Staff Attorney 2

State of Connecticut • Hartford, CT

2d

About The Position

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is hiring a Staff Attorney 2 in the Office of Legal Counsel within the Commissioner’s Office. The position supports DEEP’s Environmental Quality Branch, which includes the Bureaus of Air Management, Materials Management and Compliance Assurance, and Water Protection and Land Reuse. The attorney provides legal guidance and representation on environmental permitting, enforcement, and regulation adoption, as well as other legal matters affecting the Commissioner and agency personnel.

The role involves advising on statutes, regulations, permits, enforcement, declaratory ruling petitions, ethics, employment, and open records. DEEP’s in-house legal staff also work with the Office of the Attorney General on state and federal litigation, claims before the Office of the Claims Commissioner, regulations, and contracts. The attorney helps advance environmental program goals, including clean water and air, waste minimization, pollution remediation, and climate change adaptation; supports permitting and enforcement programs; and works across state, federal, and municipal jurisdictions. The position may require travel. Incumbents must be admitted to practice law in Connecticut.

Requirements

• Two years of experience in the practice of law.
• Admission to practice law in the State of Connecticut.
• Considerable knowledge of Connecticut legal principles, practices, and procedures; legal research techniques; and the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act.
• Ability to interpret and apply relevant state and federal laws, statutes, regulations, legislation, 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 statutory interpretation and to comprehend, analyze, and organize technical data and coordinate elements of legal cases.
• May be required to travel.

Nice To Haves

• Experience interpreting and applying state or federal law to resolve legal issues, develop legal strategy, and support participation in contested proceedings.
• Experience interpreting and synthesizing federal and state laws, legislation, and regulations.
• 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 complex technical information into persuasive legal analysis.
• Experience drafting legal documents, including legislation, regulations, contracts, and other legal instruments.
• Experience managing tasks and prioritizing assignments with competing deadlines.
• Experience providing oral presentations or arguments.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal guidance to and representation of the Commissioner and/or agency personnel to help achieve programmatic environmental goals.
• Review, draft, and implement statutes and regulations affecting human health and the environment.
• Navigate overlapping federal and state jurisdictions and help ensure state programs approved by the federal government remain eligible for federal funding.
• Support permitting programs and enforcement matters to promote consistency and compliance with legal requirements and programmatic objectives.
• Communicate and engage in policy and legal strategy discussions with federal, state, and municipal governmental entities.
• Support bureau enforcement efforts, including drafting, negotiating, and reviewing consent orders.
• Perform advanced and complex legal work, including researching, interpreting, analyzing, and applying laws, regulations, case law, and legal principles.
• Act as a hearing officer or represent the agency in formal administrative and public proceedings.
• Negotiate and draft settlement agreements and prepare legal documents such as advisory opinions, rulings, decisions, legislation, regulations, and findings.
• Assist with preparing and presenting trials and appeals, consult with the Office of the Attorney General, and prepare pleadings and other court papers.
• Conduct investigations and enforcement proceedings and prepare reports for administrative and court proceedings.
• Provide authorized legal guidance, contribute to policy formation, and review legal documents for legal sufficiency.
• Review court decisions and new or proposed laws and regulations for their impact on agency operations.
• Participate in educational activities and, when applicable, testify at or monitor legislative proceedings or represent the agency in court.

Benefits

• Professional growth and development opportunities.
• A healthy work/life balance.
• Potential eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness after 10 years of qualifying service.

What This Job Offers

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