices in Olympia, Tacoma, Seattle, and Spokane Valley there are currently about 275 employees, including 145 Administrative Law Judges who preside over administrative hearings involving unemployment insurance benefits, child support, food assistance, medical benefits, business and professional licensing, and more. OAH conducts hearings for more than 30 agencies and 160 programs. Our referring agencies include the Employment Security Department (ESD), Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), Health Care Authority (HCA), Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB), Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), and others. For more information about OAH, please visit our website at .
Mission: To hear and independently resolve disputes between the public and state agencies with an impartial, quick, and easy to access process.
Vision: All people of Washington can meaningfully participate in their hearing and understand the result.
Values: Fairness and independence; Diversity, equity, inclusion and respect; Performance excellence; Integrity.
Goals:
Performance Excellence: We deliver high quality, timely work.
Convenience & Accessibility: We make it easy for people to do business with us.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Respect: We promote diversity, equity, inclusion and respect.
Good Stewards: We are efficient, effective and accountable.
OAH Offers:
Professional legal office setting.
Work that is important and makes a difference.
Professional development opportunities and in-house training.
Comprehensive benefits package.
Duties
The position of Legal Assistant 2 is critical to the successful completion of the OAH mission. LA2s contribute to the OAH mission by providing essential legal support services to the agency. This includes scheduling and case management for the Unemployment Insurance (UI) caseload. The position prioritizes workload to ensure the agency meets its mission and goals. The LA2s work with a team of Administrative Law Judges (ALJs), Legal Assistants (LAs), and Legal Office Assistants (LOAs) on scheduling and managing caseloads and handling related files. Duties include, but are not limited to: Scheduling Cases:
Schedule cases, ensuring that hearings can be conducted and have decisions issued prior to due dates.
Process exhibits in a timely manner.
Handle and process complex appeals such as remands, monetary and fraud cases, including analyzing the information to determine the proper fraud weeks at issue.
Verify each party receives a copy of the hearing notice as well as any exhibits or additional information that is needed.
Case Management:
Coordinate coverage for ALJs when the assigned judge is unavailable, and provide postponement coordination for ALJs.
Process requests from parties, and monitor and process incoming documents.
Access data in agency applications to correct addresses or check hearing information, and make careful written notes in the Case Management System (PRISM).
Proof orders for formatting, punctuation, dates, headers, footers, and names, tracking errors and proofing data for ALJs.
Ensure completed files are prepared for each ALJ with sufficient time for them to prepare for the hearing.
Accessibility to Hearings:
Coordinate any hearings that need to be conducted in person.
Order interpreters or court reporters as needed for each hearing following OAH guidelines.
Complete interpreter surveys following each request for service.
Coordinate ADA accommodation requests with OAH ADA Coordinator.
Qualifications
Option 1: A high school diploma or equivalent AND two (2) years of experience in a legal environment supporting an attorney, Administrative Law Judge, Industrial Insurance Appeals Judge, review judge, or equivalent.
Option 2: One (1) year of experience as a Legal Assistant 1 for the State of Washington.
Option 3: A two-year degree in Legal Secretary Studies, Paralegal Studies or related field AND one (1) year of legal office experience.
Option 4: A combination of four (4) years of college education and/or relevant experience.
Supplemental Information
How to Apply:
To begin the online application process, click the green "Apply" button at the top of this announcement on careers.wa.gov or governmentjobs.com. If you have not done so previously, you will need to set up an account. To be considered for this position you must complete the supplemental questionnaire and include the following information in your online application:
A letter of interest describing what interests you in this position and what makes you a viable and competitive candidate.
A resume AND a completed online application profile that includes education and employment history.
Please include a minimum of three professional references with your application.
A professional reference is defined as an individual who has either been paid to supervise your work or worked directly with you and can attest to your work performance, technical skills, and job competencies. If your references do not meet these criteria, please include non-related professionals, such as educators or other professional associates.
OAH 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 diversity, age, honorably discharged veteran, veteran status, genetic information, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability or the use of a trained guide dog or service animal by a person with a disability. Persons with a disability who need assistance with their application or that need this announcement in an alternative format may call (360) 664-1960 or toll free (877) 664-1690. TTY users should first call 711 to access the .
For questions about this recruitment please email us at .
