STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Assistant Legal Director

Recruitment #230518-3438MP-002

Introduction



Are you an experience attorney looking to advance in your career with the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP)?
If so, we invite you to explore this opportunity!

DESPP's Legal Affairs Unit is recruiting for an Assistant Legal Director, located in Middletown.

POSITION DETAILS
This is a full-time, 40 hours per week position. Schedule is Monday-Friday on first shift, with some flexibility with the schedule and teleworking.

Within DESPP, the Assistant Legal Director will be responsible for providing diverse legal services to the six divisions of DESPP, including:
  • Providing legal counsel and advice to DESPP leadership and staff;
  • Writing, compiling, and reviewing plans, policies, standard operating procedures, reports, and memoranda of agreement/understanding;
  • Providing legal advice related to Freedom of Information requests, litigation, and the Police Accountability Act;
  • Making presentations to, communicating with, and otherwise working closely with, a diverse number of agency partners, including federal agencies, other state agencies, municipal officials, non-governmental organizations and the public;
  • Interpreting plans, policies, statutes, regulations, rulings, contracts, and grants materials;
  • Supervising staff attorneys and paralegals; and
  • Representing the agency in hearings before administrative bodies.
ABOUT US
The Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection is committed to protecting and improving the quality of life for all by providing a broad range of public safety services, training, regulatory guidance and scientific services utilizing enforcement, prevention, education and state of the art science and technology.

In striving to accomplish our mission, we will embody our core values with great PRIDE:
Professionalism through an elite and diverse team of trained men and women.
Respect for ourselves and others through our words and actions.
Integrity through adherence to standards and values that merit public trust.
Dedication to our colleagues, our values, and to the service of others.
Equality through fair and unprejudiced application of the law.

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

In order to be considered for this job opening you must be a current State of CT employee of the agency listed above for at least six (6) months of full-time service or full-time equivalent service, absent any applicable collective bargaining language, and meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening.  You must specify your qualifications on your application. 

TO APPLY
  • Complete a Master Application and directly apply to this recruitment.
  • Please ensure that your application and professional experience is thorough and complete. 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 be unable to make revisions once you officially submit your application to the State of Connecticut.
WHAT TO EXPECT 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 daily 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 daily 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, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.

Current State Employee Candidates selected for an interview must provide the following at the time of interview:
  • Two (2) most recent performance evaluations
  • Completed CT-HR-13 form
Candidates who have been selected for employment with the Department of Emergency Services & Public Protection are subject to a detailed background investigation, including a fingerprint supported state and federal criminal history record check along with reference checks. Selection for employment is contingent upon satisfactory completion of the background investigation.

Any pending disciplinary history within the past 2 years and review of attendance records are also considered in the selection process.

CONTACT INFORMATION
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.

Should you have any questions about the position, please contact Jake Ferrari at jake.ferrari@ct.gov.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a large state agency, this class is accountable for assisting in the direction of legal staff engaged in the legal work of the agency and works closely with the Office of the Attorney General on all legal matters.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

  • Assists in directing staff and operations in a legal unit;
  • Coordinates, plans and manages unit activities;
  • Formulates program goals and objectives;
  • Determines priorities and oversees and reviews work;
  • Provides staff training and assistance;
  • Conducts performance evaluations;
  • In consultation with Office of the Attorney General performs a variety of difficult, complex and sensitive legal work;
  • Researches and advises Commissioner on matters pertaining to legislation, regulations and administrative policy;
  • Conducts and assists staff in preparation for administrative proceedings including preparation of administrative record;
  • Prepares final decisions of Commissioner in contested cases;
  • Assists staff and Office of the Attorney General in preparation for court cases;
  • Interprets statutes and regulations and ensures conformance with statutory purpose and authority;
  • Advises Commissioner concerning matters which require an opinion from the Office of the Attorney General and drafts requests for opinions;
  • Acts as liaison between Commissioner and the Attorney General;
  • Assists staff on matters relating to enforcement orders and civil penalties;
  • Makes recommendations regarding agency program proposals, rules and policy;
  • Assists in developing budget proposals for consistency with statutes and regulations;
  • Drafts proposed legislation and regulations;
  • Provides assistance to staff in implementing newly enacted legislation;
  • Participates in the recruitment and hiring of staff, including outreach, interview and selection;
  • May conduct legal seminars for department staff;
  • Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

  • Considerable knowledge of
    • and ability to apply management principals and practices;
    • and ability to interpret relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations;
    • relevant agency policies and procedures;
    • the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act and civil procedures;
    • legal practices and procedures in state and federal courts;
  • Knowledge of legislative process;
  • Considerable
    • interpersonal skills;
    • oral and written communication skills;
    • administrative ability.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Three (3) years of experience as an attorney with some responsibility for research, development, planning and review of legislative and/or regulatory programs.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Experience supervising attorneys or paralegals;
  • Experience in drafting and reviewing regulations and policy;
  • Experience with State and Federal litigation;
  • Experience interpreting and applying the Connecticut Uniform Administrative Procedures Act;
  • Experience interpreting and applying the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act; and
  • Experience interpreting and applying the Connecticut Police Accountability Act.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Incumbents in this class must be a member of the Connecticut Bar.

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.