STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Staff Attorney 2

Recruitment #241021-0088AR-001

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Introduction


The State of Connecticut, Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) has an exciting opportunity for a Staff Attorney 2 to join the Adjudications Unit.

What we can offer you
Position highlights
PURA's attorneys are involved in almost every aspect of PURA’s regulatory mission which is focused on advancing the state’s energy, economic, and environmental goals. 

Responsibilities of a Staff Attorney 2 include:
  • Providing legal advice to commissioners, the Chief of Staff, and staff;
  • Acting as hearing officers;
  • Conducting complex legal research writing, 
  • Reviewing legislative initiatives;
  • Assisting in drafting agency testimony; and 
  • Drafting, editing, and reviewing decisions issued by PURA.
After completion of three (3) years of successful and satisfactory performance as a Staff Attorney 2 in the same agency, an incumbent will be moved to the Staff Attorney 3 classification (on the first pay period following the completion of the three (3) year requirement).

This is a full-time position, Monday-Friday. Flexibility in scheduling may be required based on agency needs. While our offices are located at Ten Franklin Square, New Britain, a hybrid schedule is available.

About us

The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) is statutorily-charged with ensuring that Connecticut's investor-owned utilities, including the state’s electric, natural gas, water, and telecommunications companies, provide safe, clean, reliable, and affordable utility service and infrastructure. PURA’s mission is essential to advancing the state’s energy, economic, and environmental goals and is critical to maintaining public health and safety as well as a robust economy.   

PURA is a quasi-judicial agency that interprets and applies the statutes and regulations governing all aspects of Connecticut’s utility sector. Among other things, PURA sets the rates charged by investor-owned utilities, advances the modernization of the electric distribution system, regulates the retail electric supplier market, implements federal requirements for natural gas pipeline safety, ensures adequate water system infrastructure investments, reviews mergers and acquisitions, provides education and outreach for consumers, and regulates the expansion of telecommunications infrastructure.

Selection Plan

Before you apply:
  • In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the 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.
  • 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.
Important information for 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.
  • The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
  • Read through this helpful link to prepare for your interview.
Questions about this position should be directed to Mackenzie Robinson at mackenzie.robinson@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 in utility or energy law, including renewable energy, resilience and reliability.
  • Experience or college-level coursework in government or public policy.
  • Experience practicing law with or before an administrative or regulatory agency.
  • Experience conducting investigations into compliance with state or federal laws.
  • Experience with legal analysis and writing.
  • Experience leading or managing a team in an employment or volunteer setting.
  • Experience working or collaborating with other individuals as a member of a team.
  • Experience with crisis or media communications.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

  • Incumbents in this class must be admitted to practice law in the State of Connecticut within 3 (three) months of employment.
  • Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

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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