Program Counsel

About the Department

Position: Program Counsel

Agency: Washington State Office of Civil Legal Aid

Job Type: Permanent Full-Time

Salary: $115,000 - $120,000

Location: Washington State (location flexible; hybrid work/remote arrangements available)

Open: August 25, 2026

Close: Open until filled. Review of applications will begin on September 14, 2026. 

Preferred start date: November 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter

Agency

The Washington State Office of Civil Legal Aid (OCLA) is an independent judicial branch agency. Created with an understanding that the provision of legal aid services to indigent persons is an important component of the state’s responsibility to provide for the proper and effective administration of justice, OCLA’s mission is to secure, invest and oversee the use of public funding for civil legal aid to low-income people in Washington State and to ensure accountability for public funds dedicated to the purpose. 

Since 2005, OCLA has administered and overseen general civil legal aid in Washington. Today the agency also supports legal aid to victims of crime and domestic violence, children in foster care, kinship caregivers, indigent tenants facing eviction, and individuals reentering society following completion of their terms of incarceration.

Consistent with The Washington State Supreme Court’s June 4, 2020, Statement to the Legal Community, OCLA acknowledges that it and its contracted civil legal aid providers operate in a law and justice system historically grounded in racism and that time and again has administered justice differentially depending on the racial identities of those involved.  OCLA was an initial subscriber to the Washington Race Equity and Justice Acknowledgments and Commitments.  As outlined in its Race Equity and Justice Statement of Purpose, OCLA is committed to being an active partner in carrying out the Washington State judicial branch’s commitment to ensuring equity and justice for people and communities throughout our state.  

Find out more about OCLA here

Family and Safety Programs

The Family and Safety Programs portfolio administers three statewide civil legal aid programs through approximately thirteen contracts with legal aid providers. These programs provide civil legal assistance to individuals and families who have experienced crime victimization, or domestic violence, or who are raising children through kinship care. Rather than focusing on a single area of law, the programs fund legal services that address the broad range of civil legal issues arising from these experiences, helping clients achieve safety, stability, and access to justice. OCLA oversees program administration, contract performance, and provider support to ensure high-quality, coordinated service delivery across Washington.

Civil Legal Aid for Victims of Crime (VOCA). Established in 2016, this program funds civil legal services for victims and survivors of crime to address legal issues arising from their victimization. Services are delivered through a statewide network of legal aid providers and funded through an interagency agreement with the Washington State Department of Commerce's Office of Crime Victims Advocacy (OCVA).

Domestic Violence Civil Legal Aid. Established in 2022, this program funds civil legal services for survivors of domestic violence, including protection order, family law, immigration, housing, and related civil legal matters. Services are provided through legal aid organizations across Washington, including dedicated funding for Tribal governments serving Native survivors.

Kinship Legal Services. This program expands access to civil legal aid for grandparents, relatives, and other kinship caregivers raising children. Through legal assistance, training, and statewide coordination, it helps caregivers address legal issues that support stability and well-being for children in kinship care.

Find out more about the Family and Safety Programs here

Position Duties

Reporting to the Program Director, this position will support the administration, oversight, and continuous improvement of OCLA’s Family and Safety Programs. Responsibilities will include:

• Monitoring contractor performance and compliance, including conducting site visits and preparing site visit reports.
• Tracking, organizing, analyzing, and reporting on service data, including qualitative and quantitative outcomes and communicating trends and findings. 
• Reviewing practice issues, identifying best practices, and translating complex statutory, regulatory, and policy requirements into practical guidance.
• Helping develop and maintain contracts, scopes of work, reporting tools, policies, and training materials.
• Attending regular meetings, workgroups, and other events as OCLA's representative to stay informed about emerging issues and approaches across the provider network.
• Identifying service delivery challenges and opportunities for improvement and supporting accountability to OCLA’s and contractors’ race equity commitments.

This position will also perform other duties as assigned by the Program Director, the OCLA Director, or the OCLA Director's designee. The position may work in consultation with other OCLA program staff, as needed, to support cross-program operations.

Minimum Qualifications

Required 

1. Juris Doctor (JD): Possess a Juris Doctor (JD) degree 
2. Client Service Experience: Direct or administrative experience in civil legal aid, public defense, or other provision of legal services to low-income people. 
3. Equity Understanding: Demonstrate understanding of the impact of race, bias, discrimination, and differential treatment on marginalized communities, including Black, Indigenous, and people of color, individuals who identify as LGBTQIA2S or other sexual minorities, individuals with disabilities, immigrants, limited English-speaking persons, and others historically marginalized. 
4. Legal Systems Knowledge: Knowledge and understanding of courts, court systems, administrative, and related law and justice systems that affect low-income people.

1. Family Law/Civil Protection Order Practice Experience: Familiarity with legal issues commonly experienced by survivors of crime (including domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking, etc.) and experience representing survivors in civil court, especially Washington family law and civil protection order proceedings.

1. Communication Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills. 
2. Technical Proficiency: Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite applications, especially Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. 
3. Periodic Travel Availability: Ability and willingness to periodically travel both in-state and out-of-state for work-related events.

Desired 

• Experience managing contracts or grants, reporting requirements or monitoring contractor performance.
• Experience reviewing and analyzing qualitative and quantitative information, including summarizing findings and identifying trends or patterns.
• Understanding of Washington’s network of victim/survivor services, including legal aid, advocacy, or other supports. 

Other Qualifications

Applications for this recruitment will only be accepted electronically. Click the green “Apply” button in the upper right-hand corner to get started.

To be considered for this position you must include the following with your online application:

• Resume
• Cover letter which addresses qualifications as listed above
• A list of three (3) professional references

Candidates selected for interviews will also be asked to provide a self-edited writing sample.

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

Agency Information

EmployerState of WashingtonAddress View Job Posting for Agency Information

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