STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Staff Attorney 2

Recruitment #220609-0088AR-001

Introduction


Are you an experienced lawyer? Looking for a career where you can help protect the environment?
If so, we invite you to check out this opportunity!

ABOUT US
The State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), is charged with conserving, improving and protecting Connecticut’s natural resources and environment as well as making affordable, clean and reliable energy available for the people and businesses of the state. The agency is also committed to playing a positive role in building Connecticut’s green economy and fostering a sustainable and prosperous economic future.

The Office of Legal Counsel is within the Commissioner’s Office. This position will support the Department’s Environmental Quality (“EQ”) Branch, which consists of the Bureaus of Air Management, Materials Management and Compliance Assurance, and Water Protection and Land Reuse.

Attorneys supporting the EQ Branch work on issues concerning environmental permitting and enforcement and regulation adoption. In addition, members of DEEP’s legal team provide advice and support to the Commissioner and agency personnel in regard to legislation, regulations, permits, enforcement, petitions for declaratory ruling, ethics, employment, and open records matters. In-house legal personnel work closely with the Office of the Attorney General on state and federal litigation, claims before the Office of the Claims Commissioner, regulations, and contracts.

POSITION DETAILS
The Office of Legal Counsel has a current opportunity for a Staff Attorney 2, located in Hartford, CT.

This is a full-time, 40 hours per week position. Schedule is Monday-Friday on first shift.

This position may include performing work at DEEP’s New Britain office located at Ten Franklin Square. The selected candidate must have a driver's license and may be required to travel.

In this role, the Staff Attorney 2 will provide legal support to the Office of the Commissioner and will be utilized to serve the Commissioner’s high-priority legal work, including, but not limited to, the work described above.

Staff Attorneys within the Office of Legal Counsel cover a variety of legal issues, including:
  • Providing diverse legal services to the Office of the Commissioner including drafting and reviewing agreements, memorandum, letters, declaratory rulings, orders, and final decisions of the Department;
  • Drafting and reviewing legislation and regulations;
  • Providing legal advice related to environmental and administrative law matters and participating in federal and state administrative and public proceedings involving environmental and open records matters;
  • Coordinating and consulting with the Office of the Attorney General on questions of law and the management on ongoing litigation;
  • Researching complex legal issues;
  • Responding to Freedom of Information requests and requests for advice from agency personnel concerning the Code of Ethics;
  • Interpreting statutes, regulations, rulings, contracts, and real estate documents;
  • Participating in the conduct of continuing legal educational activities;
  • Providing legal counsel and advice to agency leadership and technical staff;
  • Monitoring and/or testifying at legislative or administrative proceedings;
  • Reviewing and analyzing court decisions, new and proposed laws, and regulations to determine impact on agency operations;
  • Assisting in the preparation and maintenance of standard operating procedures (SOPs).
  • Reviewing legal and other related documents for legal sufficiency; and
  • May act as a hearing officer for administrative proceedings.
We offer a competitive benefits plan that includes healthcare coverage, a retirement plan as well as paid time off, including 12 paid holidays per calendar year!

For an inside look at what is like to Make an ImpaCT as a State of Connecticut employee, check out the video below!
         

Selection Plan

Before you apply, make note of the following:
  • 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.
Important information for after you apply:
  • 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.
Questions about this position should be directed to Jake Ferrari via email at jake.ferrari@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; may testify at or monitor legislative proceedings; may represent agency in court when authorized; 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; performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

Considerable knowledge of legal principles, practices and procedures in Connecticut; considerable knowledge of legal research techniques; considerable knowledge of the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act; considerable knowledge of and the ability to interpret and apply relevant state and federal laws, statutes, regulations and legislation; considerable knowledge of relevant agency policies and procedures; knowledge of the rules of evidence; knowledge of criminal and constitutional law and legislative process; considerable interpersonal skills; considerable oral and written communication skills; considerable ability to apply judicial decisions to the interpretation of statutes; considerable ability to comprehend, analyze and organize technical data and coordinate elements of legal cases.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

STAFF ATTORNEY 2: Two (2) years of experience in the practice of law.
STAFF ATTORNEY 3: Three (3) years of experience in the practice of law at the level of Staff Attorney 2 in the same state agency.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Experience independently preparing written communications including memoranda of law, legal briefs, decisions or opinions for judicial or administrative proceedings without typographical and grammatical errors.
  • Experience in administrative or judicial enforcement proceedings, with a focus on environmental or land use matters, in local, state or federal forums.
  • Experience with administrative process and the Uniform Administrative Procedure Act including drafting or promulgating regulations, declaratory rulings, licensing, administrative hearings, or administrative appeals.
  • Experience with state or federal regulation of air pollution; radioactive materials; solid waste; hazardous waste; inland and tidal wetlands; stormwater; coastal permitting; or the remediation of pollution.
  • Experience with legal requirements and policies regarding environmental justice and equity within environmental enforcement and permitting programs.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

1. Must be admitted to practice law in the State of Connecticut.
2. 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.