Paralegal Specialist

Are you a self-starter? Are you looking to take the next step in your career? If so, please read on to learn more about this exciting opportunity!  

The State of Connecticut, Department of Children and Families' (DCF) are actively recruiting for three dynamic Paralegal Specialist positions for our offices located in Danbury, New Britain and Central Office (Hartford).  

What We Can Offer You:

• The opportunity to work for a Forbes top company: 'Forbes' State of Connecticut Ranked One of the Best Employers of 2023 - State of CT Receives National Recognition for Offering Job Growth, Competitive Benefits, and Flexible Schedule;
• A Platinum Healthcare Plan, the nation’s best for state employees and dependents, according to a report by Georgetown’s Center on Health Insurance Reform and article by Ellen Andrews, Ph.D., along with comprehensive benefit offerings;
• Extensive pension plan and supplemental retirement offerings;
• Generous paid time off, including 13 paid holidays per calendar year;
• Professional growth and development opportunities;
• A healthy work/life balance to all employees.
• State of Connecticut is an eligible Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer, meaning you may be eligible to have qualifying student loans forgiven after 10 years of service.  Click here for more information.  

You will discover the opportunity to:

• Engage in a rewarding career;
• Conduct legal reviews and represent the Department at administrative hearings;
• Thrive in an exciting fast paced environment;
• Provide support to a division that is passionate about the work we do;
• Respond to requests from clients, attorneys, judges, Family Relations, the State’s Attorney’s Office, law enforcement and other parties;
• Make a difference in the public sector;
• Work together in a collaborative team environment.    

Position Highlights:

• Full Time
• 40 hours per week
• 1st shift
• Monday - Friday
• 8:00am – 5:00pm
• Location assignments may be subject to change at the discretion of the Agency.   

About Us:

The Department of Children and Families' (DCF) mission is partnering with communities and empowering families to raise resilient children who thrive. We are proud of our diverse and dedicated workforce who strive every day to meet the needs of those we encounter.  

We hope you take this opportunity to join our team and make a difference!

These positions will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules.

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

Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening and must specify their qualifications on their application. The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified. 

Please note you will be unable to make revisions once you submit your application for this posting to the JobAps system. Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position. 

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

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. 

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.   

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). 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.

Should you have questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Julie Barker, at Julie.Barker@ct.gov.

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.

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, and is a resource regarding issues, procedures, process and timeframe as related to cases and presenting legal matters as needed.

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 the 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.

• Considerable knowledge of
  • legal processes and procedures; 
  • legal terminology and legal forms; 
  • legal research techniques; 
• Knowledge of
  • relevant agency policies and procedures; 
  • and the ability to interpret and apply relevant state and federal laws, statutes, regulations and legislation; 
• Considerable
  • interpersonal skills; 
  • oral and written communication skills;
  • skill in fact finding techniques including interviewing clients and compiling evidence; 
• Considerable ability to
  • evaluate pertinent facts, cases and evidence and compile and assemble such legal data; 
  • compose correspondence and draft legal documents; 
• Ability to
  • understand complex laws and related reports; 
  • utilize computer software.

The General Experience is defined as one of the following:

• A Bachelor’s degree in legal studies and one (1) year of experience providing paraprofessional legal assistance to an attorney; OR
• An Associate’s degree in legal studies and three (3) years of experience providing paraprofessional legal assistance to an attorney; OR
• 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; OR
• 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; OR
• 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; OR
• A Law degree from an accredited Law School.

• Experience participating in administrative hearings under the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act. 
• Experience redacting confidential information from documents.  
• Experience working in a high volume, fast paced legal environment, managing competing priorities.  
• Experience working with computer software such as Microsoft Excel, Adobe Pro, and web-based collaborative forums, e.g., SharePoint.  
• Experience interpreting statutes and policy and applying them to factual scenarios.

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.

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes.  As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.