STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Staff Attorney 2

Recruitment #260210-0088AR-001

Introduction


The State of Connecticut, Office of Consumer Counsel (OCC), has an exciting opportunity for a Staff Attorney 2 in our New Britain office, who will play a critical role in ensuring affordable, reliable, and sustainable essential services (energy, water, internet) in Connecticut.

What we can offer you
  • Visit our NEW State Employee Benefits Overview page!
  • Professional growth and development opportunities
  • A healthy work/life balance to all employees
  • 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.
Position highlights
The Staff Attorney 2 will have the opportunity to work on and participate in cases in both administrative and judicial settings, and to engage in policy advocacy and outreach to inform and educate state leaders and the public about complex energy sector issues.
This position will support OCC’s core mission of advocating for fair and equitable electric, water, and gas utility rates and reliable, quality utility service before PURA and other venues, and will also more broadly support OCC's analytical, research, and policy advocacy work.

Responsibilities of this position may include, but are not limited to:

• Working and participating in cases in administrative and judicial settings, including the opportunity to serve as lead counsel on matters involving a variety of advanced and complex legal issues related to OCC's statutory responsibilities;
• Serving as a team member of a small, highly-skilled staff dedicated to the mission of consumer advocacy;
• Working independently and creatively to solve complex problems;
• Corresponding with subject-matter experts on contested and uncontested matters;
• Collaborating with the Office of the Attorney General, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, and other state agencies on legal issues, policy development, or resource procurements;
• Providing legal guidance to the Consumer Counsel and managerial team;
• Developing, reviewing, and providing opinion on state legislative proposals;
• Working with members of OCC on cutting edge policy initiatives at the state, regional and federal level;
• Developing consumer information guides and public materials explaining utility regulation, energy rates and costs, and utility consumer protection issues;
• Other related duties as deemed necessary.

After completion of three (3) years of successful and satisfactory performance as a Staff Attorney 2 in the same agency, an incumbent will be moved to the Staff Attorney 3 classification (on the first pay period following the completion of three (3) year requirement).

About us
The OCC is an independent State agency that acts as the advocate for consumer interest in matters which may affect Connecticut consumers relating to electricity, natural gas, water, and telecommunications. The OCC works on cutting edge energy policy issues as the voice of the consumer. We are a statutory party to all proceedings before the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) and are authorized to appear and participate in any regulatory or judicial proceedings, federal or state, in which the interests of Connecticut utility consumers may be involved.

In addition to representing consumer interests before PURA and the courts, the OCC:
• Participates in proceedings before federal agencies, including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC);
• Promotes the interests of consumers at the Connecticut legislature and in regional and national forums and conferences;
• Serves as a voting member of New England Power Pool (NEPOOL), as the representative of Connecticut ratepayers.
• Promotes and supports public transparency and understanding of complex regulatory and ratemaking concepts.

Our work covers a wide range of topics, including:

• Energy infrastructure (e.g., electric transmission lines, non-wires alternatives);
• Renewable energy, distributed generation, and grid modernization;
• Energy efficiency and demand response;
• Wholesale and retail electric and gas markets and rates;
• Water rates, infrastructure, and resource planning;
• Utility service quality and storm response;
• Electric vehicles and energy storage;
• Telecommunications service, service quality, and infrastructure, broadband access, and telecommunications policy.

 

Selection Plan

FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING: 

Check out our Applicant Tips on How to Apply! Need more resources?  Visit our Applicant Toolkit for additional support throughout the recruitment process. 

BEFORE YOU APPLY: 

  • Meet Minimum Qualifications: Ensure you meet the Minimum Qualifications listed on the job opening by the job closing date. You must specify your qualifications on your application. The minimum experience and training requirements listed must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.  
  • Educational Credits: List your earned credits and degrees from accredited institutions accurately on your application. To receive educational credits towards qualification, the institution must be accredited. If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the contact listed below by the closing date listed on the job posting. 
  • Resume Policy: Per Public Act 21-69, resumes are not accepted during the initial application process. As the recruitment process progresses, candidates may be required to submit additional documentation to support their qualification(s) for this position. This documentation may include: a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the request and discretion of the hiring agency. 
  • Preferred Shift/Location: 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 or shift. 
  • Timely Submission: All application materials must be received by the job posting deadline. You will be unable to make revisions once you officially submit your application to the State.  Late submissions are rarely accepted, with exceptions only for documented events that incapacitate individuals during the entire duration of the job posting. Request exceptions by emailing DAS.SHRM@ct.gov
  • Salary Calculations: For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other. 
  • Note: The only way to apply to this posting is via the ‘Apply’ or ‘Apply Online’ buttons on the official State of Connecticut Online Employment Center job posting.

AFTER YOU APPLY: 

  • Some email providers may experience delays or issues delivering messages. To avoid missing important updates—such as referral questionnaires or interview scheduling links—please check your Personal Status Board regularly. For added convenience, you can also enable text (SMS) notifications. To do this, log in to your Personal Status Board and select “Update My Contact Information.”
  • Referral Questions: This posting may require completion of additional Referral Questions (RQs), which must be completed by the questionnaire’s expiration date. If requested, RQs can be accessed via an email sent to you after the job close date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section).   
  • Prepare For An Interview: Interviews are limited to those whose experience and training are most aligned with the role. To prepare, review this helpful Interview Preparation Guide to make the best impression! 
  • Stay connected! Log in daily to your JobAps Personal Status Board to track your status and check email (including spam/junk folders) for updates and tasks.  
  • The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.  
  • Note: This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. 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, available at www.ct.gov/ethics.

    QUESTIONS? WE’RE HERE TO HELP: 

    Due to high volume, we are unable to confirm receipt or provide status updates directly. For recruitment updates, please check your Personal Status Board and review our Frequently Asked Questions. If you have additional questions about the recruitment process, reach out to Mackenzie Robinson at Mackenzie.Robinson@ct.gov

    Join the State of Connecticut and take your next career step with confidence!

    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 regulatory proceedings or court, including oral advocacy on complex issues.
    • Experience with administrative agency processes and the Uniform Administrative Procedure Act, including administrative hearings or administrative appeals.
    • Experience in legal research and writing skills.
    • Experience interpreting and applying state and/or federal laws.
    • Experience with one or more of the following: energy, natural gas, water, telecommunications, utility, finance, economics, environmental, or other related technical field.
    • Experience working in a multi-disciplinary team setting, including with technical experts.
    • Experience explaining complex information to various and diverse audiences, orally and through written materials.
    • Experience and interest in researching and analyzing policy issues related to energy, consumer protection, water, and telecommunications.

    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.


    Click on a link below to apply for this position:

    Fill out the Supplemental Questionnaire and Application NOW using the Internet.