Introduction
The State of Connecticut, Department of Correction (DOC), has an exciting opportunity for a Staff Attorney 2 to work with the Legal Affairs Unit at Central Office in Wethersfield.
What we can offer you
- Visit our newState Employee Benefits Overview page!
- The opportunity to work for a Forbes top company: 'Forbes' State of Connecticut Ranked One of the Best Employers of 2023 - State of CT Receives National Recognition for Offering Job Growth, Competitive Benefits, and Flexible Schedule
- Professional growth and development opportunities
- A healthy work/life balance to all employees
Position highlights
As a Staff Attorney 2 in the Legal Affairs Unit, you can expect to:
- Provide legal advice to high level correctional officials on a variety of legal topics;
- Review and draft internal policies;
- Collaborate with the Office of the Attorney General on litigation including discovery, settlement conferences and trial strategy;
- Appear on behalf of the Department and its employees in probate court, and before administrative bodies such as the Freedom of Information Commission, Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
This position is full-time, 8:30AM-4:30PM, Monday-Friday. A hybrid work schedule may begin after completion of working test period.
About us
The Legal Affairs Unit advises the Commissioner of Correction and other high-level correctional staff on a variety of legal topics, including employment law, Constitutional law, the Freedom of Information Act, general litigation strategy, probate law, and other areas affecting correctional systems. The unit features a collaborative supportive atmosphere in which attorneys handle very complex and interesting matters.
Our Mission: The Department of Correction shall strive to be a global leader in progressive correctional practices and partnered re-entry initiatives to support responsive evidence-based practices aligned to law-abiding and accountable behaviors. Safety and security shall be a priority component of this responsibility as it pertains to staff, victims, citizens and offenders.
Selection Plan
Before you apply:
- In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening. You must specify your qualifications on your application.
- The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
- Ensure that your application is complete and detailed before submitting it. In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process. You will not be able to make revisions once your application is submitted into the JobAps system.
- All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the time specified on the job opening for the position for which you are applying. Late applications may not be submitted and will not be considered. Exceptions are rare and limited to documented events that incapacitate a candidate during the entire duration of the job posting time period. It is the candidate’s obligation and responsibility to request an exception and provide a legally recognized justification to accommodate such exception. Requests should be made to DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.
- This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs). You can access these RQs via an email that will be sent to you after the posting's closing date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Your responses to these RQs must be submitted by the questionnaire's expiration date. Please regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders on a daily basis in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam.
- Although applicants will receive correspondence via email, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board on a daily basis to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment process.
- Note: At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: a cover letter, resume, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.
- The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
- Read through this helpful link to prepare for your interview.
Questions about this position should be directed to Mackenzie Robinson at mackenzie.robinson@ct.gov.
PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)
In a state agency this class is accountable for independently performing a full range of tasks in the legal work of the agency.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES
- Performs advanced and complex legal work of an agency;
- Researches, interprets, analyzes and applies complex and conflicting laws and regulations, case law and legal principles;
- Acts as hearing officer or represents agency in formal administrative and public proceedings on a full range of cases involving complex legal and technical issues;
- Negotiates and drafts settlement agreements;
- Drafts advisory opinions, rulings, decisions, recommendations, findings, legislation, statutes, regulations, publications and other related legal documents;
- Assists in the preparation and presentation of trials and appeals;
- Consults with the Office of the Attorney General on legal issues;
- Researches complex legal issues;
- Conducts investigations and enforcement proceedings;
- Prepares comprehensive reports for use in administrative and court proceedings;
- Prepares pleadings and other court papers;
- Interprets and applies complex or conflicting laws and regulations, case law and legal principles;
- Participates in the conduct of various educational activities;
- Provides legal guidance when duly authorized;
- Provides input into policy formation;
- Reviews court decisions, new and proposed laws and regulations to determine impact on agency operations;
- Prepares and maintains precedent manuals;
- Reviews legal and other related documents for legal sufficiency;
- May testify at or monitor legislative proceedings;
- May represent agency in court when authorized;
- Performs related duties as required.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY
- Considerable knowledge of
- legal principles, practices and procedures in Connecticut;
- legal research techniques;
- the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act;
- and the ability to interpret and apply relevant state and federal laws, statutes, regulations and legislation;
- relevant agency policies and procedures;
- Knowledge of
- the rules of evidence;
- criminal and constitutional law and legislative process;
- Considerable
- interpersonal skills;
- oral and written communication skills;
- Considerable ability to
- apply judicial decisions to the interpretation of statutes;
- comprehend, analyze and organize technical data and coordinate elements of legal cases.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE
Two (2) years of experience in the practice of law.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience with administrative agencies.
- Experience in employment law matters.
- Experience in all aspects of litigation, including, but not limited to, discovery.
- Experience in persuasive, clear writing about legal topics for both attorneys/ judges and non-attorneys.
- Experience producing a polished, final written product that requires little editing by others.
- Experience writing legal briefs and opinion memorandum.
- Experience arguing and presenting persuasive ideas before a judge, fact finder, arbitrator, etc.
- Experience presenting a case in an administrative forum.
- Experience examining and/or cross-examining a witness.
- Experience asserting point of view at a meeting (either internal or external to the agency) and asking appropriate questions.
- Experience maintaining good relationships with and working on teams with, co-workers, employees of other agencies, judges, advocates, etc.
- Experience working professionally in confrontational situations.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
- Incumbents in this class must be admitted to practice law in the State of Connecticut.
- Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.
Conclusion
AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.
