Staff Attorney 1

State of Connecticut - Department of Correction; Middletown (CT); Hybride; USD 70 000 - 100 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

The State of Connecticut, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) is seeking a Staff Attorney 1 in Middletown. The role concentrates on Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) matters and manages a public records docket with high-profile cases.

The position is full-time with a hybrid schedule based on agency needs, offering exposure to administrative proceedings and complex records analysis in a fast-paced legal environment.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.
• Admission to practice law in Connecticut by the end of the working test period.
• Experience with FOIA/public records and administrative law is preferred.

Responsabilités

• Review and redact agency records to comply with FOIA.
• Represent agency in formal administrative and public proceedings when needed.
• Draft advisory opinions, rulings, and other legal documents.
• Conduct legal research and assist in trials and appeals.
• Collaborate with Office of the Attorney General on legal issues.

Connaissances

FOIA knowledge

Public records experience

Legal research

Oral/written advocacy

Formation

Juris Doctor

Outils

LexisNexis

Westlaw

Microsoft Word

Description du poste

Introduction

The State of Connecticut, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) has an exciting opportunity for a Staff Attorney 1 in the

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 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.

Position Highlights

This position focuses primarily on Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) matters and carries an independent caseload of public records requests, including high-profile, complex matters. The incumbent will be responsible for reviewing and redacting agency records in compliance with the Freedom of Information Act. This role offers meaningful exposure to administrative proceedings and complex records analysis within a high-volume, fast-paced legal environment.

This is a full-time position Monday-Friday based in Middletown. A hybrid schedule is available based on agency need.

About Us

DESPP is committed to protecting and improving the quality of life for all by providing a broad range of public safety services, training, regulatory guidance, and scientific services utilizing enforcement, prevention, education and state of the art science and technology. DESPP is structured on three key Strategic Pillars created by Commissioner Ronnell Higgins.

1. Operational Efficiency, Efficacy and Excellence
   • Making decisions through the thoughtful and informed use of data
   • Challenging the 'that's the way it's always been done' construct - i.e., thinking outside the box as to how we can improve
   • Constantly seeking better results
2. Shared Fiscal Responsibility
   • Recognizing our collective responsibility to steward the agency's resources
   • Realigning planned budgetary actions to ensure that they are in taxpayers' interests
   • Preparing together for potential budget stresses and fiscal challenges
3. Ethics and Accountability
   • Critically and constantly measuring our practices against our policies
   • Performing quarterly performance evaluations agency-wide to measure success and flag areas needing improvement
   • Regularly engaging external partners for feedback and assessments
   • Opening our doors to Connecticut students and workers for apprenticeships, internships, and career pathways

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a state agency this class is accountable for receiving on the job training in all aspects of agency legal work.

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 in administrative law or legal practice within a public sector or governmental setting
• Experience with administrative hearings, regulatory matters, or public-sector legal work
• Experience applying or interpreting the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), public records, or open government principles
• Experience conducting legal research, analyzing legal authorities, and drafting regulations within an administrative or regulatory setting
• Experience managing competing priorities and meeting deadlines
• Experience with oral and written communication, including communicating legal matters to non-legal staff

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.