Associate General Counsel

Please Note: This recruitment will remain open until filled with a first review of applicants the week of June 1, 2026.  The hiring authority reserves the right and may exercise the option to make a hiring decision at any time. We encourage all to apply as early as possible. The starting salary offer will be determined based on the successful candidates’ qualifications within the starting salary range of $89,000 - $121,000 annually.  Our physical office is in Olympia, WA. We offer flexible work schedules and locations. This is a hybrid position that allows teleworking. However, you may need to travel to in-person activities, meetings, and events according to business needs.  

Why work for the Office of the Governor?

As the Associate General Counsel with the Washington State Governor’s Office, you’ll have the opportunity to work closely with the Governor’s Chief Legal Counsel and Deputy Legal Counsel. This is a new position within the office that will assist with providing legal advice and strategic guidance to the Governor and Governor’s Office staff on a broad range of complex issues. The work is fast-paced, intellectually engaging, and deeply connected to public service.

The job opportunity

We are looking for an attorney who brings strong legal research, writing, and communication skills, and a genuine commitment to serving Washingtonians.

This position offers a unique opportunity to work on meaningful, high-impact issues affecting communities across the state. This includes healthcare, immigration, public safety, infrastructure, and other emerging legal and policy matters facing the executive branch.

You’ll also have the unique opportunity to research and analyze legal issues, provide written and verbal legal briefings, and guide litigation involving the Governor’s Office and state agencies. This role also supports the Governor’s judicial appointments process and clemency process, among other impactful bodies of work.

If you’re motivated by a desire to serve the public and want your work to have a direct impact on people and communities across Washington, this is an opportunity to help shape policy and decision-making at the highest levels of state government.

What you’ll work on:

• Research and advise on legal issues affecting the work of the Governor and the Governor’s office, including: the Governor’s powers and duties; proposed state legislation; state–federal relations; clemency; ethics; and public records.
• Provide written and in-person legal briefings to the Governor and Governor’s Office staff.
• Monitor and guide litigation involving the Governor’s Office and significant legal disputes involving cabinet agencies, and coordinate with legal counsel at the Attorney General’s Office.
• Handle appeals of agency rulemaking decisions pursuant to RCW 34.05.330(3).
• Assist in evaluating candidates for judicial appointments.

What we need you to bring

Required Qualifications:

• Degree from an ABA-accredited law school or completion of the WSBA’s Rule 6 Law Clerk Program.
• Licensed to practice law in Washington.
• Strong legal research and writing skills and the ability to consistently produce high-quality work.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to successfully handle competing, time-sensitive assignments.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to communicate clearly and effectively in writing and orally.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to work collaboratively as a member of a small, diverse team.
• A high level of motivation with the ability to work independently, be a team player, and seek opportunities for professional growth.
• The ability to learn and grow.
• The ability to meet the needs of others.

Desired Qualifications:

• Civil legal experience with litigation and alternative dispute resolution.
• Criminal legal experience.
• Experience advising government clients or working in state government.
• Judicial clerkship experience.

We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one from a less traditional background. Don’t let doubts stop you from applying for this position. If you have transferable experience, please tell us about it or contact us with questions about the required qualifications and how your experience relates to them.

What we offer: 

We foster a culture of integrity, innovation, inclusion, and belonging. We value both learned and lived experiences, believing that diversity makes us stronger. To support your health and well-being, we offer a variety of benefit programs for our employees.

Please visit our Recruitment Page for a full list of benefits available to employees. Here’s a quick glance at some of the unique benefits that we offer:

• An environment of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging  
• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance
• 12 paid holidays, 14 paid vacation days (minimum), and 12 days of sick leave per year
• State retirement programs  

Application Process: Once you’ve decided to apply for a state government job, you’ll complete an online application to showcase your qualifications. Keep in mind that once you submit the application, a real person is going to read it. We do not use AI or other technology that screens your application and rejects it.  So please be sure to provide clear and detailed information about your work history so your qualifications can be accurately assessed. We will contact the top candidates directly to schedule interviews. If you need reasonable accommodation in applying, please call 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6384.

When completing your application, please attach all of the following:

• Cover letter: describing your interest in and qualifications for this specific position
• Resume: that details your applicable experience and education
• Legal writing sample: 10 pages or less, written and edited by you
• References: at least three professional references and their contact information

Questions: 

Our Staff ASL interpreter is available to all deaf and hard of hearing applicants. For questions about this recruitment or to request a reasonable accommodation in the application or interview process, please email us at TalentAcquisition@ofm.wa.gov.

The Office of the Governor is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, and disabled and Vietnam-era veterans are encouraged to apply.