STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Staff Attorney 2

Hybrid

Recruitment #240515-0088AR-001

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Introduction




Do you have two years of experience in the practice of law?
If so, apply today!

The State of Connecticut, Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is seeking applications from qualified employees to fill a full-time Staff Attorney 2 position, within the Administrative Hearings Unit (AHU), which is under the DMV’s Legal Services Division.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU:
  • The opportunity to work for a Forbes top company: 'Forbes' State of Connecticut Ranked One of the Best Employers of 2023 - State of CT Receives National Recognition for Offering Job Growth, Competitive Benefits, and Flexible Schedule.
  • 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.
  • A Platinum Healthcare Plan, the nation’s best for state employees and dependents, according to a report by Georgetown's Center on Health Insurance Reform and article by Ellen Andrews, Ph.D., along with comprehensive benefit offerings.
  • Comprehensive Benefits which include industry leading health benefits, including medical and dental coverage.
  • Extensive pension plan and supplemental retirement offerings.
  • Generous paid time off, including 13 paid holidays per calendar year.
  • Professional growth and development opportunities.
  • A healthy work/life balance to all employees. 
POSITION HIGHLIGHTS:
  • Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
THE ROLE: 
  • Responsible for supporting the Assistant Legal Director in her role as a manager, civil defense attorney and legal counselor for the DMV. 
  • Assist with case management, research, and the preparation of reports. 
  • Handle matters related to administrative hearings and appeals, driving under the influence, employment and civil rights laws, and issues related to the management of AHU’s employees.  
  • Work on the AHU’s modernization of its hearings system. 
  • Work directly with AHU’s Hearing Officers, by ensuring that they have the most recent case law precedent, performing research, issuing subpoenas, preparing affidavits and taking sworn testimony in connection with cases handled by the AHU. 
  • Assist the AHU’s Hearing Officers with training and mock trials. 
  • Address legal questions posed by internal and external parties.
  • Other related duties. 
YOUR CAREER WITH US:

Selection Plan

  • For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.
  • These positions will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. Applications to this recruitment will be used to meet collective bargaining requirements. Once any collective bargaining requirements have been met, all other applicants may be considered.
To Apply:
  • In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on this 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.
  • Please select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location or shift.
  • In order to receive educational credits toward qualification for this job posting, the institution must be accredited. If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the Talent Acquisition Professional listed on this job posting.
  • 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.
FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:
  • Please read or watch our Applicant Tips on How to Apply.
Important Information 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.
  • Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position.
  • Read through this helpful link to prepare for your interview.
  • The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
Connect With Us:
  • Due to the large volume of applications received, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account. Should you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Anamaria Giangarra at Anamaria.giangarra@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; 
  • 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 as an attorney handling cases under the Uniform Administrative Procedure Act.
  • Experience with analyzing statutes and case law and providing legal advice to various clients.
  • Experience working with and managing a team of people.
  • Experience with preparation of legal memoranda and briefs.
  • Experience using Outlook, Excel spreadsheets, Word documents, Teams, and WebEx.

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.




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