STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Staff Attorney 1

Hybrid

Recruitment #230428-0087AR-001

Introduction


Do you possess a degree from an accredited law school?
Looking to start your career as an attorney?
If so, we invite you to check out this opportunity!

The State of Connecticut, Office of Consumer Counsel (OCC), has an exciting opportunity for a Staff Attorney 1 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
We take part in a competitive benefits plan which includes:
  • Generous paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick, and personal);
  • Excellent health and dental coverage;
  • Pension plan (State Employees Retirement System Tier IV) and more!
In addition, the State puts an emphasis on:
  • Providing limitless opportunities;
  • Hiring for diversity and fresh perspectives;
  • Performing meaningful work; and
  • Encouraging a healthy work life balance.
Our state has a lot to offer - from fun activities for all ages, to great food and shopping, to our diverse cultures and rich history. Connecticut is a great place to live! Learn more about Connecticut here.

POSITION DETAILS
The Staff Attorney will have the opportunity to work on and participate in cases in both administrative and judicial settings. As an attorney in an independent state agency this includes the potential to litigate cases in state and/or federal appellate courts. The Staff Attorney will also be engaged in helping develop policy and regulatory approaches on crucial consumer issues relating to grid modernization, electrification, clean energy, energy affordability, utility regulatory reform and deployment of broadband infrastructure.

This position will work on OCC's core mission of advocating for fair and equitable electric, water, and gas utility rates and reliable, quality utility service in state, regional and federal forums.

The selected candidate may play an important role on upcoming assignments associated with PURA's implementation of its Equitable Modern Grid Initiative and key portions of Public Act 20-5, known as the "Take Back Our Grid" Act, including but not limited to, investigations into the utilities' preparation for and response to major storm events; a deep dive into the distribution interconnection procedures employed by the electric utilities; the development of performance based regulatory framework, and inspections and audits into the regulated electric, gas, and water utilities, and telecommunications companies.

The selected candidate may also work on water quality and regulatory issues, as well as on legal, regulatory and policy issues focused on the deployment of broadband infrastructure and equitable access to high-speed broadband.

For the full range of duties, please see the "Examples of Duties" section below.

The position will be located at Ten Franklin Square, New Britain, CT 06051, and offers a hybrid (telework/office) work schedule.

This is a full-time, 40 hours per week position. Schedule is Monday-Friday, between 8:00am and 5:00pm.

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 policy and regulatory 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 state and federal courts; the OCC promotes the interests of consumers at the Connecticut legislature and in regional and national forums, including the New England Power Pool (NEPOOL) and before federal agencies, including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

Our work covers a wide range of fascinating topics, including:
  • Energy affordability and equity;
  • Renewable energy, distributed generation, and grid modernization (e.g., building electrification, electric vehicle deployment, and solar and energy storage);
  • Energy infrastructure (e.g., electric transmission lines, non-wires alternatives);
  • Energy efficiency and demand response;
  • Wholesale and retail electric and gas markets and rates
  • Water rates, infrastructure, quality, and resource planning
  • Utility service quality and storm response;
  • Telecommunications service, service quality, and infrastructure, broadband access, and telecommunications policy;
  • Finance, economics, corporate structure, and mergers and acquisitions.
For an inside look at what it is like to Make an ImpaCT as a State of Connecticut employee, watch the video below!
 

Selection Plan

Before you apply, make note of the following:
  • In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening. You must specify your qualifications on your application.
  • The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
  • 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.
  • 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.
Important information for after you apply:
  • 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 questionnaire'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.
  • 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.
  • 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, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.
  • The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
Questions about this position should be directed to Jake Ferrari via email at jake.ferrari@ct.gov.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a state agency this class is accountable for receiving on the job training in all aspects of agency legal work.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

  • Working with experienced attorneys to provide legal advice to the Consumer Counsel related to energy, telecom and water administrative law matters and court cases;
  • Working and participating in cases in administrative and judicial settings, including the opportunity to serve as lead counsel on a variety of advanced and complex legal issues related to OCC's statutory responsibilities;
  • Representing the OCC in regional and national forums on issues of energy affordability, energy planning, rate regulation, and/or broadband deployment;
  • 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, deployment of federal and state funding, or resource procurements;
  • Providing input into policy formation and legislation, including drafting legislation and/or drafting written testimony on legislative proposals;
  • Working with colleagues to represent OCC before the legislature and other state and federal agencies or entities on cutting edge policy initiatives;
  • Assists in preparation of comprehensive reports, often in coordination with consultants, for use in administrative and court proceedings;
  • Interprets and applies complex or conflicting laws and regulations, case law and legal principles;
  • Participates in the conduct of various educational and outreach activities for consumers, stakeholders, and policymakers;
  • Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

Knowledge of legal principles, practices and procedures in Connecticut; knowledge of legal research techniques; knowledge of the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act and civil procedures; knowledge of and the ability to interpret and apply relevant state and federal laws, statutes, regulations and legislation; knowledge of relevant agency policies and procedures; knowledge of the rules of evidence; some knowledge of criminal and constitutional law and legislative process; considerable interpersonal skills; considerable oral and written communication skills; ability to apply judicial decisions to the interpretation of statues; ability to comprehend, analyze and organize technical data and coordinate elements of legal cases.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

A degree from an accredited law school.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Academic or professional Experience independently preparing written communications including memoranda of law, legal briefs, decisions or opinions for judicial or administrative proceedings without typographical and grammatical errors;
  • Academic or professional experience with one or more of the following: energy, natural gas, water, telecommunications, utility, finance, economics, environmental, or other related technical field;
  • Academic or professional experience with administrative process and the Uniform Administrative Procedure Act, including administrative hearings, or administrative appeals;
  • Academic or professional experience interpreting and applying state and federal laws;
  • Academic or professional experience researching and writing memoranda of law, legal briefs, decisions or opinions;
  • Academic or professional experience providing oral presentations or arguments;
  • Experience conducting discovery and motion practice in judicial or administrative proceedings;
  • Experience managing two or more assignments, cases or proceedings simultaneously;
  • Experience or coursework in utilities, energy, water, economics, or finance;
  • Experience with Microsoft Office 365 including Word, Excel, SharePoint and Teams;
  • Experience working in a team setting.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

1. Incumbents in this class must be admitted to practice law in the State of Connecticut within one (1) year of the date of appointment. Pursuant to Section 51-88 of the Connecticut General Statutes, an incumbent who has not been admitted to practice law may not "assume, use or advertise the title of lawyer, attorney and counsel at law, counselor at law, attorney, counselor, attorney and counselor, or an equivalent term, in such a manner as to convey the impression that he is a legal practitioner of law". Until such time that an incumbent is admitted to practice law in the State of Connecticut, the incumbent shall be referred to as a Legal Assistant.
2. 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.