Staff Attorney 2

Are you looking to advance in your career?

If so, we invite you to check out this opportunity!

The State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Office of Legal Counsel, has a current opening for a Staff Attorney 2 position in support of the Bureau of Energy and Technology Policy, based in New Britain.

JOB DETAILS

DEEP invites qualified applicants to apply for a position as a Staff Attorney 2 within the Office of Legal Counsel. DEEP is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace that represents the people of Connecticut, and strongly encourages all applicants to apply.

Legal personnel are based within the Commissioner’s Office and serve the diverse and interesting legal needs of the three branches of the agency: Environmental Quality (EQ), Environmental Conservation (EC) and Energy and Technology Policy. As an employee of the Legal team, you will provide primary support to one of these branches or the Commissioner’s Office, with some crossover work between branches.

The Office of Legal Counsel seeks to build a team of attorneys with diverse and varied skill sets to support a multitude of functions related to the air, materials management, and water programs within EQ, the natural resources and outdoor recreation bureaus within EC, and the energy supply, broadband, and buildings and transportation decarbonization programs within the Bureau of Energy and Technology Policy (BETP). This recruitment will be used to provide legal services to BETP, however, this recruitment may be utilized to fill other future Staff Attorney 2 vacancies, including positions based out of Hartford, CT. DEEP encourages attorneys with interest in any of the below-mentioned areas to apply.

Legislative, regulatory, and compliance functions may include drafting and advising on the following:

• Legislation
• Regulations
• Permits
• Enforcement
• Petitions for declaratory ruling
• Ethics
• Employment
• Open records

Litigation functions may include the following:

• Working closely with the Office of the Attorney General on state and federal litigation claims before the Office of the Claims Commissioner
• Representing the Department before entities such as the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the Department of Energy, and other federal and state administrative agencies.

Transactional functions may include the following:

• Public contracting and procurement
• Purchases and leases of real property
• Grant management
• Settlement negotiations
• Public private partnerships

This is a full-time, 40 hour-per-week position located in New Britain, CT. Schedule is Monday-Friday on first shift.

We offer a competitive benefits plan that includes healthcare coverage, a retirement plan as well as paid time off, including 12 paid holidays per calendar year!

ABOUT US

DEEP is charged with conserving, improving and protecting Connecticut’s natural resources and environment; developing clean energy and energy efficiency policies and programs, and providing access to broadband, for the people and businesses of the state. The agency is committed to mitigating and adapting to the impacts of climate change and building Connecticut’s green economy for a sustainable, inclusive, and prosperous economic future.

Note: This recruitment may be utilized to fill other future Staff Attorney 2 vacancies, including positions based out of Hartford, CT. DEEP encourages attorneys with interest in any of the above-mentioned areas to apply to this posting.

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.

The selected candidate must have a driver's license and may be required to travel.

This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs) which will be sent to you via email after the closing date. The email notification will include an expiration date by which you must submit (Finish) your responses. Please regularly check your email for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders, as emails could end up there in error.

Candidates selected to move forward in the hiring process may be required to submit a cover letter and writing sample.

Questions about these required documents should be directed to the hiring agency's human resources office via email at DEEP.HumanResources@ct.gov or via phone at (860) 424-3006.

Technical questions regarding the application process in JobAps should contact Jake Ferrari via email at jake.ferrari@ct.gov.

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.

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: energy, telecom, broadband, or utility law; environmental law; litigation; drafting, reviewing and revising contracts or financial instruments; drafting, reviewing and revising public contracting and procurement documents; complex real estate transactions; land use law; working with technical staff and legal concepts associated with technical matters, including engineering, design, and construction; and/or appellate clerkship.
• Experience conducting legal research.
• Experience communicating in person, on the phone, and in writing with a variety of constituents, including co-workers and the public.
• Experience multi-tasking and prioritizing 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.