Introduction
Are you an experience Attorney looking for an opportunity to serve the public sector? If so, we invite you to take this opportunity to join our team!
The State of Connecticut, Department of Children and Families (DCF) – Central Office –is accepting applications for one (1) full-time Assistant Legal Director position, in Hartford, CT.
The mission of the State of Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF) is Partnering with communities and empowering families to raise resilient children who thrive. DCF’s Legal Division is responsible for ensuring compliance with state and federal law, conducting administrative hearings, and ensuring regulatory compliance.
We are seeking to fill one Assistant Legal Director position, located in Central Office, 505 Hudson Street, Hartford, CT. This opportunity is full-time, 40 hours per week, Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Although located in Central Office, this position will work closely with DCF's six regions which include 14 area offices throughout the state, which will require statewide travel, as needed.
This incumbent will have the opportunity to direct staff in the Legal division, including but not limited to coordinating with various agency partners and stakeholders to advance the mission of the organization; effectively liaising with entities such as the Office of the Attorney General, Human Resources, and the Office of Diversity and Equity to address legal matters, ensure compliance, and uphold employee and public rights; fostering productive relationships, facilitating interagency communications, and driving collaborative initiatives to enhance child protection efforts and address complex compliance issues. We welcome you to be a part of a comprehensive team of caring professionals and assist our clients/patients so they can achieve success. You will experience the opportunity to make a difference in the public sector as well as Make an ImpaCT as an Advanced Clinical Social Worker for the state of Connecticut! We encourage you to apply today!
Position Highlights: PCN 43136
- Full-time | 1st shift | 40 Hours per week
- Monday – Friday | 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Will require statewide travel.
What we can offer you:
- View our newState Employee Benefits Overview page!
- Professional growth and paid professional development opportunities.
- A healthy work-life balance to all employees!
- The opportunity to work for a Forbes top company: ‘Forbes’ State of Connecticut Ranked one of the best Employers of 2023 – State of CT receives National Recognition for Offering Job Growth, Competitive Benefits, and Flexible Schedule.
- 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.
In your role as an Assistant Legal Director, you will:
- Direct Staff in the Legal Division;
- Coordinate with various agency partners and stakeholders to advance the mission of the organization;
- Effectively liaise with entities such as the Office of the Attorney General, Human Resources, and the Office of Diversity and Equity to address legal matters, ensure compliance and uphold employee and public rights;
- Foster productive relationships;
- Facilitate interagency communications, and drive collaborative initiatives to enhance child protection efforts and address complex compliance issues;
- Perform related duties as required;
- For a more comprehensive list of duties click here.
We believe that:
- Children and adolescents with serious emotional disorders can lead productive and satisfying lives.
- Children, youth and their families have the right and responsibility to participate in their treatment.
- No child will be refused treatment based on their ability to pay for services.
- Our services work best when integrated with community care.
Selection Plan
FOR ASSISTANCE WITH APPLYING:
Please read or watch our Applicant Tips on How to Apply!
To Apply:
- In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on this job opening. You must specify your qualifications on your application.
- For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.
- The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
- These positions will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion, and merit employment rules. Applications to this recruitment will be used to meet collective bargaining requirements. Once any collective bargaining requirements have been met, all other applications may be considered.
- Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience most closely meets the preferred qualifications, so please ensure that your application is complete and details your experience as outlined in this job posting. Please note: You will be unable to make revisions once you submit your application into the JobAps system.
- The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
- 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.
Important Next Step Information for 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 on a daily basis 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 on a daily basis 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, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency. Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications as indicated to apply for this position.
- 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.
- Due to the large volume of applications received, the Department of Administrative Services is unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account.
- Revised Master Application Tutorial: Click Here
- Read through this helpful link to prepare for your interview.
Connect With Us:
- If you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Rocky Young at rocky.young@ct.gov and reference the recruitment number.
- Follow the State of Connecticut on LinkedIn.
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 in leading and mentoring a diverse team of legal professionals, including attorneys, paralegals, and administrative assistants.
- Experience in providing clear and actionable legal advice based on statutory/policy interpretations and regulatory requirements.
- Experience in drafting, analyzing, and interpreting complex regulations and policies, with a strong understanding of legal frameworks and their practical applications.
- Experience in building and maintaining effective relationships with agency partners and stakeholders, demonstrating exceptional skills in collaboration and negotiation.
- Experience with child abuse and neglect proceedings and/or interpreting and applying child abuse and neglect statutes.
- Experience in Microsoft Office Suite and Excel to create and manage spreadsheets, analyze data, and composing professional communications and documents to support legal and administrative functions efficiently
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.
