$66,420.00 - $89,292.00 Annually

At Department of Licensing (DOL), we work hard to create a culture where employees feel valued and respected. Employees are trusted and encouraged to be a part of process improvements that impact their work, create value for our customers, and help build trust in our government. 

Our Programs and Services Division (PSD) has a unique opportunity for multiple attorneys statewide with excellent interpersonal communication skills both orally and in writing to join our team as Hearing Examiners within the Hearings and Interviews Unit. 

As our Hearings Examiner you will preside over administrative hearings to adjudicate disputes between licensees and the Department, under Title 46 RCW.  Working under tight deadlines with flexibility and agility you will perform legal research by using electronic research tools, analyze relevant law, and determine the application of law to the facts. You will exercise final decision-making authority when presiding over administrative hearings. As the Hearings Examiner, you will frequently determine the admissibility of evidence, direct procedural protocol, authorize issuance of subpoenas, rule on motions and objections, and consider all evidence and legal argument to determine whether the Department’s remedial sanctions against drivers are lawful.

Some of what you will do:

• Perform legal research by using electronic research tools.
• Analyze relevant law and determine the application of law to the facts.
• Review audio and video evidence.
• Create and type final orders with findings of fact and conclusions of law rescinding or sustaining the department’s actions.
• Preside over telephonic adjudicative hearings/interviews to establish a lawfully completed record.
• Knowledgeably and decisively verbalize on the audio record various rulings on motions and evidentiary objections.
• Read and analyze briefs, motions, and department records.

What you will bring:

• A license to practice law in Washington State.
• A combination of two (2) years of experience from any of the following categories:
  • An adjudicator of claims.
  • Full-time member of a regulatory board or commission which hears contested cases.
  • Prosecuting or defending criminal cases.
  • Representing plaintiffs/defendants in civil trials or hearings.
• Two (2) years of experience in writing original legal briefs, rulings, and decisions and communicating official legal opinions and procedures in a clear and concise manner.
• One (1) year of experience in conducting legal research by using electronic research tools, analyzing relevant law, and determining application of the law to the facts.
• One (1) year of experience in the use of personal computers, utilizing software programs such as Microsoft Word, and legal research tools.

• Experience in prosecuting and defending in DUI trials.
• Experience with on-line and electronic filing systems.
• Experience using Microsoft office products.
• Experience in interviewing and questioning witnesses and hearing participants to obtain the most accurate and complete understanding of the facts in a legal proceeding.
• The ability to:
  • Maintain the highest level of confidentiality at all times.
  • Remain professional and courteous in all interactions, both with external and internal customers.
  • Monitor own calendar and maintain quality work with minimal supervision.
• Willingness to participate in team meetings, projects, work groups and planning committees.
• Flexibility in scheduling, such as willingness to take additional hearings with short notice on as needed basis.

• Per Governor Inslee’s Directive 22-13.1, state employees must be fully vaccinated effective November 4, 2022.  Providing proof of being fully vaccinated is a condition of employment and your vaccine status will be verified prior to starting work.  Being fully vaccinated means two weeks after you have received the second dose in a two-dose series of a COVID-19 vaccine or a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine authorized for emergency use, licensed, or otherwise authorized or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or listed for emergency use or otherwise approved by the World Health Organization.  Please reach out to the HR Office at 360-902-4000 if you need information on medical or religious accommodation.
• Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted.  Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the position.

How to Apply:
Select the “Apply” button at the top of this job announcement. Attach your Cover Letter, Resume, and an original writing sample, no more than ten (10) pages long through the "Add Attachments" field. A resume will not substitute for the "work experience" section of the application or vice versa. Applications with blank fields, or supplemental question responses with comments such as "see attachments" may be considered incomplete.  

You are welcome to include the name and pronoun you would like to be referred to in your materials and we will honor this as you interact with our award-winning diverse and inclusive organization.

A paycheck is just part of a total compensation package. We offer some of the nation’s best benefits which include:

• Medical, dental and vision insurance
• Life, accidental death, and dismemberment insurance
• Long-term disability insurance
• Retirement
• Social security
• Vacation, leave and holidays
• Flexible spending account 
• Dependent care assistance
• Other insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Deferred compensation 
• Special employee programs

We value diverse perspectives and life experiences.
We employ and serve people of all backgrounds including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, and veterans. We value the unique traits and attributes that each employee brings to the job. Through the diverse perspectives of an inclusive workforce, we will create a more respectful, productive, and unified team to better serve the public of Washington.

Come join us in changing the way government delivers services and help build a legacy of commitment to and excellence in diversity, equity, and inclusion!

The Washington State Department of Licensing is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex (including gender identity), 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 dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability. Persons requiring accommodation in the application process, during the recruitment process, or who need this job announcement in an alternative format, may contact the Human Resources Office at 360-902-4000 or may email HRRecruit@dol.wa.gov. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call our ASL interpreter via Video Phone at 360.339.7344.