Human Rights Attorney 2

Are you passionate about the law? Do you want to grow and build upon your current experiences? If so, we invite you to read on and learn more about this exciting opportunity!

The State of Connecticut, Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO) is currently seeking a Human Rights Attorney 2 to join our team within our Legal Division.

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;
• Showcase your talents in a meaningful role;
• Thrive in an exciting environment;
• Provide support to a division that is passionate about the work we do;
• Work together in a collaborative team environment.

Position Highlights:

• Monday – Friday
• 8:00am – 4:30pm
• 40 hours per week
• Hybrid schedule
• Location: Hartford, CT

The Role: 

Job duties include, but are not limited to:

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 to fulfill the requirements of Public Act 21-32, the Clean Slate Act.  

Please Note:

After completion of three (3) years of successful and satisfactory performance as a Human Rights Attorney 2 at the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, an incumbent will be moved to the Human Rights Attorney 3 classification (on the first pay period following the completion of the three (3) year requirement).

About Us: 

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.

We hope you take this opportunity to continue your career with us 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 the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities this class is accountable for independently performing a full range of tasks in the Legal Division.

• As a legal practitioner prepares and represents Commission in contested case hearings and litigation before other administrative bodies and courts in cases of varying degrees of difficulty and complexity in matters jointly prescribed by the Commission and Office of the Attorney General;
• Exercises judgement in prosecution of a heavy caseload of discriminatory practice complaints;
• Attends settlement and pre-trial conferences;
• Provides legal counsel and assistance to Commission constituent units;
• Exercises independent judgement and discretion in analysis and application of state and federal statutes, rules and regulations, constitutional provisions, administrative and court decisions and other legal authorities;
• May negotiate settlements, carry out appeals or assist on highly technical or specialized cases;
• Performs related duties as required.

• Considerable knowledge of
  • federal and state civil rights legislation and interpretations, employment discrimination, administrative and constitutional law and rules of evidence;
  • legal principles and their application;
• Knowledge of
  • rights, obligations and statutory authority of Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities;
  • rules and conduct of proceedings in trial and appellate courts;
• Considerable
  • interpersonal skills;
  • oral and written communication skills;
  • litigation and legal counseling skills;
• Considerable ability to
  • analyze legal problems and present statements of fact, law and argument;
  • negotiate settlements of discriminatory practices complaints;
• Ability to research, draft and review proposed regulations, legislation and other matters relative to Commission.

Two (2) years of experience in the practice of law including handling constitutional, employment discrimination, labor or civil rights matters.

One (1) year of the General Experience must have been in trial or appellate legal work.

• Experience in civil rights litigation.
• Experience with litigation and/or appellate clerkship.
• 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.

• Incumbents in this class must be admitted to practice law in the State of Connecticut at time of appointment.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

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.