Paralegal 2, Medicaid Fraud Control Division, Attorney General

Description

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.

Position and Salary

The Attorney General’s Office is recruiting for a permanent full time Paralegal 2 in the Medicaid Fraud Control Division. This position is located in Olympia, Washington, and is represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE).

Paralegal 2 (Range 55) salary range: $59,844 - $80,460
The base pay offered will take into account internal equity and may vary depending on the preferred candidate’s job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.

The following stipends may apply based on position requirements:

• Incumbents assigned to our Seattle office location receive an additional 5% King County Location Pay stipend.
• Incumbents assigned to a position designated as requiring dual language skills will receive a 5% Dual Language Requirement Pay stipend.

The AGO provides a workplace that is understanding of work-life balance and promotes advancement by offering a wide variety of professional development and growth opportunities.

Excellent benefits

Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation, including Medical/Dental/Vision for employees & dependent(s); Vacation, Sick, and Other Leave; 11 Paid Holidays per year; Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) plans; and Life Insurance. Beyond these traditional benefits, we offer Dependent Care Assistance, Flexible Spending Accounts, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver, Deferred Compensation, Employee Recognition Leave, and more. With the goal of employee health and wellness, we also offer:

• Flexible schedules and part-time/hybrid telework options;
• A Wellness Program, an Infants in the Workplace Program, and the Employee Assistance Program, which provides counseling, webinar, and other cost-free support resources;
• Numerous employee-driven affinity groups to foster community and connection, including Bereavement, Elder Care, Parenting, POC, LGBTQ , Veterans and more. The AGO is a place to belong and make a difference!

About the AGO Medicaid Fraud Control Division:

Established in 1978, the Washington State Medicaid Fraud Control Division (MFCD) is a Law Enforcement Agency responsible for both criminal and civil investigation and prosecution of healthcare provider fraud committed against the State’s Medicaid program. The division also investigates and prosecutes complaints of resident abuse or neglect in nursing homes, adult family homes and assisted living. RCW 74.66 and 74.67.

The work of the Office’s Medicaid Fraud Control Division (MFCD) focuses on both criminal and civil law enforcement. The 75% federally funded MFCD‘s mission is combating provider fraud, abuse and neglect in residential facilities and involving Medicaid recipients in non-institutional settings.

MFCD’s Headquarters is located in Olympia, Washington with some team members also located at the AGO's Spokane Office and Seattle Office. The Division currently has a staff of 66 FTEs, including attorneys, special agents, digital forensics investigators, data analysts, clinical health investigators and professional support staff.

MFCD involves protecting not only the Medicaid program of roughly 22.9 billion dollars per annum, but also its most vulnerable persons, typically elderly persons in residential facilities or persons abused or neglected by a Medicaid Provider. In many of our cases, there is no precedent, so MFCD is consistently on the cutting edge of legal theories and issues. The cases range from abuse and neglect of persons in nursing homes, large scale organized individual and corporate civil and criminal fraudulent activity to national whistleblower actions. Our staff is a highly professional, fun and seasoned analytical investigative team. MFCD is unique in that all cases have an attorney, special agent, data scientist and medical specialist assigned with legal support. This, and the great people who make up the division, gives MFCD a particularly terrific team atmosphere.

Duties and Essential Functions of a Paralegal 2:

Provides complex substantive support for multi yearlong investigations and with evidence obtained from pre litigation discovery through ligation and post litigation. Collects, organizes, and analyzes evidence, factual information and documents related to investigations and cases in litigation, in both hard copy and/or electronic form. Compose legal documents. Organizes and maintains litigation, investigation, discovery, and research files and tracks cases status and documents using document tracking logs and case management systems. Ensures that all such materials are maintained in accordance with the MFC Operations and desk reference manuals as well as identifying any changes to the same that should be made. Participates on team meetings. Identifies, compiles and prepares documents for investigations, discovery and litigation. Files and serves legal documents according to current state, federal and local court rules in multiple state and federal courts.

Incorporates technology into case management processes and case analysis; Maintains documents, logs and reports. Logs, tracks, numbers documents, and assists with the organization and preparation of large volumes of documents; utilize document databases. Ensures witnesses are subpoenaed and proper services and notices are completed in accordance with state and local statutes and rules. Acts as liaison between AAGs and other AGO personnel, opposing counsel, experts, witnesses, court and/or judicial department personnel and/or members of other agencies as well as the general public. Ensure updated discovery is provided to all parties within required time limits. Performs legal technical work in support of an AAG, investigation team, and litigation actions. Checks legal citations for accuracy; advises attorneys of upcoming deadlines and special items needing their attention. Files and serves legal documents according to current state, federal and local court rules. Prepare trial, legal, and exhibit notebooks. Schedule witnesses for trial; keep clients and witnesses informed of progress of cases. Assist attorney in developing legal strategy.

Analyzes facts of cases and interviews potential witnesses. Assists with preparing questions for depositions and summarizes deposition contents. Prepares and reviews discovery requests and responses. Reviews and summarizes documents produced through the Civil Investigative Demand (CID) process; develops and maintains databases for tracking documents and witnesses.

Back up to other legal support team members as needed.

This recruitment announcement may be used to fill multiple open positions for the same classification, in addition to the position(s) listed in this announcement.

Ideal Candidate Profile

Qualifications:

Research suggests that women and people of color are less likely to apply unless they are confident they meet 100% of the listed qualifications. We strongly encourage all interested individuals to apply, and allow us to evaluate your combination of knowledge, skills, and abilities demonstrated using an intentional equity lens.

Combination of four years of experience* through:

• Paralegal certification
• Two-year paralegal degree
• Paralegal plus (or nine-month paralegal, post BA) certification,

and/or

• Paraprofessional experience in support of an attorney

OR

• Three years’ experience as a Paralegal 1 in Washington State Service.

You may have gained applicable paraprofessional experience through previous Paralegal or Legal Assistant work.

Examples of paraprofessional experience in support of an attorney:

• Preparing legal pleadings and legal correspondence
• Ensuring and verifying timely and proper service of legal documents
• Calculating, verifying, and calendaring critical events and other dates
• Managing case documents, files and exhibits
• Tracking and organizing discovery documents
• Researching legal issues and verifying legal citations and references for accuracy

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

The most competitive applicants will possess the following qualifications:

• Adaptability/Flexibility: Adapt easily to changing business needs, conditions and work responsibilities. Adapt approach, goals and methods to achieve successful solutions and results.
• Workload Management: Effectively prioritize and organize multiple assignments, sometimes of a complex nature or involving competing priorities, to produce work products that are accurate, thorough and on time.
• Initiative: Recognize situations that warrant initiative and move forward without hesitation, reasonably resolving issues, problems or situations.
• Analysis: Use data and information in a clear and rational thought process to assess and understand issues, evaluate evidence, form accurate conclusions and make appropriate decisions. Identify key facts in an array of data.
• Recognize when pertinent facts are incorrect, missing or require supplementation or verification and distinguish information that is not pertinent to the development of a legal strategy.
• Organization/Case Management: Collect, organize, store, maintain and retrieve accurate records, documents and information and maintain case files to ensure smooth, efficient operation and knowledge of work product.
• Research: Ability to effectively identify, collect, organize and document research information in ways that make the information most useful for subsequent assessment, analysis and investigation. Document and communicate results of research in a way that it can be understood, interpreted and acted upon by end users.
• Understanding and Comprehension of Legal Terminology and Principles: Demonstrate an ability to recognize the specialized vocabulary and legal principles of the legal profession and ability to apply, use and comprehend said technical terms and principles in reading, writing, producing and analyzing legal documents.
• Recordkeeping/file management: Ability to collect, organize, store, maintain and retrieve accurate records, documents and information and maintain files to ensure smooth, efficient operation and knowledge of work product.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

A background check consisting of employment history, professional references and educational verification (e.g., degree, license, or official transcript) may be conducted. Prior to any offer, the applicant selected will be required to submit to and pass a fingerprint-based criminal background check conducted by the Washington State Patrol, Criminal Records Division. The incumbent will submit to additional background checks as a condition of employment every five (5) years thereafter.

About the Washington State Office of the Attorney General

Join an agency whose work impacts the lives of every resident of Washington State.

The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) touches the lives of every resident in this state. We serve more than 230 state agencies, boards, commissions, colleges and universities, as well as the Legislature and the Governor. The Office is comprised of nearly 700 attorneys and 800 professional staff, all working together to deliver the highest quality professional legal services to Washington state officials, agencies, and entities. This includes:

• Economic justice and consumer protections (safeguarding consumers, protecting youth, seniors, and other vulnerable populations)
• Social justice and civil rights (addressing discrimination, environmental protection, and veteran and military resources)
• Criminal justice and public safety (investigative and prosecutorial support, financial crimes)
• And much more!

Our agency also has national reach, representing the State of Washington before the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals and trial courts in all cases that involve the state’s interest. If you want to make a difference, we may be the perfect fit for you! Learn more about the AGO here.

Commitment to Diversity

Diversity is critical to the success of the mission of the AGO. This means recognizing, respecting, and appreciating all cultures and backgrounds- and fostering the inclusion of differences between people. Appreciating, valuing and implementing principles of diversity permits AGO employees to achieve their fullest potential in an inclusive, respectful environment.

One recent measure of the AGO's commitment to diversity can be found in its nomination for Rainbow Alliance and Inclusion Network's "Outstanding Agency Award" in 2019. Our commitment to employee wellness is reflected in earning the 2021 Zo8 Washington Wellness Award.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

In addition to completing the online application, applicants must attach the following documents to their profile in order to be considered for this position:

• A letter of interest, describing your specific qualifications for the position;
• A current resume detailing experience and education.

READ THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION COMPLETELY:

• Carefully review your application for accuracy, spelling and grammar before submitting.
• You may not reapply to this posting for 30 days.
• The initial screening of applications will be solely based on the contents and completeness of the “work experience” and “education” sections of your application in www.careers.wa.gov, completeness of the application material submitted, and responses to the supplemental questionnaire.
• A resume will not substitute for completing the “work experience” section of the application.
• All information may be verified and documentation may be required.

Equal Employment Opportunity and Accommodations Requests

Honoring diversity, equity and inclusion means that as an agency, and as individuals, we are committed to ensuring that all employees and volunteers enjoy a respectful, safe and supportive working environment. Only by fostering the inclusion of people from all backgrounds, cultures and attributes, can AGO employees and volunteers achieve their fullest potential and best advance the goals and mission of the AGO.

The AGO is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation/gender identity, age, disability, honorably discharged veteran or military status, retaliation or the use of a trained dog guide or 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.

For questions regarding this recruitment or assistance with the application process, please contact Jenny Wilding @ (360) 753-6216 or Jenny.Wilding@atg.wa.gov.

If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing or completing your application, please call NEOGOV toll-free at (855) 524-5627 or support@neogov.com.