Staff Attorney 2

Closing Date: 14th May, 2024

Description:

Introduction:
Looking to grow your legal career in public safety? If so, read below and apply today!

The State of Connecticut, Department of Emergency Services & Public Protection (DESPP) is recruiting a Staff Attorney 2 to join the Police Officers Standards and Training Council (POSTC) team at the Connecticut Police Academy in Meriden, Connecticut.

Position Highlights:
This position is responsible for directing all legal operations within POSTC in providing services to the Executive Director of POSTC, the Police Academy Administrator, and the POST council, which includes various police chiefs and community members from across the State of Connecticut. You will also be responsible for providing all Legal Affairs work including coordinating and collaborating with legal and administrative support staff, both at the DESPP Legal Affairs Unit, and the Office of the Attorney General. This job is invigorating, intense and highly gratifying. As a POSTC Staff Attorney 2, you will provide numerous services that include, but are not limited to:

• Conducting policy review and development;
• Researching complex case litigation, assisting in the investigation and evaluation of issues related to police certification, decertification and accreditation;
• Preparing legal memoranda and providing legal advice to the POSTC Executive Director and POSTC staff;
• Handling or advising as to Freedom of Information (FOI) requests;
• Providing legal advice at administrative hearings such as at police decertification contested cases;
• Reviewing and advising POSTC staff on a wide variety of legal issues and documents, including subpoenas, FOI requests, legal motions and memoranda, proposed rulings, hearing officer reports, and final decisions in contested cases;
• Providing legal guidance to the Academy Administrator/Executive Director, Hearing Officer(s), Division Heads/employees related to issues arising from their employment;
• Researching, interpreting and applying appropriate State and Federal statutes along with administrative rules and regulations;
• Coordinating and consulting with DESPP Legal staff and the Office of the Attorney General.

Knowledge, Skill And Ability:
Considerable knowledge of:

• legal principles, practices and procedures in Connecticut;
• legal research techniques;
• the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act;
• and the ability to interpret and apply relevant state and federal laws, statutes, regulations and legislation;
• relevant agency policies and procedures;

Knowledge of:

• the rules of evidence;
• criminal and constitutional law and legislative process;

• interpersonal skills;
• oral and written communication skills;

• apply judicial decisions to the interpretation of statutes;
• comprehend, analyze and organize technical data and coordinate elements of legal cases.

Minimum Qualifications - General Experience:
Two (2) years of experience in the practice of law.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with policing issues, public employment and related issues;
• Experience advising managers on issues pertaining to police accountability and due process;
• Experience in handling or providing oversight of administrative and procedural hearings.

Special Requirements:

• Incumbents in this class must be admitted to practice law in the State of Connecticut.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

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