Deputy Legal Counsel

About the Department

Please Note: This recruitment will remain open until filled, with a first review of applicants on September 4th.  

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 $135,000 - $170,000 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 Deputy Legal Counsel with the Washington State Governor’s Office, you’ll have the opportunity to work closely with the Governor’s Chief Legal Counsel on a broad range of complex legal issues. This position assists with providing legal advice and strategic guidance to the Governor and Governor’s Office staff. The work is fast-paced, intellectually engaging, and driven by a commitment to public service.

The job opportunity

The Office of the Governor is seeking an accomplished attorney with exceptional legal analysis, writing, and communication skills, sound judgment, and a strong commitment to public service. This is a unique opportunity to advise the Governor on complex legal and policy issues that directly impact communities across Washington.

As Deputy Legal Counsel, you'll provide trusted legal advice and input on matters involving healthcare, immigration, public safety, infrastructure, and other emerging issues facing the executive branch. You'll also brief the Governor and senior staff, oversee litigation involving the Governor's Office and state agencies, evaluate candidates for judicial appointments, review State–Tribal compacts, and help manage the Governor's clemency process and public records responsibilities.

If you're looking for meaningful work, intellectual challenge, and the opportunity to shape decisions at the highest levels of state government, you'll join a collaborative legal team committed to excellence, integrity, and serving the people of Washington.

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; provide trainings to staff on legal compliance issues.
• Monitor and guide litigation involving the Governor’s Office and significant legal disputes involving executive cabinet agencies, and coordinate with legal counsel at the Attorney General’s Office.
• Draft and review veto messages, executive orders and directives, proclamations, and other records of official actions.
• Assist in evaluating candidates for judicial appointments.
• Review and provide negotiation support for State–Tribal compacts.
• Assist in managing the office’s clemency and public records processes.
• Manage the office’s legal internship/externship program.

What we need you to bring:

• J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school or successful completion of the WSBA’s Rule 6 Law Clerk Program.
• Active membership in good standing with the Washington State Bar Association, or eligibility to practice law in Washington at the time of appointment.
• Skill in conducting complex legal research, analyzing legal issues, and developing practical legal recommendations.
• Proficiency in drafting clear, accurate, and persuasive legal memoranda, briefing materials, executive documents, and other written work product.
• Sound judgment in identifying legal risks, evaluating potential consequences, and advising executive leadership on legally defensible courses of action.
• Ability to manage multiple complex, high-priority assignments simultaneously and deliver high-quality work within compressed timelines.
• Effectiveness in communicating complex legal concepts to diverse audiences, including executive leadership, attorneys, policymakers, and non-legal staff.
• Experience with building collaborative working relationships across agencies, governmental entities, or multidisciplinary teams.
• Commitment to maintaining professionalism, discretion, confidentiality, and ethical standards when handling sensitive or privileged information.
• 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.

 

Desired Qualifications:

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

Other Qualifications

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 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  

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 [email protected].

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

Benefits

More than Just a Paycheck!
Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation.

We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career. Like everyone, your first priority is ensuring that you and your family will maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.

Read about our benefits:
The following information describes typical benefits available for full-time employees who are expected to work more than six months. Actual benefits may vary by appointment type or be prorated for other than full-time work (e.g. part-time); view the job posting for benefits details for job types other than full-time.

Note:  If the position offers benefits which differ from the following, the job posting should include the specific benefits. 

Insurance Benefits
Employees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout the state.

Staff are eligible to enroll each year in a medical flexible spending account which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care expenses. Employees are also covered by basic life and long-term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts.

To view premium rates, coverage choice in your area and how to enroll, please visit the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) website. The Washington Wellness program from the Health Care Authority works with PEBB to support our workplace wellness programs.

Dependent care assistance allows the employee to save pre-tax dollars for a child or elder care expenses.

Other insurance coverage for auto, boat, home, and renter insurance is available through payroll deduction.

The Washington State Employee Assistance Program promotes the health and well-being of employees.

Retirement and Deferred Compensation
State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS).  New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs.  For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site.

Employees also have the ability to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP).  This is a supplemental retirement savings program (similar to an IRA) that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.

Social Security
All state employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The state and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness
If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, and meet the qualifying criteria, you may be eligible to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Holidays 
Full-time and part-time employees are entitled to paid holidays and one paid personal holiday per calendar year.

Note: Employees who are members of certain Unions may be entitled to additional personal leave day(s), please refer to position specific Collective Bargaining Agreements for more information.

Full-time employees who work full monthly schedules qualify for holiday compensation if they are employed before the holiday and are in pay status for at least 80 nonovertime hours during the month of the holiday; or for the entire work shift preceding the holiday. 

Part-time employees who are in pay status during the month of the holiday qualify for the holiday on a pro-rata basis. Compensation for holidays (including personal holiday) will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status in the month to that required for full-time employment, excluding all holiday hours. Pay status includes hours worked and time on paid leave.

Sick Leave 
Full-time employees earn eight hours of sick leave per month. Overtime eligible employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month, earn a monthly proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Overtime exempt employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month do not earn a monthly accrual of sick leave. 

Sick leave accruals for part-time employees will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.

Vacation (Annual Leave)
Full-time employees accrue vacation leave at the rates specified in WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Full-time employees who are in pay status for less than 80 nonovertime hours in a month do not earn a monthly accrual of vacation leave.

Part-time employees accrue vacation leave hours in accordance with WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on a pro rata basis. Vacation leave accrual will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment.

Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.

As provided in WAC 357-58-175, an employer may authorize a lump-sum accrual of vacation leave or accelerate the vacation leave accrual rate to support the recruitment and/or retention of a candidate or employee for a Washington Management Service position. Vacation leave accrual rates may only be accelerated using the rates established WAC 357-31-165.  

Note: Most agencies follow the civil service rules covering leave and holidays for exempt employees even though there is no requirement for them to do so. However, agencies are required to adhere to the applicable RCWs pertaining holidays and leave.

Military Leave
Washington State supports members of the armed forces with 21 days paid military leave per year.

Bereavement Leave 
Most employees whose family member or household member dies, or for loss of pregnancy, are entitled to five (5) days of paid bereavement leave. In addition, the employer may approve other available leave types for the purpose of bereavement leave.

Additional Leave
Leave Sharing
Parental Leave
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Leave Without Pay

Please visit the State HR Website for more detailed information regarding benefits.

Updated 01-07-2026

Supplemental Questions

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Agency Information

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View Job Posting for Location, Washington, 98504 Website http://www.careers.wa.gov