STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Administrative Hearings Specialist

Recruitment #220802-4302AR-001

Go Back View Benefits

Introduction


The State of Connecticut, Workers' Compensation Commission (WCC) is a quasi-judicial agency responsible for the adjudication of disputed workers' compensation claims.  If you enjoy working in a legal atmosphere, this Administrative Hearing Specialist position could be for you!  

We currently have an opening for an Administrative Hearing Specialist located in our New Haven, Bridgeport and Hartford  District Offices.  This position is 40 hours per week and includes the full State of Connecticut benefits package. The office hours are Monday - Friday, 7:45 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 

Discover the opportunity to interact with a wide variety of people on a daily basis and to work closely with the Administrative Law Judges to facilitate the formal hearing process. 

Candidates must be able to take verbatim testimony at a rate of 175 words per minute. 

As a State employee, this position offers the same competitive benefits you are accustomed to including healthcare coverage, and a retirement plan, as well as paid time off. We encourage a healthy work-life balance for all employees!

Questions about this position should be directed to the hiring agency's human resources office: Mitch Samal, mitchell.j.samal@ct.gov, (860) 713-5107.

Selection Plan

To Apply:
  • In order to be considered for this job opening you must be a current State of CT employee of the agency listed above for at least six (6) months of full-time service or full-time equivalent service, absent any applicable collective bargaining language, and meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening.  You must specify your qualifications on your application.
  • In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process.
  • The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
  • Please ensure that your application is complete before submitting it. Applicants will be unable to make revisions once their application is submitted into the JobAps system. Applicants who submit and subsequently withdraw their application will not be able to resubmit for the same posting.
  • 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.
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, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.
  • The immediate vacancies are 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.
  • Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State Employees which is available at www.ct.gov/ethics
Connect With Us:
Due to the large volume of applications received, the State of Connecticut is unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account. If you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment please contact Hayley Newhouse at Hayley.Newhouse@ct.gov or (860) 986-6918.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a state agency legal unit, this class is accountable for acting as a specialist in the coordination of all cases coming before agency administrative and/or adjudicative panels or proceedings.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

Performs the most complex related duties in scheduling and calendaring cases before administrative and adjudicative bodies or panels; reviews and analyzes cases for substantive issues, determines readiness and prioritizes for hearing; identifies procedural defects and disparities from agency administrative and/or adjudicative rules and procedures and notifies parties; provides recommendations for policies, rules, directions, techniques and dispositions related to case flow; plans and develops case strategies and positions to be employed at informal hearings; determines settlement strategy and value if applicable; approves final settlement documents and stipulated agreements; reviews requests for consolidation, continuance and other types of rulings and/or dispositions; calendars cases for dismissal when appropriate; drafts summaries and annotations of cases for use by panel members and all other practitioners; acts as liaison with agencies and outside officials regarding unit policies and procedures; prepares reports and correspondence; assigns and oversees case management with staff; conducts or assists in conducting performance evaluations; provides staff training; may rule on less complicated motions; may draft proposed changes to rules and regulations; may coordinate third party lawsuits and out of court settlements; performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

Considerable knowledge of relevant statutes and regulations; considerable knowledge of relevant agency policy and procedures; considerable knowledge of legal processes, terminology and forms; considerable knowledge of legal research techniques; knowledge of appellate and Supreme Court operations and rules; considerable interpersonal skills; considerable oral and written communication skills; considerable ability to negotiate; considerable ability to understand and interpret medical reports and related information; ability to utilize computer software; some supervisory ability.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Five (5) years of experience providing paraprofessional legal assistance to an attorney or performing case management functions in a regulatory agency.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

One (1) year of the General Experience must have involved work in one of the following capacities:

  1. Performing the most complex tasks in providing paraprofessional legal assistance to an attorney and supervising the operations of a legal office.
  2. Preparing and presenting cases before or conducting agency administrative hearings.
    Note: For State Employees, this is the level of Paralegal Specialist or Public Utilities Administrative Hearings Coordinator.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

  1. College training may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of one (1) year.
  2. An Associate's degree in legal assistance or an Associate's degree and a certificate of completion of a Legal Assistant Certificate Program from an accredited college may be substituted for two (2) years of the General Experience.
  3. A Bachelor's degree in legal studies or a Bachelor's degree and a certificate of completion of a Legal Assistant Certificate Program from an accredited college may be substituted for four (4) years of the General Experience.
  4. A Bachelor's degree and completion of one (1) year of a law school curriculum may be substituted for the General Experience.
  5. A certificate of completion of a paralegal studies program from a private occupational school approved by the Connecticut Department of Education may be substituted for six (6) months of the General Experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Experience stenographically recording verbatim testimony during formal and other workers’ compensation hearings. 
  • Experience overseeing and performing the coordination, scheduling and calendaring of hearings on workers’ compensation claims.
  • Experience reviewing and providing recommendations to Administrative Law Judges on procedural requests prior to trial.
  • Experience stenographically recording verbatim testimony for appellate matters before the Compensation Review Board.
  • Experience coordinating with Judges and paralegals in reviewing, proofreading, editing, and issuing findings and other legal documents.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

  1. Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.
  2. Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator’s license.

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