Paralegal Specialist

The Department of Public Health is seeking to fill a Paralegal Specialist position within the Legal Office through a promotional opportunity.  The position will be responsible for providing support to the Legal Office in ensuring that matters involving certain licensed health care practitioners, facilities and local health appeals are processed timely and accurately to protect the public health.

The Paralegal Specialist position is responsible for all aspects of scheduling and processing approximately 250 cases each year for appeals from local health director's orders and licensure actions taken by the Department against regulated professionals and entities for which there is no Board or Commission.

Specific duties include reviewing each appeal for any jurisdictional defects, creating files for each case, drafting notices, assigning cases, conferring with all parties or their attorneys, arranging hearing logistics, and tracking and processing the decisions.  The position handles all preparation of the record for cases that are appealed, confers with the Attorney General's Office and responds to Freedom of Information Act requests.  Also, this provides paralegal support in the investigation of complaints filed with the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO), and coordinates the recruitment of legal interns for DPH.

In order to be considered for this job opening, you must be a current employee of the Department of Public Health who has permanent state status, and meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening.  You must specify your qualifications on your application. 

Should you have questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Sue Ciccaglione at Sue.Ciccaglione@ct.gov, (860) 509-7183.

In a state agency, this class is accountable for providing advanced paralegal support in a highly complex legal unit. This class provides advanced technical leadership, research and consultation in the areas of preparing draft legal documents and draft decisions of highly complex cases; as a resource regarding issues, procedures, process and timeframe as related to cases and presenting legal matters as needed.

Performs highly complex paralegal duties as defined in one or both of the following areas:

LEGAL OFFICE OPERATIONS: Interprets complex state statutes and federal regulations governing legal records and documents; determines and applies applicable state statute and/or regulation in preparing documentation; interprets court rules and agency policies and regulations; keeps abreast of the latest court rules, calendar changes and pending legislation; monitors and adheres to court deadlines; reviews legal documents and prepares legal documents such as briefs, writs and pleadings for court filings; responds to relevant case information requests from courts; performs legal research and analysis of law sources such as statutes, legal articles, legal decisions, opinions, rulings, memoranda and other legal material; prepares draft legal documents; provides assistance in the discovery process; provides paralegal assistance by interpreting applicable legal provisions, regulations, precedents and policies; responds to requests and obtains information of sensitive nature; acts as liaison between agency, court system, relevant attorney’s offices and general public; serves as agency liaison regarding relevant policies and procedures; prepares legal and administrative reports; updates and maintains case records, pleadings, policy manuals and filing systems; assists in the drafting of proposed legislation and advisory opinions; provides training and assistance to staff; may perform business mathematical computations; performs related duties as required.

CASE PRESENTATION OR HEARING: Analyzes highly complex cases; develops positions and strategies to settle or litigate cases at formal or informal hearings; prepares for and represents State’s interest at hearings or through case presentation; researches and gathers relevant evidence and documentation; interviews witnesses and clients; drafts legal documents, complaints, stipulations, detailed memoranda, letters and proposed findings and awards reviews substantiation appeals and provides recommendation to management regarding the legal sufficiency of substantiation findings; performs related duties as required.

Considerable knowledge of legal processes and procedures; considerable knowledge of legal terminology and legal forms; considerable knowledge of legal research techniques; knowledge of relevant agency policies and procedures; knowledge of and the ability to interpret and apply relevant state and federal laws, statutes, regulations and legislation; considerable skill in fact finding techniques including interviewing clients and compiling evidence; considerable interpersonal skills; considerable oral and written communication skills; considerable ability to evaluate pertinent facts, cases and evidence and compile and assemble such legal data; considerable ability to compose correspondence and draft legal documents; ability to understand complex laws and related reports; ability to utilize computer software.

The General Experience is defined as one of the following:

1. A Bachelor’s degree in legal studies and one (1) year of experience providing paraprofessional legal assistance to an attorney.

2. An Associate’s degree in legal studies and three (3) years of experience providing paraprofessional legal assistance to an attorney.

3. Completion of a Paralegal or Legal Assistance Certificate Program approved by the American Bar Association and three (3) years of experience providing paraprofessional legal assistance to an attorney.

4. Completion of a Paralegal or Legal Assistance Certificate Program consisting of a minimum of twenty-four (24) semester hours from an accredited college or university and four (4) years of experience providing paraprofessional legal assistance to an attorney.

5. Completion of a Paralegal or Legal Assistance Certificate Program from a business school approved by the State of Connecticut, Office of Higher Education and four (4) years of experience providing paraprofessional legal assistance to an attorney.

6. A Law degree from an accredited Law School.

• Experience with administrative law procedures under the Connecticut Administrative Procedures Act;
• Experience creating/organizing/maintaining filing systems, tracking administrative hearing cases and preparing related reports;
• Experience performing legal research, including research of legislative histories, utilizing knowledge of statutes and regulations;
• Experience working with spreadsheets, data bases, and word processing software, including Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel or Access;
• Experience communicating and interacting positively with attorneys, staff and the public both in person and in writing.

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The Department of Public Health aims to provide equal opportunity in all aspects of employment and advancement, fostering an environment committed to supporting individuals in all protected classes. If you require an aid/accommodation to participate fully and fairly, please contact the Human Resources Office at (860) 509-7177.