Introduction
Are you an experienced Attorney looking for an opportunity to serve the public sector! If so, we encourage you to join our team!
The State of Connecticut, Department of Social Services (DSS) – is accepting applications for one (1) full-time Staff Attorney 2 position with the Office of Legal Counsel, Regulations and Administrative Hearings Division (OLCRAH) located in Hartford, CT.
Position Highlights:
- Full-time | 40 Hours per week | Hybrid
- Monday – Friday | 1st Shift | 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Location – 55 Farmington Avenue Hartford, CT.
What we can offer you:
- View our new State Employee Benefits Overview page!
- Professional growth and paid professional development opportunities.
- A healthy work-life balance to all employees!
- 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.
- The 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.
In your role as a Staff Attorney 2, you will have the opportunity to:
- Provide legal support to various programs administered through DSS, such as Medicaid;
- Provide legal support to other aspects of the agency including employment matters and contract review;
- Research, interpret, analyze and apply complex and conflicting laws and regulations, case law and legal principles;
- Draft advisory opinions, rulings, decisions, recommendations, findings, legislation, statutes, regulations, publications and other related legal documents;
Department Overview:
The State of Connecticut, Department of Social Services (DSS) delivers and funds a wide range of programs and services as Connecticut’s multi-faceted health and human services agency. DSS services about 1 million residents of all ages in all 169 Connecticut cities and towns. We support the basic needs of children, families, older and other adults, including persons with disabilities. Services are delivered through 12 field offices, central administration, online and phone access options. Follow us on twitter @ctdss and see what we are all about!
Selection Plan
FOR ASSISTANCE WITH APPLYING:
Please read or watch our Applicant Tips on How to Apply!
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.
- For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.
- The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
- These positions will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion, and merit employment rules. Applications to this recruitment will be used to meet collective bargaining requirements. Once any collective bargaining requirements have been met, all other applications may be considered.
- Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience most closely meets the preferred qualifications, so please ensure that your application is complete and details your experience as outlined in this job posting. Please note: You will be unable to make revisions once you submit your application into the JobAps system.
- The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
- 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.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Revised Master Application Tutorial: Click Here.
- Read through this helpful link to prepare for your interview.
Connect With Us:
- If you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Rocky Young at rocky.young@ct.gov and reference the recruitment number.
- Follow the State of Connecticut on LinkedIn.
PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)
In a state agency this class is accountable for independently performing a full range of tasks in the legal work of the agency.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES
- Performs advanced and complex legal work of an agency;
- Researches, interprets, analyzes and applies complex and conflicting laws and regulations, case law and legal principles;
- Acts as hearing officer or represents agency in formal administrative and public proceedings on a full range of cases involving complex legal and technical issues;
- Negotiates and drafts settlement agreements;
- Drafts advisory opinions, rulings, decisions, recommendations, findings, legislation, statutes, regulations, publications and other related legal documents;
- Assists in the preparation and presentation of trials and appeals;
- Consults with the Office of the Attorney General on legal issues;
- Researches complex legal issues;
- Conducts investigations and enforcement proceedings;
- Prepares comprehensive reports for use in administrative and court proceedings;
- Prepares pleadings and other court papers;
- Interprets and applies complex or conflicting laws and regulations, case law and legal principles;
- Participates in the conduct of various educational activities;
- Provides legal guidance when duly authorized;
- Provides input into policy formation;
- Reviews court decisions, new and proposed laws and regulations to determine impact on agency operations;
- Prepares and maintains precedent manuals;
- Reviews legal and other related documents for legal sufficiency;
- May testify at or monitor legislative proceedings;
- May represent agency in court when authorized;
- Performs related duties as required.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY
- Considerable knowledge of
- legal principles, practices and procedures in Connecticut;
- legal research techniques;
- the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act;
- and the ability to interpret and apply relevant state and federal laws, statutes, regulations and legislation;
- relevant agency policies and procedures;
- Knowledge of
- the rules of evidence;
- criminal and constitutional law and legislative process;
- Considerable
- interpersonal skills;
- oral and written communication skills;
- Considerable ability to
- apply judicial decisions to the interpretation of statutes;
- comprehend, analyze and organize technical data and coordinate elements of legal cases.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE
Two (2) years of experience in the practice of law.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience in data governance and privacy laws, including the HIPAA Privacy Rule
- Experience in employment or CHRO matters
- Experience in evaluating documents for privilege or exemption from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act
- Experience in health law or DSS-supported public assistance programs
- Litigation experience or experience handling matters governed by the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act
- Experience in drafting statutes, regulations, or legal review of agency operational policies
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
- Incumbents in this class must be admitted to practice law in the State of Connecticut.
- 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.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
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.