Staff Attorney 2

Are you an experienced attorney looking for a way to make an impact with the State?

If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you!

The State of Connecticut Department of Transportation (DOT) invites qualified individuals to apply for the position of a Staff Attorney 2 position located at its headquarters in Newington, CT, in the Legal Services Unit, part of the Commissioner’s Office. This is an exciting opportunity for an attorney to continue or begin a career with the state in a collaborative working environment that assists the DOT in executing initiatives, complying with mandates and objectives related to the delivery of state transportation-related projects and programs.

POSITION HIGHLIGHTS

• Monday - Friday
• Full-time (40 hours per week)
• First shift
• Location: Newington
• Once beyond the Working Test Period, the position offers a hybrid working environment that includes the option of teleworking

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

• A competitive starting salary
• Excellent state benefit package, including health and dental coverage
• Generous paid time off, including 13 holidays
• Retirement plan options
• A culture that encourages work-life balance
• Working for a Forbes top company: 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

THE ROLE

The Staff Attorney 2 will report to the DOT Legal Director and will be responsible for providing legal support to DOT management. The selected candidate will be part of a staff of five attorneys who provide assistance in the interpretation of and compliance with state and federal statutes and regulations, as well as DOT and state processes and procedures. The position may also include work with other attorneys in the agency focused in the Bureau of Engineering and Construction, the Bureau of Policy and Planning, and the Bureau of Public Transportation, Rail division, as well as the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), and outside counsel. The selected candidate will also:

• Assist in providing legal advice and support to the agency in its mission to provide a safe and efficient transportation network that improves the quality of life and promotes economic vitality for the state and the region
• Focus on agreements and contracts
• Work on other areas of law depending on the interest of the candidate, such as drafting documents and preparing witnesses for administrative hearings, assisting with employment matters, providing litigation support with the OAG or outside counsel, and providing FOIA responses

ABOUT US

The mission of the DOT is to provide a safe and efficient intermodal transportation network that improves the quality of life and promotes economic vitality for the State and the region. To learn more about our mission, vision and values, please click here.

                                                                                  Watch the video below to see what it's like to be a State of Connecticut employee!

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.
• 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 visit our "Applicant Tips on How to Apply" page.

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.
• The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.

In a state agency this class is accountable for independently performing a full range of tasks in the legal work of the agency.

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; may testify at or monitor legislative proceedings; may represent agency in court when authorized; 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; performs related duties as required.

Considerable knowledge of legal principles, practices and procedures in Connecticut; considerable knowledge of legal research techniques; considerable knowledge of the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act; considerable knowledge of and the ability to interpret and apply relevant state and federal laws, statutes, regulations and legislation; considerable knowledge of relevant agency policies and procedures; knowledge of the rules of evidence; knowledge of criminal and constitutional law and legislative process; considerable interpersonal skills; considerable oral and written communication skills; considerable ability to apply judicial decisions to the interpretation of statutes; considerable ability to comprehend, analyze and organize technical data and coordinate elements of legal cases.

STAFF ATTORNEY 2: Two (2) years of experience in the practice of law.
STAFF ATTORNEY 3: Three (3) years of experience in the practice of law at the level of Staff Attorney 2 in the same state agency.

• Experience working with complex agreements involving the transportation industry
• Experience with real property transactions, including preparation and review of real estate instruments such as leases, licenses, and easements
• Experience with federal and State of CT procurement and agreement requirements and approval process
• Experience working with cooperative agreements with other Connecticut State agencies, and municipal agreements
• Experience working with federal funding sources for transportation projects
• Experience with providing legal interpretation of statutes, regulations and contract specifications
• Experience with legal review of documents to ensure conformance with requirements under statutes, regulations, polices and procedures, and to minimize legal risks
• Experience with preparation, support and representation in administrative proceedings and other hearings
• Experience in providing advice and support to management and businesses

1. Must be admitted to practice law in the State of Connecticut.
2. 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.