Staff Attorney 2

State of Connecticut • New Britain, CT

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is hiring a Staff Attorney 2 in its Office of Legal Counsel, serving the Bureau of Energy and Technology Policy (BETP). The position independently performs a full range of agency legal work and supports development and implementation of local, state, and regional energy policy related to energy supply, broadband, affordable housing and energy retrofits, and decarbonization of buildings and transportation.

The attorney works with BETP staff on Connecticut’s Comprehensive Energy Strategy; renewable energy procurement; the Integrated Resources Plan; energy-efficiency programs; the Weatherization Assistance Program; renewable energy projects; federally funded programs; and the state’s climate change action plan. The role also represents DEEP in administrative, state, regional, and federal energy matters and proceedings. The position is 40 hours per week at Ten Franklin Square in New Britain, Connecticut. A hybrid schedule is available based on agency need. Travel may be required.

Requirements

• Two years of experience in the practice of law.
• Admission to practice law in the State of Connecticut.
• Considerable knowledge of legal principles, practices, and procedures in Connecticut; legal research techniques; and the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act.
• Ability to interpret and apply relevant state and federal laws, statutes, regulations, legislation, and agency policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of rules of evidence, criminal and constitutional law, and the legislative process.
• Considerable interpersonal, oral communication, and written communication skills.
• Ability to apply judicial decisions to the interpretation of statutes; comprehend, analyze, and organize technical data; and coordinate elements of legal cases.
• May be required to travel.

Nice To Haves

• Experience conducting and updating legal research using commercial databases such as Westlaw or Lexis.
• Experience interpreting and applying state or federal law to resolve legal issues, develop legal strategy, and support participation in contested proceedings.
• Experience analyzing technical subject matter to support legal proceedings.
• Experience independently conducting legal research and preparing written legal analysis, including memoranda of law, legal briefs, decisions, or opinions for legal proceedings.
• Experience collaborating with technical staff or experts to synthesize technical information into persuasive legal analysis.
• Experience managing multiple tasks and prioritizing assignments with competing deadlines.
• Experience providing oral presentations or arguments.

Responsibilities

• Represent DEEP in administrative, state, regional, and federal energy matters and proceedings, including matters before PURA, FERC, and U.S. DOE, and proceedings involving ISO-NE and NESCOE.
• Analyze complex technical evidence and filings at ISO-NE, FERC, U.S. DOE, and PURA.
• Negotiate, draft, and review agreements, including settlement agreements.
• Draft and review briefs, recommendations to senior staff, findings of fact and law, legislation, statutes, regulations, and contracts.
• Work with the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of Consumer Counsel on legal issues.
• Research complex legal issues and prepare written legal analysis.
• Respond to Freedom of Information requests and requests from agency personnel for advice concerning the Code of Ethics.
• Prepare interrogatories, briefs, written exceptions, pleadings, and other administrative and court papers.
• Interpret statutes, regulations, rulings, and contracts.
• Provide legal counsel and advice to agency leadership and technical staff.
• Testify at or monitor energy or legislative proceedings, as needed.
• Review and analyze court decisions and new or proposed laws and regulations to determine their impact on agency operations.
• Assist in preparing and maintaining precedent manuals.
• Review legal and related documents for legal sufficiency.
• Act as a hearing officer for DEEP public meetings, as needed.

Benefits

• Professional growth and development opportunities.
• A healthy work/life balance.
• The State of Connecticut is an eligible Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer; qualifying student loans may be eligible for forgiveness after 10 years of service.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed