Staff Attorney 1

State of Connecticut - Department of Administrative Services; Hartford (CT); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Professional development opportunities

Healthy work-life balance

Job summary

State of Connecticut Department of Administrative Services seeks a Staff Attorney 1 to support the Commissioner's Legal Services Office. The role involves assisting with CHRO, FOI, and litigation caseloads and preparing legal documents and responses.

The ideal candidate will bring strong research, writing, and analytical skills and work across agency lines. The position is full-time with a hybrid work arrangement in Hartford, CT, requiring admission to practice law in Connecticut and

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor from an accredited law school.
• Experience administering GovQA.
• Experience coordinating FOI inquiries across multiple state agencies.
• Experience representing an agency before the FOIC.
• Ability to articulate goals and engage with a wide variety of constituents.
• Ability to write legal documents, investigatory reports, policies, and procedures.

Responsibilities

• Represents agency in formal administrative and public proceedings.
• Drafts legal responses, rulings, and regulations.
• Analyzes complex and technical evidence.
• Negotiates and drafts settlement agreements.
• Assists in trials and appeals preparation.

Skills

Legal research

Oral communication

Written communication

Interpersonal skills

Statutes interpretation

Education

Juris Doctor

Tools

GovQA

Job description

Introduction

The State of Connecticut Department of Administrative Services (DAS) invites its eligible agency employees to apply for the position of Staff Attorney 1�to enhance legal support within the Commissioner's Legal Services Office. In this role, the selected candidate will assist with the agency’s CHRO, FOI, and litigation caseloads, gaining experience in complex matters that require in-depth analysis, multi-stage review, and investigative support.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

Visit our new State Employee Benefits Overview page!

Professional growth and development opportunities.

A healthy work/life balance to all employees.

THE ROLE

The Staff Attorney 1 will also represent the agency at formal hearings and collaborate with Agency Legal Counsel in the review, analysis, and investigation of cases, as well as the drafting of legal responses and related documents.

POSITION HIGHLIGHTS

• Monday - Friday
• Full-time
• First shift
• Location: Hartford, CT
• Hybrid position (telework and in office)

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Receives generalized training in all aspects of agency legal work;
• Acts as hearing officer or represents agency in formal administrative and public proceedings involving legal and technical issues;
• Analyzes complex and technical evidence;
• 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 routine legal issues and assists in researching 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 statutes, regulations and rulings;
• Participates in the conduct of various educational activities;
• Reviews court decisions, new and proposed laws and regulations to determine impact on agency operations;
• Assists in the preparation and maintenance of precedent manuals;
• Reviews legal and other related documents for legal sufficiency;
• May provide legal counsel and advice when duly authorized;
• May testify at or monitor legislative proceedings;
• Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Knowledge of
• Legal principles, practices and procedures in Connecticut;
• legal research techniques;
• the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act and civil procedures;
• and the ability to interpret and apply relevant state and federal laws, statutes, regulations and legislation;
• relevant agency policies and procedures;
• the rules of evidence;
• criminal and constitutional law and legislative process;
• Considerable
• interpersonal skills;
• oral and written communication skills;
• 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

A degree from an accredited law school.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience administering GovQA
• Experience coordinating Freedom of Information (FOI) inquiries across multiple state agencies
• Experience representing an agency before the Freedom of Information Commission (FOIC)
• Ability to articulate goals and objectives and effectively engage with a wide variety of constituents at all levels
• Ability to write legal documents, investigatory reports, policies, and procedures

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Incumbents in this class must be admitted to practice law in the State of Connecticut by the conclusion of the applicable working test period. Individuals who meet the qualifications and requirements for admission under Section 2-13 of the Connecticut Practice Book must become admitted to practice law in the State of Connecticut by the conclusion of the applicable working test period. Pursuant to Section 51-88 of the Connecticut General Statutes, an incumbent who has not been admitted to practice law may not 'assume, use or advertise the title of lawyer, attorney and counsel at law, counselor at law, attorney, counselor, attorney and counselor, or an equivalent term, in such a manner as to convey the impression that he is a legal practitioner of law'. Until such time that an incumbent is admitted to practice law in the State of Connecticut, the incumbent shall be referred to as a Legal Assistant.
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.