STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Paralegal Specialist

Recruitment #210929-6142AR-001

Introduction

At the State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), we are dedicated to conserving, improving and protecting our natural resources and the environment, and increasing the availability of more affordable, cleaner and more reliable energy.

DEEP's Office of Legal Counsel advises the Commissioner, and the Department as a whole, on a wide variety of legal issues faced by the three branches of the agency: Environmental Quality (EQ), Environmental Conservation (EC) and Energy and Technology. As a paralegal with DEEP, your job tasks would include interpreting and administering energy and environmental laws, advising and drafting legislation and regulations, assisting in the enforcement of the Department’s statutes, responding to Freedom of Information requests, drafting legal memoranda, orders, and declaratory rulings, participating in administrative proceedings, filing documents in legal matters, providing contract review and support, and consulting with the Office of the Attorney General on litigation matters. As an employee of the Legal team, you will provide primary support to one of the three branches of DEEP or the Commissioner’s Office, though there will be some crossover work between branches.

DEEP's Office of Legal Counsel is currently recruiting for a full-time Paralegal Specialist to support the Office of Legal Counsel and specifically the Energy and Technology branch legal director and their staff attorneys. This position is responsible for providing a wide range of legal support and guidance.

The work schedule for this full-time, 40-hour position, is Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. To learn about the benefits offered click here and low cost health insurance information can be found here.

Selection Plan

The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class. Position specific question can be sent to Kristen.Rigney@CT.Gov.

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 question'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. 

All State employees shall follow the guidelines as listed in Executive Orders  13F (3a) and 13G (3a) .

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.  Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications as indicated to apply for this position.  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, unless otherwise specified. 

Please ensure that your application is complete.  You will be unable to make revisions once it is submitted.  Questions can be sent to Emily.Kennedy@ct.gov.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

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.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

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.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

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.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

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.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Preference will be given to candidates who have:

  • Experience and demonstrated fluency with document review software, electronic filing systems.
  • Experience with Microsoft Office 365’s suite of systems.
  • Experience working with confidential commercial and financial information.
  • Experience reviewing and processing complex financial documents and/or contracts.
  • Experience interpreting and applying regulations.
  • A minimum of three (3) years of experience providing paralegal support to an attorney in the area of energy or environmental law.

Conclusion

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.