This professional legal series performs legal analysis and case preparation on behalf of a state agency, board, or commission. Positions perform legal work, such as recommending disciplinary actions to a board or commission, developing and/or participating in case strategy, conducting legal research, gathering expert witnesses, drafting legal pleadings, correspondence, agreements, briefs, and negotiating settlements or conditions.

The work performed by Legal Examiners is separate and distinct from the Financial Legal Examiner series whose focus is on examinations of regulated financial entities; the work of a Legal Examiner is aimed at assisting a state agency, board, or commission by serving as a legal resource for regulated statewide programs.

This is the entry-level of the series. Positions work under general supervision and draft routine pleadings and provide professional legal work for state agencies, boards, or commissions based on their respective regulatory authority.

Drafts legal pleadings, agreements, and memoranda; analyzes fact patterns for a particular case;

Recommends an appropriate disciplinary sanction to the disciplining authority;

Conducts legal research and analysis;

Manages a case load, maintaining forward progress on a number of matters simultaneously;

Uses negotiation skills to achieve settlement of discipline cases;

Demonstrates skill at dealing effectively with opposing counsel;

Performs other work as required.

Knowledge of: administrative, procedural, tort, and common law and procedures, including adjudicative proceedings and rulemaking; rules of evidence and case law related to admissibility of evidence; civil procedure; constitutional law; public disclosure laws; agency, board, or commission specific statutes and related regulations and the case law relating to statues.

Ability to: conduct fair hearings; make rulings on points of law and admissibility of evidence; determine credibility of witnesses; learn the specific body of law applicable to their field of assignment to include federal and state statutes, court decisions, and agency regulations; deal tactfully with people to gain their respect and confidence, exercise judgment in evaluating evidence and formulating decisions based on fact and law; write decisions and opinions clearly, concisely and accurately; supervise clerical assistants and court reporters; travel regularly within the state.

There may be instances where individual positions must have additional licenses or certification. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the appropriate licenses/certifications are obtained for each position. 

Persons legally authorized to work in the U.S. under federal law, including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients, are eligible for employment unless prohibited by other state or federal law.

Admission to practice law in the State of Washington; or graduation from an accredited school of law and current admission to practice before the highest court of a state.

Equivalent education/experience.