Staff Attorney 2 #261020-0088AR-001

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

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits overview page

Professional growth and development

Work-life balance

Job summary

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is seeking a Staff Attorney 2 for the Office of Legal Counsel within BETP. The role involves supporting energy policy development and regulatory matters, drafting and reviewing legal documents, and collaborating with state agencies on decarbonization initiatives.

The position is based in New Britain with a hybrid schedule. Ideal candidates have at least two years of legal experience, are admitted in Connecticut, and possess

Qualifications

• Two years of experience in the practice of law.
• Licensed to practice law in Connecticut.
• Experience interpreting energy policy or regulatory proceedings preferred.
• Strong research and writing skills.

Responsibilities

• Represent DEEP in administrative and public energy proceedings.
• Analyze complex technical filings at ISO-NE, FERC, DOE, PURA.
• Draft and negotiate agreements, settlements.
• Prepare briefs, findings of fact and law, regulations and contracts.
• Provide counsel to agency leadership and staff.
• Review statutes and regulations for impact on agency operations.

Skills

Legal research

Statutory interpretation

Policy analysis

Oral and written communication

Education

J.D. degree

Tools

Westlaw/Lexis

Job description

Introduction

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), has an exciting opportunity for a Staff Attorney 2 in the Office of Legal Counsel serving the Bureau of Energy and Technology Policy (BETP).

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

The Office of Legal Counsel team of attorneys serving BETP have diverse and varied skill sets to support a multitude of functions related to the energy supply, broadband, affordable housing and energy retrofits, and buildings and transportation decarbonization programs.

The attorneys serving BETP work on developing and implementing local, state, and regional energy policy issues at DEEP. The attorneys work with BETP staff members to:

• Develop plans and policies to implement Connecticut's Comprehensive Energy Strategy;
• Procure renewable energy resources in accordance with DEEP's statutory authority, develop and implement Connecticut's Integrated Resources Plan, oversee the planning and implementation of the state's energy efficiency programs;
• Work with the state's Energy Efficiency Board, administer the state's Weatherization Assistance Program, develop plans and policies related to renewable energy projects, develop federally funded programs, develop and implement Connecticut's climate change action plan and more.

The position is 40 hours a week, located at Ten Franklin Square, New Britain, CT. A hybrid schedule is available based on agency need.

About Us

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.

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

• Represent the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection in administrative state, regional, and federal energy matters, including writing and reviewing documents for formal administrative and public proceedings concerning energy policy issues before the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the Federal Department of Energy (U.S. DOE), and in other public proceedings involving legal and technical issues, in conjunction with the Independent System Operator, New England (ISO-NE), and the New England States Committee on Electricity (NESCOE);
• Analyze complex technical evidence and filings at ISO-NE, FERC, U.S.DOE and PURA;
• Negotiate, draft, and review agreements, including, but not limited to, settlement agreements;
• Draft and review: briefs, recommendations to senior staff, findings of fact and law, legislation, statutes, regulations, and contracts;
• Work closely with the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of Consumer Counsel on legal issues;
• Research complex legal issues;
• Respond to Freedom of Information requests and requests for advice from agency personnel concerning the Code of Ethics;
• Prepare interrogatories, briefs, written exceptions, pleadings, and other administrative and court papers;
• Interpret statutes, regulations, rulings, and contracts;
• Provide legal counsel and advice to agency leadership and technical staff;
• May testify at or monitor energy or legislative proceedings;
• Review and analyze court decisions, new and proposed laws, and regulations to determine impact on agency operations;
• Assist in the preparation and maintenance of precedent manuals;
• Review legal and other related documents for legal sufficiency; and
• May act as a hearing officer for DEEP public meetings.

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 conducting and updating legal research using commercial databases such as Westlaw or Lexis;
• Experience interpreting and applying state or federal law to resolve legal issues, develop legal strategy, and support participation in contested proceedings;
• Experience analyzing technical subject matter to support legal proceedings;
• Experience independently conducting legal research and preparing written legal analysis including memoranda of law, legal briefs, decisions or opinions for legal proceedings;
• Experience collaborating with technical staff or experts to synthesize technical information into persuasive legal analysis;
• Experience managing more than one task and prioritizing assignments with competing deadlines; and
• Experience providing oral presentations or arguments.

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.

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.