STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Paralegal Specialist

Recruitment #220503-6142AR-001

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Introduction


The State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), is now accepting applications for a Paralegal Specialist to provide assistance and support to our attorneys.

We invite you to explore this opportunity!

POSITION HIGHLIGHTS

This is a full-time (40 hours per week) position with a schedule of 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. This role will be located at 10 Franklin Square in New Britain, CT, with hybrid telework schedules available.

*This salary range may increase effective July 1, 2022.

ABOUT US & YOUR ROLE

DEEP is the state agency dedicated to conserving, improving and protecting our natural resources and the environment, and increasing the availability of cheaper, 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.

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.

As a paralegal with DEEP, your job opportunities would include, but not be limited to:

  • Interpreting and administering energy, broadband/telecommunications and environmental laws;
  • Drafting, reviewing, and tracking requests for proposals and contracts;
  • Tracking federal funding opportunities and filing grant proposals and other documents with federal agencies;
  • Advising and drafting regulations; assisting in the interpretation of statutes and regulations;
  • Responding to Freedom of Information requests;
  • Preparing, reviewing, and filing legal documents;
  • Drafting notices of administrative proceedings; administering and enabling participation in remote and in-person proceedings;
  • Consulting with the Office of the Attorney General on litigation matters;
  • Managing legal case timelines, case records, and reports.

More details can be found in the class specification.

OUR MISSION

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

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

The State of Connecticut provides a leading comprehensive benefits package including:

  • Excellent health and dental coverage;
  • A generous retirement plan;
  • Paid time off;
  • A healthy work/life balance!

Check the video below to learn what it's like to be a State employee: 

      

Selection Plan

This is a competitive recruitment, open to the public.

IMPORTANT SELECTIONS INFORMATION

In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the minimum qualifications as listed on the job opening. The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date, unless otherwise specified. You must specify your qualifications within your JobAps application.

This recruitment may be utilized to fill future Paralegal Specialist vacancies including positions supporting the environmental branches of DEEP in Hartford, CT. DEEP therefore encourages applicants with interest in supporting any of the branches listed above to apply to this posting.

HOW TO APPLY
  • Set up a Master Application (or log-in to your JobAps portal) and directly apply to this recruitment.
  • 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 that your application is complete. You will be unable to make revisions once you officially submit your application to the State of Connecticut.

Due to the volume of applications anticipated, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be provided through your JobAps portal account.

WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER YOU APPLY

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.

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.

Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position.

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, performance reviews, supervisory references, college transcripts, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency. Current state employees will be required to submit their last two (2) service ratings.

Should you have any questions regarding the technical side of applying, please contact Samantha Wasef, Human Resources Associate – Talent Solutions at Samantha.Wasef@CT.Gov

Questions regarding this position should be directed to the hiring agency's human resources office: DEEP.HumanResources@CT.Gov or (860) 424-3006.

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.

This specific position provides support in a wide range of areas, including but not limited to the following activities and other duties as assigned: 

  • The Siting Council, the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, and the Freedom of Information Commission;
  • Maintains the DEEP Energy Filings system, including organizing and managing responses to DEEP’s Requests for Proposals;
  • Answers telephone and email inquiries from the public and DEEP Energy proceeding participants and refers calls and emails to designated recipients;
  • Coordinates and tracks confidentiality protocols;
  • Updates and maintains case records, pleadings, policy manuals, and filing systems; 
  • Coordinates and collects responses to Freedom of Information requests;
  • Updates and maintains docket tracking reports; 
  • Conducts basic legal research and analysis of legal sources; 
  • Proofreads and corrects administrative pleadings, testimony, interrogatories, briefs, and other documents;
  • Assists with the discovery process and subpoena responses;
  • Acts as a liaison between the DEEP attorneys, administrative tribunals, courts, external legal offices and the general public;
  • Assists with contract drafting, review, and tracking;
  • Assists in the preparation of legal and administrative reports;
  • Assists in the drafting, review, and processing of proposed legislation and regulations;
  • Assists in the set-up and coordination of DEEP/BETP public meetings; and 
  • Works with attorneys from the agency as well as the Attorney General’s Office in regard to third party bankruptcy matters in which the agency has a vested interest.    

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

  • Experience drafting, reviewing, and tracking contracts, or Requests for Proposals, or grants, or budgets, or financial documents. 
  • Experience as a paralegal for two or more attorneys in a government agency, law firm, or corporation.
  • Experience with Microsoft Excel (creating, formatting, and sorting spreadsheets with formulas); Outlook (scheduling meetings with 5 or more parties and organizing incoming emails from stakeholders); Teams (organization and teamwork in a remote environment); Word and Sharepoint (merging documents, commenting, sharing documents with others, and using track changes); and Zoom (managing accounts and operating as the host).
  • Experience processing documents for litigation.
  • Experience developing standardized and repeatable procedures to streamline data organization.
  • Experience producing written communications without errors. 
  • Experience communicating with people from varying socioeconomic/ethnic backgrounds and coordinating stakeholder engagement.
  • Experience working in a team-oriented work environment.  

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.






E-mailPhone: (860) 713-52058am - 4:30pm M-FPowered by JobAps