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NEOGOV · 5 months ago

Attorney (3rd Year Law Student & Fellow/Clerk)

Seattle, WA

Full-time

Onsite

New Grad, Entry Level

$103K/yr - $158K/yr

NEOGOV is a public defense agency in King County that is seeking 3rd year law students, judicial clerks, and fellows to join their team starting in Fall 2026. The role involves providing high-quality legal representation and advocacy for indigent clients, ensuring continuity of representation throughout the legal process, and engaging in various legal strategies to support diverse clients.

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Responsibilities

Provide high-quality legal representation and advocacy for indigent clients, including individuals with limited English proficiency and those with disabilities

Handle all stages of representation—from arraignment through trial, and when necessary, sentencing and select post-conviction motions—under DPD’s vertical model of public defense, which ensures continuity of representation by the same attorney throughout the case

Conduct plea negotiations, mitigation, and other case resolution strategies

Engage in motions practice, including legal research, drafting, and arguing pretrial motions, often in collaboration with expert witnesses

Represent and advocate for a diverse client base, including individuals experiencing mental illness, substance use disorder, and/or trauma

Develop and implement effective legal strategies that address both legal and client-centered needs, in collaboration with investigators, mitigation specialists, and paralegals

Qualification

From accredited law schoolTrialResearch skillsClient-centered representationClinical training in public defenseSpanishAdvocacy skillsManage multiple clientsEquityHuman rightsCommunication skills

Required

JD from an accredited law school

Sit for the Washington State Bar Examination in July 2026 or, for clerks and fellows, admission to the bar in Washington or another state that would enable qualification under Rule 8

Be at least 21 years old

Be able to handle on-call 24-hour coverage–which, per attorney, currently occurs approximately one week a year or two Saturday calendars a year

Have the ability to travel throughout King County

Develop trial, research, and writing skills. Provide client-driven representation that includes frequent and detailed communication with the client, choosing the most effective medium for the client

Champion equity and human rights; possess an understanding of pervasive, systematic racism and its long-term effects; feels comfortable engaging in candid and sincere conversations about race and equity in our work

Manage the competing needs of multiple clients in a fast-paced environment

Communicate effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including those experiencing stress, trauma, or mental illness, while providing respectful and client-centered representation

Thrives in a diverse work environment, respecting differences in race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, religion, and national origin

Thrives in a diverse work environment and in service to a diverse clientele—respecting differences in race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, religion, national origin, and other lived experiences—while recognizing our shared humanity

Preferred

Have proficiency in languages other than English, particularly Spanish

Possess clinical training in public defense

Lived experience as someone impacted by the criminal legal system or family surveillance system

Benefits

Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage options: King County provides eligible employees with options, so they can decide what’s best for themselves and their eligible dependents

Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents

Retirement: eligible King County employees may participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan

Transportation program and ORCA transit pass

12 paid holidays each year plus two personal holidays

Generous vacation and paid sick leave

Paid parental, family and medical, and volunteer leaves

Flexible Spending Account

Wellness programs

Onsite activity centers

Employee Giving Program

Employee assistance programs

Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position

Training and career development programs