Assistant City Attorney | Environmental, Contracts, and Utilities Section | Civil Division

Salary: $120,310.56 - $193,620.24 Annually
Location : Columbia Center, 701 5th Avenue, Suite 2050 Seattle, WA
Job Type: Civil Service Exempt, Regular, Full-time
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: 2026-00719
Department: Law Department
Opening Date: 05/26/2026
Closing Date: 6/9/2026 4:00 PM Pacific
Language Premium: No


Position Description
With more than 200 attorneys and professional staff, the Seattle City Attorney's Office is one of the largest law offices in Seattle and is the third-largest public law office in the state. Our office is committed to making Seattle a safe, healthy, empowered, and thriving community for everyone. We strive to address historical injustices within the court system with self-examination and to pursue justice in Seattle with integrity, creativity, and fairness. We believe working transparently, innovatively, and in collaboration with our partners in the community is necessary to achieve outcomes that promote equity, accountability, and healing.

The Seattle City Attorney's Office is seeking qualified candidates for an Assistant City Attorney position in the Environmental, Contracts, and Utilities Section of the Civil Division. The Civil Division is organized into seven practice areas, or sections. The Environmental, Contracts, and Utilities Section advises all City Departments and elected officials regarding municipal contracts, municipal finance and bond issuances, real estate transactions, utilities, environmental law, and general business matters of the City. Attorneys in this Section provide legal services and advice at all stages of contract procurement, formulation, implementation, and enforcement, as well as representing and defending the City in litigation related to such transactions. The Section also provides general counsel services to the City's electric, water, wastewater, and solid waste utilities.


This position will advise and represent City departments, with a primary focus on capital projects, particularly in disputes, claims, mediation, informal settlements, and litigation stemming from City construction projects. In some cases, at the City Attorney's discretion, litigation will be handled by outside counsel; in which case, the attorney hired to fill this position will be responsible for managing outside counsel.
In addition to this opportunity to join a team dedicated to public service and to working collaboratively, the City Attorney's Office offers a generous benefits program that includes paid leave, paid parental and family leave, low-cost health benefits, and the opportunity to participate in a defined-benefit retirement program.
Job Responsibilities

• Represent the City in litigation stemming from contract and transactional matters, including construction disputes, utility business operations, real property, and property acquisition by eminent domain.
• Represent the City in dispute resolution, including mediation and informal settlement of claims stemming from City contracts and complex transactions on projects that may include public works construction, real estate transactions, insurance, procurement of goods and services, environmental law, and other agreements to carry out City business.
• Review, negotiate, enforce, and defend such contracts and complex transactions.
• Manage outside counsel when applicable.
• Identify legal issues that require collaboration with attorneys in other practice areas of the office.
• Carry out job duties in a manner that is consistent with the City's Race and Social Justice Initiative.

Qualifications
Successful performance of the above-described responsibilities requires:

• Two or more years of litigation experience at a law firm or government agency.
• Effective legal written and oral communication,
• The ability to work effectively with City department representatives and other attorneys, and
• Ability to handle complex assignments independently and a variety of tasks simultaneously.

Additionally, the most successful candidates will have one or more of the following:

• Experience in contract and/or property litigation.
• Expertise in one or more of the following areas: construction litigation; public works and procurement; utility law; real property litigation; environmental law; and municipal finance.
• Municipal law practice experience, or a demonstrated interest in public service and law practice.
• Electric, water, or wastewater utility experience.
• The ability to think critically, creatively, and strategically under the pressure of tight deadlines.

This position requires membership in good standing with the Washington State Bar Association or licensure in another state, with the ability to complete the process of obtaining membership within two months of offer of employment.

Additional Information
Application Process - For your application to be accepted, you must:

• Complete the online City of Seattle Application
• Include the following required attachments (.pdf, .doc, or .docx format):
  1. Cover Letter describing your interest in the position.
  2. Resume detailing your relevant experience.
  3. A section of a brief, or a complete brief, not to exceed five pages, in which you served as the primary author.

Application Submission Guidelines - All applicants must submit their applications by the closing date indicated in the job posting. Applicant inquiries received via email or on websites such as Indeed will not be considered unless the individual has applied for the position through the Government Jobs site. Note: The required documents listed in the "Application Process" section above must be attached to the application prior to the indicated job closing date to ensure consideration of the application. Please contact the Office of Human Resources at on or before the closing date indicated above should you need assistance with the online application process.

Race and Social Justice Initiative - The City of Seattle recognizes that every City employee must play a role in ending institutional and structural racism. We seek individuals who will work toward the goals of the


Compensation - Salaries of Assistant City Attorneys in the Civil Division of the Seattle City Attorney's Office are based on years of relevant legal experience. For example, the 2026 annual salary is $120,311.42 for someone with up to one year of experience, $166,436.91 for someone with ten years of experience, and $187,809.01 for someone with at least 20 years of experience. The full salary range for this position is $57.62 - $92.72 per hour. Salaries are not subject to negotiation.


Benefits - The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package, including vacation, 12 official holidays and 2 floating holidays, sick, and paid parental leave, as well as medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance for employees. Additional benefits include executive leave and eligibility for merit leave. City Attorney's Office employees also have the opportunity to participate in a defined benefits retirement program. More information about benefits can be found at


Workplace Environment - Currently, the Seattle City Attorney's Office has a Flexible Work Arrangements Policy. Employees have the option to work a hybrid schedule (3 days in the office, 2 days remote). This is subject to change as circumstances and business needs dictate.

Who may apply - This position is open to all candidates who meet the minimum qualifications.


The City of Seattle values diverse perspectives and life experiences. Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender identity or expression, family or marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, medical condition, pregnancy, or other protected characteristics. The Seattle City Attorney's Office encourages people of all backgrounds to apply.

Questions? Contact our Human Resources team at
The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents.

More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at:
01


Did you include all required documents with your application? (Cover Letter, Resume, and Legal Writing Sample)

• Yes
• No

02


Do you have two or more years of litigation experience at a law firm or government agency?

• Yes
• No

03


Are you an active member in good standing with the Washington State Bar Association, or are you actively licensed in another state and eligible to waive into Washington?

• Yes, I'm an active member in good standing with the Washington State Bar Association
• Yes, I'm actively licensed in another state and eligible to waive into Washington.
• No

04


If you're not an active member of WSBA, where are you in the process of obtaining membership?

• I have not started the process of obtaining membership.
• I've started the process but I'm not able to provide a timeline.
• I am able to complete the process of obtaining membership within 30 days of an offer of employment.
• I am able to complete the process of obtaining membership within 60 days of an offer of employment.
• N/A

05


If you are not an active member of WSBA, please list all states where you are currently or have previously been licensed.
06


Have you ever been or are you currently under investigation?

• Yes
• No

07


Have you ever been disciplined by the WSBA or any other State Bar Association?

• Yes
• No

08


The City and the Seattle City Attorney's Office have a commitment to ending institutional racism. Describe a time you took action to further equity.
Required Question