Department of Administrative Services

In a state agency legal unit, this class is accountable for acting as a specialist in the coordination of all cases coming before agency administrative and/or adjudicative panels or proceedings.

This class may be used in one of two ways:

1. Leading Paralegal Specialists and Paralegal Specialist Trainees, Public Utilities Administrative Hearings Coordinators and/or clerical staff engaged in the preparation and representation of agency processes at informal and/or pre-hearing conferences including the authority to settle cases within prescribed time limits.

2. Leading Paralegal Specialists and Paralegal Specialist Trainees, Public Utilities Administrative Hearings Coordinators and/or clerical staff performing the most complex and technical work relating to the scheduling and calendaring of all cases coming before an agency administrative and/or adjudicative body.

This class is distinguished from Paralegal Specialist by the authority to rule on and make recommendations regarding motions and petitions from interested parties. Incumbents in this class lead Paralegal Specialists, Public Utilities Administrative Hearings Coordinators and/or a significant number of other agency staff involved in the preparation of adjudicatory case records and documents. Incumbents have input into the formulation of and some responsibility for developing and drafting agency adjudicative rules, practices, policies, procedures and directives.

Receives general direction from an attorney serving as administrative and/or executive head of the unit.

Leads Paralegal Specialists and Paralegal Specialist Trainees, Public Utilities Administrative Hearings Coordinators and other paraprofessional, technical and clerical staff as assigned.

Performs the most complex related duties in scheduling and calendaring cases before administrative and adjudicative bodies or panels; reviews and analyzes cases for substantive issues, determines readiness and prioritizes for hearing; identifies procedural defects and disparities from agency administrative and/or adjudicative rules and procedures and notifies parties; provides recommendations for policies, rules, directions, techniques and dispositions related to case flow; plans and develops case strategies and positions to be employed at informal hearings; determines settlement strategy and value if applicable; approves final settlement documents and stipulated agreements; reviews requests for consolidation, continuance and other types of rulings and/or dispositions; calendars cases for dismissal when appropriate; drafts summaries and annotations of cases for use by panel members and all other practitioners; acts as liaison with agencies and outside officials regarding unit policies and procedures; prepares reports and correspondence; assigns and oversees case management with staff; conducts or assists in conducting performance evaluations; provides staff training; may rule on less complicated motions; may draft proposed changes to rules and regulations; may coordinate third party lawsuits and out of court settlements; performs related duties as required.

Considerable knowledge of relevant statutes and regulations; considerable knowledge of relevant agency policy and procedures; considerable knowledge of legal processes, terminology and forms; considerable knowledge of legal research techniques; knowledge of appellate and Supreme Court operations and rules; considerable interpersonal skills; considerable oral and written communication skills; considerable ability to negotiate; considerable ability to understand and interpret medical reports and related information; ability to utilize computer software; some supervisory ability.

Five (5) years of experience providing paraprofessional legal assistance to an attorney or performing case management functions in a regulatory agency.

One (1) year of the General Experience must have involved work in one of the following capacities:

1. Performing the most complex tasks in providing paraprofessional legal assistance to an attorney and supervising the operations of a legal office.
   
2. Preparing and presenting cases before or conducting agency administrative hearings.
   Note: For State Employees, this is the level of Paralegal Specialist or Public Utilities Administrative Hearings Coordinator.

1. College training may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of one (1) year.
2. An Associate's degree in legal assistance or an Associate's degree and a certificate of completion of a Legal Assistant Certificate Program from an accredited college may be substituted for two (2) years of the General Experience.
3. A Bachelor's degree in legal studies or a Bachelor's degree and a certificate of completion of a Legal Assistant Certificate Program from an accredited college may be substituted for four (4) years of the General Experience.
4. A Bachelor's degree and completion of one (1) year of a law school curriculum may be substituted for the General Experience.
5. A certificate of completion of a paralegal studies program from a private occupational school approved by the Connecticut Department of Education may be substituted for six (6) months of the General Experience.

1. Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.
   
2. Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator’s license.

This replaces the existing specification for the class of Administrative Hearings Specialist in Salary Group AR 23 approved effective February 15, 2012. (Revised to update Paralegal Specialist title)