Job Description
Do you have a degree from an accredited law school and are looking for an exciting new opportunity to serve your state?
Join us as a Staff Attorney 1 and make an impact today!
The State of Connecticut, Department of Public Health (DPH) is looking for an energetic, proactive, and open-minded individual to join the Legal Services Unit as a Staff Attorney 1! Although this position will be in the Legal Office they will work directly with the DPH Policy Director and Regulatory Affairs Manager in the Office of Policy and Strategic Initiatives (OPSI). OPSI's dynamic team is responsible for overseeing legislative, regulatory, and internal policy as well as accreditation and strategic planning on behalf of the DPH.
POSITION HIGHLIGHTS:
- Location: 410 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT
- Work Schedule: Monday - Friday
- Work Shift: Full-time, First Shift
- Work Hours: 40 hours per week, with the opportunity for a partial telework schedule
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
IN THIS ROLE YOU WILL:
- Focus on the development and promulgation of regulations for the Environmental Health and Drinking Water branch;
- Help the department keep up with regulatory updates to comply with state and federal law;
- Work on the state adoption of several changes to federal drinking water regulations; and
- Support the agency’s goals of protecting public health and safety through effective regulatory approaches to existing and emerging public health threats.
MORE ABOUT THE AGENCY:
The Mission of the Department of Public Health (DPH) is to protect and improve the health and safety of the people of Connecticut by:
- Assuring the conditions in which people can be healthy
- Preventing disease, injury, and disability
- Promoting the equal enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health, which is a human right and a priority of the state.
DPH accomplishes this through the implementation of its Strategic Plan which outlines the actions that DPH is taking to accomplish its Mission.
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
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 Jensine Tran at Jensine.Tran@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 receiving on the job training in all aspects of agency legal work.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES
- Receives generalized training in all aspects of agency legal work;
- Acts as hearing officer or represents agency in formal administrative and public proceedings involving legal and technical issues;
- Analyzes complex and technical evidence;
- 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 routine legal issues and assists in researching 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 statutes, regulations and rulings;
- Participates in the conduct of various educational activities;
- Reviews court decisions, new and proposed laws and regulations to determine impact on agency operations;
- Assists in the preparation and maintenance of precedent manuals;
- Reviews legal and other related documents for legal sufficiency;
- May provide legal counsel and advice when duly authorized;
- May testify at or monitor legislative proceedings;
- Performs related duties as required.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY
- Knowledge of
- legal principles, practices and procedures in Connecticut;
- legal research techniques;
- the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act and civil procedures;
- and the ability to interpret and apply relevant state and federal laws, statutes, regulations and legislation;
- relevant agency policies and procedures;
- the rules of evidence;
- criminal and constitutional law and legislative process;
- Considerable
- interpersonal skills;
- oral and written communication skills;
- Ability to
- apply judicial decisions to the interpretation of statues;
- 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
- Experience with regulations and UAPA rules
- Experience with government or administrative law
- Experience with environmental health and drinking water policy and associated federal rules
- Experience with legal research and writing legal documents
- Experience with public health law and policy
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
- Incumbents in this class must be admitted to practice law in the State of Connecticut by the conclusion of the applicable working test period. Individuals who meet the qualifications and requirements for admission under Section 2-13 of the Connecticut Practice Book must become admitted to practice law in the State of Connecticut by the conclusion of the applicable working test period. 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.
- Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.
Job Tags
Full time, Work at office, Immediate start, Remote work, All shifts, Monday to Friday, Shift work, Day shift