STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Staff Attorney 1 (Confidential)

Recruitment #220413-1637CR-001

Introduction


About Us
At the State of Connecticut, Office of Policy and Management (OPM), we report directly to the Governor and provide information and analysis that the Governor uses to formulate public policy for the state. We also assist state agencies and municipalities in implementing the law and public policy on behalf of the people of Connecticut. We prepare the Governor’s budget proposals; implement and monitor the execution of the enacted budget; and oversee the executive branch agencies that report to the Governor and a wide variety of special projects.


The Role
We currently have an opening for a Staff Attorney 1 (Confidential) in OPM’s legal division.  This is an exciting opportunity to work in the heart of state government for the Executive Branch’s principal budget and policy agency that will provide opportunities for exposure to diverse legal matters regarding the operations of OPM as well as all of state government.  The successful candidate shall work alongside OPM’s General Counsel, and will be directly involved in managing legal matters that pertain to OPM’s business, which  includes a myriad of issues related to the state’s budget, finance, policy, legislative, labor, employment and human resources issues, and special project functions.

OPM is conveniently located in Hartford, CT. The work schedule for this position is typically Monday - Friday, forty (40) hours per week.  

We offer a competitive benefits package, excellent health care, generous leave policies, retirement plan, and more!  

Interested in becoming a state employee?  Watch the video below to learn more:

Selection Plan

In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process.

Please ensure your application is complete prior to submission.  You will be unable to make revisions once you officially submit your application to the State of Connecticut.

Note:  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, transcripts, diplomas, 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. 

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.

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.

The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applicants to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.

All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the time specified on the job opening for the position for which you are applying. Late applications may not be submitted and will not be considered. 

Exceptions are rare and limited to documented events that incapacitate a candidate during the entire duration of the job posting time period.  It is the candidate’s obligation and responsibility to request an exception and provide a legally recognized justification to accommodate such exception.  Requests should be made to opm.recruitment@ct.gov.

Any questions regarding this recruitment may be directed to the hiring agency's human resources office: opm.recruitment@ct.gov.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Office of Policy and Management this class is accountable for receiving on the job training in all aspects of agency legal work.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

  • Conduct legal research;
  • Interpret and administer state and federal statutes, regulations, Executive Orders and caselaw;
  • Communicate research findings and legal opinions, providing legal, and policy analysis to the General Counsel, agency officials; 
  • Manage and populate administrative docket libraries;
  • Assist in FOIA responses and document production;
  • Assist with managing litigations holds and all aspects of e-discovery in state and federal litigation;
  • Draft myriad of simple and complex commercial and government agreements;
  • Author briefs, memorandum of law, affidavits, settlement agreements and other legal documents to support litigation or other legal matters;
  • Assist in the defense of the agency in administrative proceedings, prepare witnesses to testify;
  • Conduct research and provide guidance on collective bargaining and labor relations matters;
  • Implement policy;
  • Represent the General Counsel at meetings with agency staff, high-level officials and other agency staff or private parties;
  • Develop relationships with individuals both inside and outside the agency who might impact on program activities;
  • Assist with directing staff and operations of division;
  • Assist with managing division activities;
  • Manage and evaluate staff;
  • Prepare division budget draft;
  • Assist with staff training;
  • Direct legal activities; and, 
  • Perform related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

Knowledge of legal principles, practices and procedures in Connecticut; knowledge of legal research techniques; knowledge of the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act and civil procedures; knowledge of and the ability to interpret and apply relevant state and federal laws, statutes, regulations and legislation; knowledge of relevant agency policies and procedures; knowledge of the rules of evidence; knowledge of collective bargaining and labor relations matters; some knowledge of criminal and constitutional law and legislative process; considerable interpersonal skills; considerable oral and written communication skills; ability to apply judicial decisions to the interpretation of statues; ability to comprehend, analyze and organize technical data and coordinate elements of legal cases.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

A degree from an accredited law school. 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Admission to Connecticut Bar;
  • Transaction experience, including varied goods and service contracts, grants, leases, licenses, purchase and sale agreements, telecommunication agreements, best practices for procurement processes;
  • Litigation and discovery experience, with actual experience working with mining and production software(s);
  • Employment law investigation and litigation experience;
  • Freedom of Information experience;
  • Experience with record retention practices and docket calendar management practices;
  • Reviewing and interpretating state and federal statutes and regulations and advising clients; 
  • Proficient in the Microsoft Office Suite; and,
  • Experience in writing memoranda of law, briefs and client advisory letters or communications.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

1. Incumbents in this class must be admitted to practice law in the State of Connecticut within one (1) year of the date of appointment. Pursuant to Section 51-88 of the Connecticut General Statutes, an incumbent who has not been admitted to practice law may not "assume, use or advertise the title of lawyer, attorney and counsel at law, counselor at law, attorney, counselor, attorney and counselor, or an equivalent term, in such a manner as to convey the impression that he is a legal practitioner of law". Until such time that an incumbent is admitted to practice law in the State of Connecticut, the incumbent shall be referred to as a Legal Assistant.
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.