STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Staff Attorney 2

Recruitment #211027-0088AR-001

Introduction



Are you an experienced Attorney looking for an opportunity to serve the public sector? 
If so, we encourage you to apply and join our team!

The mission of the State of Connecticut, Department of Children and Families (DCF) is to work together with families and communities for children who are healthy, safe, smart and strong. DCF’s Legal Division is responsible for ensuring compliance with state and federal law, conducting administrative hearings, and ensuring regulatory compliance.

We are recruiting for a full-time Staff Attorney 2 within our Legal Division, based out of our Willimantic and Middletown area offices. Additionally other statewide travel can be expected. This position is full-time, with a Monday through Friday schedule on first shift.

The Legal Division Staff Attorneys are directly involved in consultations with social work staff and make legal recommendations that impact the lives of the children and families of Connecticut. This role has responsibility to provide in-house legal support to the Area Offices for which they are assigned (Middletown and Willimantic).

We offer competitive benefits including healthcare coverage, retirement plan, paid time off, including 12 paid holidays per calendar year in addition to vacation, sick and personal leave accruals. Also group life insurance and other supplemental benefits. We encourage a healthy work/life balance to all employees.

We hope you take this opportunity to make an impact by serving your state!

Check out our latest YouTube video to see what it is like to be a State employee:

Selection Plan

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

Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience most closely meets the preferred qualifications, so please ensure that your application is complete and details your experience as outlined in this job posting. Please note: You will be unable to make revisions once you submit your application into the JobAps system. Applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.

The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.

At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation, which supports their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: a cover letter, resume, performance reviews, attendance reports, supervisory references, college transcripts, licenses, etc. at the discretion of the hiring agency. Please do submit these documents with your application.

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.

Due to the large volume of applications received, we are unable to confirm receipt or status updates during the recruitment process. Please note that not all applicants will be contacted for interview and encouraged to apply for future postings.

Although applicants will receive correspondence via email, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board on a daily basis to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment process.

If you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Jasmyn Raymond, Jasmyn.Raymond@ct.gov.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a state agency this class is accountable for independently performing a full range of tasks in the legal work of the agency.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

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.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

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.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

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.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Preference will be given to candidates with the following experience:
  • In child abuse and neglect proceedings
  • Familiarity with CT child abuse and neglect statutes
  • In administrative hearings under the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act (UAPA)
  • Communicating verbally and in writing to multiple diverse populations and skill levels
  • Managing a large volume of work and prioritize effectively to achieve results in a set timeframe
  • Training others on legal topics
  • Working with Microsoft Office Suite Programs (Word, Excel and Outlook)

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

1. Must be admitted to practice law in the State of Connecticut.
2. May be required to travel.

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.