STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Human Rights Attorney 1

Hybrid

Recruitment #220622-4770SH-001

Introduction


Are you a hardworking, legal professional? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you!

Who We Are:
The mission of the State of Connecticut, Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO) is to eliminate discrimination through civil and human rights law enforcement and to establish equal opportunity and justice for all persons within the state through advocacy and education.

Position Highlights:
We are currently recruiting for a Human Rights Attorney 1 position in our Legal Division, located at 450 Columbus Boulevard, Hartford, CT. The Legal Division enforces this state's laws against discrimination and works to advance civil rights in Connecticut through compliance and education. 

This position will assist in protecting the public from discrimination in employment, housing, places of public accommodation and credit transactions by mediating, investigating and litigating discriminatory practice complaints before human rights referees or in the Superior Court. This position is full-time, 40 hours per week, Mon - Fri, 8:00 am - 4:30
pm


Check out the video below to learn how you can make an impact by serving your State!

                      

Selection Plan

To Apply:

  • In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on this job opening. You must specify your qualifications on your application.
  • The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
  • In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process.

Important Next Step Information for 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). 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.
  • 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.
  • The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
  • Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position.
  • 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 DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.

Connect With Us:

  • If you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment please contact Elizabeth Weston at Elizabeth.Weston@ct.gov and reference the recruitment number.
  • Due to the large volume of applications received, the Department of Administrative Services is unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account.
  • Follow the State of Connecticut on LinkedIn.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities this class is accountable for receiving training in legal research and work in the Office of Commission Counsel.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

  • Represents the Commission in administrative hearings before human rights referees and judicial magistrates.
  • Represents the Commission in court litigation, such as housing election cases, cases where the Commission intervenes as of right, and civil actions.
  • Performs related duties as required.
  • More information can be found here.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

Considerable knowledge of basic legal principles and their application; knowledge of federal and state civil rights legislation; knowledge of administrative and constitutional law and rules of evidence; knowledge of pleadings and motion practice; knowledge of economic and social impact of discrimination on protected classes; considerable interpersonal skills; considerable oral and written communication skills; litigation and legal counseling skills or aptitude; ability to analyze legal problems.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

A degree from an accredited law school.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Experience in civil rights litigation.
  • Litigation and/or appellate clerkship experience.
  • Experience with or coursework pertaining to the administrative agency processes for the Commission
  • on Human Rights and Opportunities.
  • Experience with or coursework pertaining to the administrative agency processes for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
  • Experience with or coursework pertaining to social justice and/or civil rights.
  • Experience examining and cross-examining witnesses at hearings and trials.
  • Experience conducting investigations and mediations.

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. Incumbents in this class 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.