The application window for this program is closed and we are no longer accepting applications. 

2023 Summer Law Clerk Opportunities

($23 – $24/hourly wage)

The Attorney General’s Office is pleased to invite qualified first and second-year law students to apply for summer 2023 law clerk or externship positions via our 2023 Spring Recruitment Program.

Why you should apply

Law clerks and externs with the Washington Attorney General’s Office have opportunities to engage in meaningful work making a difference for Washingtonians. Our office is committed to supporting you in your growth through worthwhile, enriching, and educational experiences working for what we believe to be the best public law firm in the country.

Details about working for the Attorney General’s Office

The Office is committed to the benefits of a healthy life-work balance with a respectful, inclusive and diverse workplace where you will experience belonging and be part of a supportive and collegial team. Successful candidates will join an Office in which every person is committed to providing exceptional legal services and where individual professional development is encouraged and supported.  The exceptional benefits of joining the AGO as a law clerk include:

• Competitive salary – Law clerks who have completed their first year of law school will receive $23/hour.  Law clerks who have completed their second year of law school will receive $24/hour
• Law clerk positions assigned to our Seattle office location receive a 5% King County Location Pay
• Vacation Leave, Sick Leave, Military and Civil Leave and Paid Holidays
• If a position requires dual language skills, incumbents will also receive a 5% Dual Language Requirement Pay stipend
• Health and wellness program
• Access to attend training and career development program that is recognized for its excellence and efficacy by AGOs nationwide
• Enrollment in the Public Employees’ Retirement System, receiving one service credit per each month worked of 90 hours or more.
• Due to the limited duration of these positions (less than six months), they are not eligible for medical and dental benefits. 

How do I apply?

Qualified first and second-year students interested in participating in the Spring Recruitment Program must apply to the “2023 Spring Recruitment Program” posting at www.careers.wa.gov or clicking the link here. This posting is for all of our offices including the Christine O. Gregoire Spokane Office. Once on the website, click “apply” using the green button and submit a profile. In addition to fully completing a profile and responding to all supplemental questions, you must upload the following materials by Wednesday, February 15, 2023:

• A letter of interest;
• Resume;
• Law School Transcript (official or unofficial); and
• Letter of recommendation/References*.

* Second-year law students and LLM students are required to submit one letter of recommendation. The letter of recommendation is the only document that will be accepted separately. The letter can be submitted by the recommender directly to the recruitment office by e-mail (Letrice.Tobin@atg.wa.gov) or fax (206-389-2058). First-year law students must submit a list of at least three references.

Additional information (e.g., writing sample, additional letters of recommendation) will be accepted, but are not required. Incomplete applications will not be accepted or considered.

Duties:

Although each law clerk's experience is unique, the following duties are typical of an AGO law clerk:

• Researching and writing memoranda, pleadings, and correspondence;
• Assistant in preparation for litigation, i.e., depositions, witness interviews, and discovery;
• Drafting client advice memos and attending meetings where that advice is then presented to the client; and
• Opportunity to observe attorneys in court, particularly for those cases for which the law clerk provided assistance.  Rule 9 law clerks may be allowed to present in court.

A little more about our process

Please be sure to indicate your division and location preferences on your application as your application materials will be forwarded to the participating divisions for which you indicate an interest. Please refer to our Annual Report for more information on specific divisions. The divisions will determine who to interview and will directly contact students to set up interviews. It is expected that divisions will make their final decisions mid-March. Applications of those not selected for an interview or not selected by a division with whom they have interviewed, will be retained should additional opportunities arise.

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COVID Vaccination Requirement:  Per AGO Policy, employees and volunteers of the AGO must be fully vaccinated as a condition of employment. Being fully vaccinated means that an individual is at least two weeks past their final dose of an authorized COVID-19 vaccine regimen.  Effective March 14, 2022, the AGO announced pursuant to its policy, that employees and volunteers must also receive a booster shot as a condition of employment.  Employees or volunteers who are not eligible to receive the booster before their start date, due to required waiting times after receiving their initial vaccine(s), must provide confirmation of the vaccine type and date received so the AGO can calculate the date by which they must receive the booster.  If you are selected to serve within the AGO as an employee or volunteer, you will be required to provide proof of vaccination and booster (if already received) before you are able to begin work.  You may request an accommodation if you are unable to meet the requirement due to a medical or religious necessity.  

The Attorney General's Office respects and encourages diversity in the work force. 

The Office of the Attorney General is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, national origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained service animal by a person with a disability.  Persons requiring reasonable accommodation in the application process or requiring information in an alternative format may contact the recruitment team at HREmployment@atg.wa.gov. Those with a hearing impairment in need of accommodation are encouraged to contact the Washington Relay Service at 1-800-676-3777 or www.washingtonrelay.com.