Staff Attorney (LE 3) DOH8926

Attorney – Legal Examiner 3

Washington Medical Commission – Legal 

This permanent, full-time home-based (remote) position is open to Washington residents and those residing on the ID/WA and OR/WA borders. In-person attendance will be required 1-2 times a month for commission or staff meetings.

The Opportunity

The Washington Medical Commission (WMC) is seeking an experienced and collaborative attorney to support its mission of promoting patient safety and enhancing the integrity of the profession through licensing, discipline, rule-making, and education.

This position plays a critical role in protecting the health and safety of the people of Washington by providing quality legal services and presenting unbiased recommendations to the Commission in the disposition of complaints against physicians and physician assistants. The attorney conducts legal analysis, drafts legal documents, supports disciplinary proceedings, and works with Commission members to resolve complex regulatory matters.

This role is ideal for a legal professional who values public service, sound judgment, and meaningful work that directly supports accountability and patient protection in healthcare.

Key Responsibilities Include

Legal Analysis & Case Management

• Analyze complaints, investigative findings, and applicable law to recommend appropriate disciplinary action.
• Review evidence and legal issues to support fair and consistent case outcomes.
• Conduct legal research involving state and federal statutes, administrative rules, case law, and regulatory decisions.
• Prepare legal memoranda, pleadings, correspondence, and other legal documents.

Settlement Negotiation & Commission Support

• Work collaboratively with Commission members to negotiate settlements in disciplinary matters.
• Present unbiased legal options and recommendations to support Commission decision-making.
• Assist with hearings, case preparation, and regulatory proceedings.
• Provide legal guidance related to disciplinary and regulatory processes.

Regulatory & Special Project Work

• Support rule-making activities and interpretation of applicable laws and regulations.
• Assist with agency-wide legal issues, policy review, and special projects.
• Contribute to continuous improvement efforts that strengthen regulatory consistency and public protection.

Why You’ll Love This Role

This position offers the opportunity to perform meaningful public service work that directly impacts patient safety and healthcare accountability across Washington State. The attorney will join a collaborative and mission-driven team that values professionalism, fairness, and thoughtful legal analysis. In addition to handling complex and impactful regulatory matters, this role provides opportunities for professional growth, partnership with experienced Commission members, and involvement in high-level legal and policy work.

Required Qualifications 

There are multiple pathways to qualify for this position. You must meet one of the options provided and any additional criteria listed. Experience may have been gained through paid or unpaid activities. Please ensure any relevant experience defined below is outlined in your cover letter, resume, and/or applicant profile. 

Two (2) or more years of experience as one of the following: 

• An attorney in a governmental agency
• A member of an administrative tribunal or board
• An attorney practicing administrative law, health law or personal injury law

Additional Required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Experience

• Graduation from an accredited school of law
• Admission to practice law in Washington or an APR 9 license
• Practical skills in MS Excel for spreadsheet tasks, database management, MS Word for document creation and formatting, and MS Outlook or similar email systems for electronic correspondence.

All applicants must maintain an active license free of discipline with the Washington State Bar Association and pass annual background checks.

Preferred Qualifications

While these aren’t required, having them can help you stand out as a candidate.

• Working knowledge of the Washington State Medical Practice Act and the Uniform Disciplinary Act;
• Three years of experience producing disciplinary actions in a medical regulatory setting
• Four or more years in an administrative law setting as an attorney with primary case disposition duties
• Two years of experience making case presentations to governor appointees for decision and related settlement conference work.

About the Washington State Department of Health

We're nearly 2,000 professionals across Washington working together to protect and improve community health. Guided by our values of Equity, Innovation, and Engagement, we address health disparities, respond to emerging challenges, and strengthen systems that support resilience. At DOH, we help reduce barriers, collaborate with diverse communities, and champion equitable health outcomes. We’re passionate people who are driven to make a difference in public health. Explore more about the Department of Health, our programs, and our impact by visiting our website.

We are the Washington Medical Commission (WMC)

At the WMC, we focus on the delivery of safe medical care by licensees with our efforts focusing on quality care and increasing patient access. The WMC is a full-scope regulatory organization with units covering licensing, investigations, legal service, compliance, data analytics, communications, and policy. The 64 WMC staff work primarily remotely and range from administrative staff to clinically trained investigators. 

Working Conditions:

The following describes the working conditions of this position, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Work Setting: 

Schedule (i.e., hours and days): 

Travel Requirements: 

Tools and Equipment:

Customer Interactions:

Other:

APPLICATION DIRECTIONS:

We’re committed to a fair and equitable hiring process. Only materials submitted through the official application will be considered. Emailed resumes or documents won’t be accepted or shared with the hiring manager.

Click “Apply” to complete your application. Attach your resume, cover letter, and DD-214 (if applicable). List at least three professional references, directly in your Applicant Profile or as a separate attachment, including a supervisor, a peer, and someone you’ve supervised or led (if applicable).

DO NOT INCLUDE private details like your SSN or birth year, personal photos, transcripts, certifications, diplomas, projects, portfolios, or letters of recommendation.

Veterans Preference: Applicants wishing to claim Veterans Preference must attach a copy of their DD-214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22, or a signed verification of service letter from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to their application. Please remove or cover any personally identifiable data such as social security numbers and birth year

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: We regard diversity as the foundation of our strength, recognizing that differing insights and abilities enable us to reflect the unique needs of the communities we serve.  

DOH is an equal-opportunity employer. We prohibit discrimination based on race/ethnicity/color, creed, sex, pregnancy, age, religion, national origin, marital status, the presence or perception of a disability, veteran’s status, military status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender expression, or gender identity. 

Questions and Accommodations: If you have questions, need assistance with the application process, require an accommodation, or would like to request this posting in an alternative format, please contact Andrea Thieme at employment@doh.wa.gov and reference DOH8926.

Technical Support: Reach out to NEOGOV directly at 1-855-524-5627 for technical support and login issues. 

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