Supreme Court Commissioner's Officer - Staff Attorney

Salary: $100,488.00 - $131,868.00 Annually
Location : Thurston County - Olympia, WA
Job Type: Exempt
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: 2026-93
Department: Administrative Office of the Courts
Opening Date: 11/06/2026
Closing Date: 11/29/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Description

Washington State

SUPREME COURT

Employment Opportunity

Staff Attorney

Commissioner's Office

Location: Olympia, Washington

Salary: $100,488 - $131,868per year (DOQ).

Closes: November 29, 2026. AOC reserves the right to close the recruitment at any time after seven calendar days.

POSITION DETAIL
This is a rare opportunity to work at the heart of Washington's judicial system and contribute directly to the work of the Washington Supreme Court. Under the direction of the Supreme Court Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner, you will conduct sophisticated legal research, analyze complex appellate matters, and prepare high-quality legal memoranda that assist Justices in deciding which cases warrant review by the state's highest court.
In this role, you will evaluate petitions for review, motions, and other matters presenting significant legal questions, emerging issues, and evolving areas of constitutional, criminal, and civil law. Your work will require careful analysis of trial records, lower court decisions, legal arguments, and developing legal trends, culminating in objective, well-reasoned recommendations that help shape judicial decision-making.
The position offers a unique opportunity to engage with intellectually challenging legal issues, including cases involving unsettled law, conflicting appellate decisions, and new legal developments. Through your research, analysis, and writing, you will provide each Justice with the comprehensive information needed to independently evaluate cases and make informed decisions regarding review and disposition. Your contributions will play a meaningful role in the development of Washington law and the administration of justice statewide.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Some of the duties you will perform are:

• Provides the Justices with legal memoranda recommending whether the Court should grant, deny, or take some other appropriate action on petitions for review and motions, and whether the Court should retain appeals filed directly in the Court or transfer them for decision by the Court of Appeals in the first instance.
• Prepares draft opinions and orders for the Court and draft rulings for the Commissioner as requested.
• Prepares, for internal office use, summaries of proposed opinions circulating among the Supreme Court Justices.
• Prepares, for posting on the Court's website, issue statements for cases to be heard by the Court.
• Assists the Commissioner's Office in making recommendations for changes to court rules and internal procedures.
• Serves as a resource for the Court's judicial law clerks and law student externs on legal and procedural questions and assists in the orientation, training, and mentoring of law clerks and externs.
• Assists in the development and presentation of continuing legal education programs sponsored by the Commissioner's Office.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS, QUALIFICATIONS, AND CREDENTIALS

• Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited school of law.
• Member in good standing in the Washington State Bar Association (attorneys licensed in other states will be considered, provided they are committed to timely licensure in Washington).
• Four (4) years of attorney experience working in an appellate court or equivalent experience (we are broad minded about this: show us what you've got),
• Excellent legal research and writing skills,
• Ability to learn and help implement new technology,
• Willingness to work remotely as required by the office,
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize work, manage multiple projects, meet deadlines, and consistently deliver high-quality results,
• Skills for building and maintaining a positive team environment, AND
• A commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, including an understanding and commitment to ending systemic racism as expressed in the Washington Supreme Court's open letter to the public dated June 4, 2020.

HOW TO APPLY
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION CAREFULLY TO ENSURE YOU HAVE SUBMITTED THE REQUIRED MATERIALS TO BE CONSIDERED.
IMPORTANT: To be considered for this position, you MUST include the following, failure to do so will result in your application being disqualified:

1. Completed online application.
2. Current Resume.
3. Letter of Interest addressing your qualifications for the position.
4. Three (3) to five (5) professional references to include a current or recent supervisor with email addresses and phone numbers.

1. Two (2) legal writing samples (preferably 5 to 10 pages each) representing your own work.

To view the job description, please click here: Detailed Job Description - Insight (neogov.com)

To view our current open positions and view benefits information, visit our Jobs Page @ . To submit an application for this position, click here to
IMPORTANT INFORMATION

• The workweek may fluctuate depending on workload or agency needs.
• Overnight travel may be required based on business needs.
• This position is not covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act.

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 (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 (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 , 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

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