STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Paralegal Specialist

Hybrid

Recruitment #220902-6142AR-001

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Introduction

Are you a Paralegal looking for a new role to utilize your interpersonal and communication skills? 
Do you enjoy working in collaborative and energetic teams? 
If so, read below & apply today! 

The State of Connecticut, Department of Housing (DOH), Legal Unit is now accepting applications for an exciting, full-time, 40 hours/week, Monday-Friday Paralegal Specialist opportunity located in Hartford, CT with hybrid telework schedules available consistent with agency policy and practice. It is our mission to ensure everyone has quality housing opportunities and options throughout the State of Connecticut.
 
Discover the Opportunity to: 
  • Support two attorneys in the Legal Unit, which supports the Commissioner's Office and provides legal support to various divisions within the Department of Housing. 
  • Interpret complex state statutes and federal regulations governing legal records and documents. Determine and apply applicable state statute and/or regulation in preparing documentation. 
  • Interpret court rules and agency policies and regulations. 
  • Keep abreast of the latest court rules, calendar changes and pending legislation. 
  • Monitor and adhere to court deadlines. 
  • Review legal documents and prepare legal documents such as briefs, writs, and pleadings for court filings. 
  • Respond to relevant case information requests from courts. 
  • Perform legal research and analysis of law sources such as statutes, legal articles, legal decisions, opinions, rulings, memoranda, and other legal material. 
  • Prepare draft legal documents. 
  • Provide assistance in the discovery process. 
  • Provide paralegal assistance by interpreting applicable legal provisions, regulations, precedents, and policies. 
  • Respond to requests and obtains information of sensitive nature.  
  • Act as liaison between agency, court system, relevant attorney’s offices, and general public. 
  • Serve as agency liaison regarding relevant policies and procedures. 
  • Prepare legal and administrative reports. 
  • Update and maintain case records, pleadings, policy manuals and filing systems.
  • See other examples of duties below. 
Benefits: 
  • Flexible work hours and telecommute arrangements.
  • Outstanding medical and dental benefits supporting your health and wellness.
  • The ability to begin planning for your future with excellent retirement plans and defined contribution plans.
  • Paid time off including vacation, sick time, and twelve holidays.
  • Interested in learning more, check out our benefits page.
Watch the video below to see what it’s like to be a State of Connecticut employee! 
           

Selection Plan

To Apply:
  • In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the 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.
  • For assistance in applying, please visit our 'Applicant Tips on How to Apply' page.
  • Ensure that your application is complete and detailed before submitting it. In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process. You will not be able to make revisions once your application is submitted into the JobAps system.
  • Please select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location.
  • 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.
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 daily 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 daily 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.
Connect With Us:
  • Due to the large volume of applications received, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account. 
  • If have any questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact faith.macdonald@ct.gov. 

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.

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 providing paralegal support to a legal unit.
  • Experience with legal processes and legal forms.
  • Experience with state-wide policies or procedures.
  • Experience interpreting and applying state and federal laws.
  • Experience with legal issues and preparing information for cases.
  • Experience drafting legal documents.
  • Experience creating tracking systems for compliance or workflow, or deadline management.      
  • Experience responding to requests under CT’s Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and information of a sensitive nature.

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.





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