Contracts Attorney

State of Connecticut; Hartford (CT); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Professional development

Hybrid work

Work-life balance

Job summary

State of Connecticut’s Department of Social Services is seeking a Staff Attorney 2 to join the Office of Legal Counsel, Regulations and Administrative Hearings Division as a Contracts Attorney in Hartford, CT. The role supports the Commissioner and DSS leadership on complex contractual matters, including personal service and consultant agreements, licenses, grants, and related instruments.

The position requires strong legal research, drafting, negotiation and advisory capabilities, with a focus

Qualifications

• Two (2) years of experience in the practice of law.
• Admitted to practice law in Connecticut.

Responsibilities

• Performs advanced and complex legal work for the agency.
• Researches, interprets, analyzes, and applies complex laws and regulations and case law.
• Acts as hearing officer or represents the agency in formal proceedings on a range of cases.
• Negotiates and drafts settlement agreements; drafts opinions, rulings, and other legal documents.
• Assists in the preparation and presentation of trials and appeals; consults with the Office of the Attorney General as needed.
• Provides legal guidance and input into policy formation; reviews court decisions that affect agency operations.

Skills

Legal research

Contract drafting

Contract negotiation

Legal writing

Oral communication

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Job description

Introduction

Are you an experienced Attorney looking for an opportunity to serve the public sector! If so, we encourage you to join our team!

The State of Connecticut, Department of Social Services (DSS) – is accepting applications for one (1) full-time Staff Attorney 2 position with the Office of Legal Counsel, Regulations and Administrative Hearings Division (OLCRAH) as a Contracts Attorney located in Hartford, CT.

DSS is seeking a highly skilled and motivated Staff Attorney 2 to join our Office of Legal Counsel, Regulations and Administrative Hearings as a Contracts Attorney. In this role, you will provide critical legal support and advice to the Commissioner and DSS leadership while helping advance the agency’s mission to deliver essential services and programs to Connecticut residents.

As a key member of the legal team, you will provide counsel on a wide range of complex agreements and contractual matters, including Personal Service Agreements, Consultant Agreements, permits, licenses, grants, and other contractual arrangements supporting DSS operations, projects, and initiatives. You will conduct sophisticated legal research and analysis, interpret statutes, regulations, policies, contracts, grants, and funding requirements, identify potential conflicts in applicable laws, and evaluate court decisions and case law. You will also work closely with the DSS Agreements Unit, collaborate with the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) when appropriate, and provide support to other members of the DSS legal team.

This is an excellent opportunity for an attorney who enjoys solving complex legal issues, managing a diverse and high-volume workload, and working collaboratively with colleagues and partners across government. If you bring strong organizational skills, sound legal judgment, and a collaborative approach, and want your legal expertise to help shape and support programs that make a meaningful difference in the lives of Connecticut residents, we encourage you to apply today!

Position Highlights

• Location: Hartford, CT
• Full-time | Hybrid
• Monday – Friday | 8:00 am – 4:30 pm

What we can offer you

• View our State Employee Benefits Overview page!
• Professional growth and paid professional development opportunities.
• A healthy work-life balance to all employees!
• The State of Connecticut is an eligible Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer, meaning you may be eligible to have qualifying student loans forgiven after 10 years of service. Click here for more information.

About the Department of Social Services

The State of Connecticut, Department of Social Services (DSS) delivers and funds a wide range of programs and services as Connecticut’s multi-faceted health and human services agency. DSS services about 1 million residents of all ages in all 169 Connecticut cities and towns. We support the basic needs of children, families, older and other adults, including persons with disabilities. Services are delivered through 12 field offices, central administration, online and phone access options. Follow us on twitter@ctdssand see what we are all about!

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 drafting and negotiating complex contractual agreements and statements of work related to large data systems or professional services agreements in healthcare-related industries.
• Experience drafting and negotiating licensing or software agreements.
• Experience drafting or negotiating agreements involving the transfer of State and federal funding to contractual subrecipients.
• Experience drafting and negotiating cooperative agreements, such as memoranda of understanding or memoranda of agreement.
• Experience working with or supporting government or corporate contract or procurement units.

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.