Staff Attorney 2

The State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is charged with conserving, improving and protecting Connecticut’s natural resources and environment as well as making affordable, clean and reliable energy available for the people and businesses of the state.  The agency is also committed to playing a positive role in building Connecticut’s green economy and fostering a sustainable and prosperous economic future.

 

The Office of Legal Counsel is within the Office of the Commissioner. Legal personnel serve the diverse and interesting legal needs of all three branches of the agency: Environmental Quality (EQ), Environmental Conservation (EC) and Energy. In addition to supporting the air, materials management, and water programs within EQ, the natural resources and outdoor recreation bureaus within EC, and the offices of energy supply, energy demand, and buildings and transportation decarbonization within the Bureau of Energy and Technology Policy (BETP), the Office of Legal Counsel provides legal services related to public contracting and procurement, purchases of real property, leases, grants, requests for proposals and a variety of other transactional matters. The legal team provides advice and support to the Commissioner and agency personnel in regard to legislation, regulations, permits, enforcement, petitions for declaratory ruling, ethics, employment, and open records matters. In-house legal personnel work closely with the Office of the Attorney General on state and federal litigation, claims before the Office of the Claims Commissioner, regulations, and contracts. The in-house legal staff represent the Department before entities such as the Public Utility Regulatory Authority (PURA), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the Department of Energy, and other federal and state administrative agencies.

 

The Office of Legal Counsel has a current opportunity for a Staff Attorney 2, located in Hartford, CT. However, this recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies in other areas throughout the state. This position will provide legal support to the Office of the Commissioner and will be utilized to serve the Commissioner’s high-priority legal work, including, but not limited to, the work described above.

 

This position may include performing work at DEEP’s New Britain office located at Ten Franklin Square. The selected candidate must have a driver's license and may be required to travel.

 

This position is full-time, 40 hours per week, Monday-Friday.

 

Applicants must upload a resume with their applications. (Note: In order to upload documents you must ensure that your internet browser's 'pop-up' blocker is off.  Failure to do so may prevent you from being able to upload documentation and submit your application.) 

 

Questions about these required documents should be directed to the hiring agency's human resources office: DEEP Human Resources. DEEP.HumanResources@ct.gov, (860)424-3006.

This position is non-examined and open to the public.

 

The selected candidate must be both, admitted to practice law in the State of Connecticut, and a member in good standing of the Connecticut bar, by the time employment commences.

 

This posting MAY require completion of additional referral questions (RQs) which will be sent to you via email after the closing date. Please regularly check your email for notifications. Please also check your SPAM/Junk folders.  You must reply by the deadline indicated on the notification or you will be automatically disqualified from consideration.  

 

Candidates selected for moving forward in the hiring process will be required to submit a cover letter and writing sample.

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.

Staff Attorneys within the Office of Legal Counsel cover a variety of legal issues, including:

• Provide diverse legal services to the Office of the Commissioner  including advising the agency’s business and planning offices, writing and reviewing public contracting and procurement, grants, offers and purchases of real property, requests for proposals and responses, and contracts;
• Draft and review legislation and regulations;
• Provide legal advice related to environmental, energy, and administrative law matters and participate in federal and state administrative and public proceedings involving environmental, energy, employment, ethics, and open records matters;
• Engage in coordination and consultation with the Office of the Attorney General on environmental, energy, contracts, employment, and tort matters;
• Research complex legal issues;
• Respond to Freedom of Information requests and requests for advice from agency personnel concerning the Code of Ethics;
• Prepare interrogatories, briefs, written exceptions, pleadings, and other administrative and court papers;
• Interpret statutes, regulations, rulings, and contracts;
• Participate in the conduct of continuing legal educational activities;
• Provide legal counsel and advice to agency leadership and technical staff;
• May testify at or monitor legislative or administrative proceedings;
• Review and analyze court decisions, new and proposed laws, and regulations to determine impact on agency operations;
• Assist in the preparation and maintenance of standard operating procedures (SOPs);
• Review legal and other related documents for legal sufficiency; and
• May act as a hearing officer for administrative proceedings.

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 in one or more of the following areas: drafting, reviewing and revising financial instruments; drafting, reviewing and revising public contracting and procurement documents; real estate transactions; land use law; energy or utility law; environmental law; litigation; working with technical staff and legal concepts associated with technical matters, including engineering, design, and construction; and/or appellate clerkship.
• Excellent legal research and writing techniques;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills;
• Excellent interpersonal skills; and
• Ability to multi-task and prioritize assignments with engagement and coordination of management.

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.