Staff Attorney 2

The State of Connecticut, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) has an exciting opportunity for a Staff Attorney 2 in the Legal Affairs Unit.

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.
• 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.

In a state agency this class is accountable for independently performing a full range of tasks in the legal work of the agency.

• 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.

Two (2) years of experience in the practice of law.

• Experience in emergency management or homeland security law.
• Experience with FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency), state statutes or municipal ordinances.
• Experiencing processing and responding to FOIA (Freedom of Information Act request) requests and appeals.
• Experience with administering and overseeing the Connecticut Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO) or Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) claims and ensuring deadlines are met.
• Experience conducting or assisting with internal investigations.
• Experience in drafting and reviewing contracts, MOUs (Memoranda of Understanding), policies, and legal guidance.
• Experience in providing legal support to agency leadership, sworn command staff, and multiple divisions.
• Experience in ensuring legal compliance in matters that directly impact public-safety operations.

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.