Summary

Washington State

SUPREME COURT

Employment Opportunity

Staff Attorney

Commissioner's Office

Location: Olympia, Washington

Salary: $100,488 - $131,868 per year (DOQ).

Closes: November 29, 2026. AOC reserves the right to close the recruitment at any time after seven calendar days.

POSITION DETAIL

Advancing Justice Through Excellence in Legal Analysis!

This is a rare opportunity to work at the heart of Washington’s judicial system and contribute directly to the work of the Washington Supreme Court. Under the direction of the Supreme Court Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner, you will conduct sophisticated legal research, analyze complex appellate matters, and prepare high-quality legal memoranda that assist Justices in deciding which cases warrant review by the state’s highest court.

In this role, you will evaluate petitions for review, motions, and other matters presenting significant legal questions, emerging issues, and evolving areas of constitutional, criminal, and civil law. Your work will require careful analysis of trial records, lower court decisions, legal arguments, and developing legal trends, culminating in objective, well-reasoned recommendations that help shape judicial decision-making.

The position offers a unique opportunity to engage with intellectually challenging legal issues, including cases involving unsettled law, conflicting appellate decisions, and new legal developments. Through your research, analysis, and writing, you will provide each Justice with the comprehensive information needed to independently evaluate cases and make informed decisions regarding review and disposition. Your contributions will play a meaningful role in the development of Washington law and the administration of justice statewide.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Some of the duties you will perform are:

Provides the Justices with legal memoranda recommending whether the Court should grant, deny, or take some other appropriate action on petitions for review and motions, and whether the Court should retain appeals filed directly in the Court or transfer them for decision by the Court of Appeals in the first instance.
Prepares draft opinions and orders for the Court and draft rulings for the Commissioner as requested.
Prepares, for internal office use, summaries of proposed opinions circulating among the Supreme Court Justices.
Prepares, for posting on the Court’s website, issue statements for cases to be heard by the Court.
Assists the Commissioner’s Office in making recommendations for changes to court rules and internal procedures.
Serves as a resource for the Court’s judicial law clerks and law student externs on legal and procedural questions and assists in the orientation, training, and mentoring of law clerks and externs.
Assists in the development and presentation of continuing legal education programs sponsored by the Commissioner’s Office.
Performs other duties as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS, QUALIFICATIONS, AND CREDENTIALS

Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited school of law.
Member in good standing in the Washington State Bar Association (attorneys licensed in other states will be considered, provided they are committed to timely licensure in Washington).
Four (4) years of attorney experience working in an appellate court or equivalent experience (we are broad minded about this: show us what you’ve got),
Excellent legal research and writing skills,
Ability to learn and help implement new technology,
Willingness to work remotely as required by the office,
Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize work, manage multiple projects, meet deadlines, and consistently deliver high-quality results,
Skills for building and maintaining a positive team environment, AND
A commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, including an understanding and commitment to ending systemic racism as expressed in the Washington Supreme Court’s open letter to the public dated June 4, 2020.

HOW TO APPLY

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION CAREFULLY TO ENSURE YOU HAVE SUBMITTED THE REQUIRED MATERIALS TO BE CONSIDERED.

IMPORTANT: To be considered for this position, you MUST include the following, failure to do so will result in your application being disqualified:

Completed online application.
Current Resume.
Letter of Interest addressing your qualifications for the position.
Three (3) to five (5) professional references to include a current or recent supervisor with email addresses and phone numbers.

Two (2) legal writing samples (preferably 5 to 10 pages each) representing your own work.

To view the job description, please click here: Detailed Job Description - Insight (neogov.com)

To view our current open positions and view benefits information, visit our Jobs Page @ Courts Jobs. To submit an application for this position, click here to APPLY!

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The workweek may fluctuate depending on workload or agency needs.
Overnight travel may be required based on business needs.
This position is not covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act.

The AOC is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on gender, pregnancy, race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, creed, physical, mental or sensory disability (actual or perceived), use of a service animal, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, age, HIV or Hepatitis C status, citizenship or immigration status, or any other basis protected by federal or state law. Persons of disability needing assistance in the application process, or those needing this announcement in an alternative format, please contact us @ Recruitment@courts.wa.gov.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

Supreme Court Commissioner's Officer - Staff Attorney

Key skills

About this role

Summary