The Seattle City Attorney’s Office seeks an attorney with experience in employment law and litigation to join ten other Assistant City Attorneys, four paralegals, and two legal assistants in the Employment Section. Our attorneys play a critical role in addressing legal issues arising from Seattle’s diverse workforce of over 10,000 employees in a variety of City departments. Employment Section attorneys are generalists in the field of labor and employment, and handle all aspects of litigation in state court, federal court, and administrative forums.

Day-to-day work in the Employment Section is dynamic and fast-paced. Attorneys are responsible for all aspects of the litigation, including setting strategy, discovery, preparing and arguing motions, overseeing mediation and settlement, and taking cases to trial and through any appeal. We take a collaborative, team-oriented approach to litigation and advice work that is essential for building effective teams and relationships with City Departments and their leadership. Employment attorneys implement the City’s Race and Social Justice Initiative in all aspects of their work.

Advice

• Act as legal counsel to City policy makers, departmental leadership, and human resources professionals, and labor negotiators on labor and employment matters.
• Advise City departments on employment matters, including but not limited to: ADA accommodations, leaves of absence, employee relations, labor relations, the FLSA, EEO investigations, tort claims, and other city, state, and federal labor and employment laws.

Litigation

• Appear and represent the City in litigation before federal court, state court, and administrative agencies, as well as in labor arbitrations.
• Draft and respond to written interrogatories, requests for production, and requests for admission.
• Take witness testimony and prepare witnesses for testifying at depositions, trial, arbitrations, and before other administrative agencies.
• Draft motions for summary judgment and conduct other motion practice as required.
• Mediate cases, including drafting mediation statements and advising City Departments and the City attorney on settlement.
• Negotiate and draft settlement agreements.

Race and Social Justice

• Collaborate with colleagues and clients to align with the City’s mission of ending institutionalized racism in City government.

Qualifications

This position requires membership in good standing with the Washington State Bar Association OR licensure in another state with the ability to complete the process of obtaining membership within four (4) months of an offer of employment.

Additionally, you will be most successful in this role if you have the following:

• Expertise in Washington state and federal employment law, including traditional labor law. 
• Ability to first-chair complex litigation and appeals. 
• Experience litigating labor and employment matters. 
• Experience advising HR professionals, managers, executives, and/or elected officials on complex and nuanced employment and labor issues. 
• Ability to work collaboratively and independently with a wide variety of matters simultaneously.
• Experience in applying policies and practices related to equity.

About Seattle City Attorney's Office

With more than 200 attorneys and professional staff, the Seattle City Attorney’s Office is one of the largest law offices in Seattle and is the third largest public law office in the state. Our office is committed to making Seattle a safe, healthy, empowered and thriving community for everyone. We strive to address historical injustices within the court system with self-examination and to pursue justice in Seattle with integrity, creativity, and fairness. We believe working transparently, innovatively, and in collaboration with our partners in the community is necessary to achieve outcomes that promote equity, accountability, and healing.

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