Paralegal Specialist

Hybrid

Recruitment # 240502-6142AR-001

Location Hartford, CT

Date Opened 5/20/2024 12:00:00 AM

Salary $72,926* - $94,374/year *Individuals new to state employment start at minimum salary range.

Job Type Open to the Public

Close Date 6/4/2024 11:59:00 PM

Go Back Apply View Benefits (http://portal.ct.gov/DAS/smART/General-Employee-Benefits)

• Introduction

  Do you have experience providing advanced paralegal support in a highly complex legal unit?

  If so, join our team!

  The State of Connecticut (https://portal.ct.gov/) , Department of Banking (DOB (https://portal.ct.gov/DOB) ) is hiring! We are seeking a qualified individual for the position of Paralegal Specialist (https://www.jobapscloud.com/CT/specs/classspecdisplay.asp?ClassNumber=6142AR&R1=&R3=) to p rovide assistance to the department's General Counsel, staff attorneys, and the designated Hearing and Freedom of Information Act Officer.

  WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU:

• The opportunity to work for a Forbes top company: 'Forbes' State of Connecticut Ranked One of the Best Employers of 2023 (https://portal.ct.gov/DAS/Press-Room/Press-Releases/2023/Forbes-State-of-CT-Ranked) - State of CT Receives National Recognition for Offering Job Growth, Competitive Benefits, and Flexible Schedule.

• 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 he refor more information.

• A Platinum Healthcare Plan, the nation’s best for state employees and dependents, according to a report by Georgetown's Center on Health Insurance Reform and article by Ellen Andrews, Ph.D., along with comprehensive benefit offerings (https://portal.ct.gov/DAS/smART/General-Employee-Benefits) .

• Comprehensive Benefits which include industry leading health benefits, including medical and dental coverage.

• Extensive pension plan and supplemental retirement offerings.

• Generous paid time off, including 13 paid holidays per calendar year.

• Professional growth and development opportunities.

• A healthy work/life balance (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6n9M1Qd5fo) to all employees.

  POSITION HIGHLIGHTS:

• Schedule: Monday-Friday, 40 hours per week.

  THE ROLE:

• Performing legal research and analysis of law sources for the division staff attorneys and other staff members as needed

• Assisting division staff attorneys in preparing and reviewing legal documents for highly complex enforcement cases, settlements, regulatory approvals, advisory opinions, and proposed legislation

• Preparing for and assisting the division staff attorneys at administrative hearings or through case presentation

• Overseeing production of legal records and exhibits for administrative hearings and on appeal

• Providing assistance and legal guidance to staff on Freedom of Information Act requests

• Managing legal case timetables

• Maintaining and updating legal files and case records

• Preparing legal and administrative reports

• Providing assistance and legal guidance to staff in processing license applications and with examination report findings

• Monitoring state legislative developments having an impact on the Department of Banking and keeping personnel apprised

• Following relevant federal legislation and regulatory proposals

• Keeping abreast of new regulation promulgation processes, ensuring that draft amendments are in proper format and contain no inconsistencies

• Providing backup support services to Attorneys such as answering correspondence and telephone inquiries concerning Connecticut’s consumer credit laws

• Updating enforcement tracking systems

• Preparing drafts of various legal documents related to consumer credit enforcement actions for attorney review such as subpoenas, affidavits, and referral letters to the Office of the Attorney General

• Monitoring respondents’ compliance with legal settlement terms and conditions and preparing reports on such compliance for management’s review and action

• Performing cite checks for briefs and memoranda of law (i.e. “blue booking”)

• Researching interpreting and applying relevant statutes, regulations, precedents and policies

• Performs related duties as required.

  ABOUT US:

• The Connecticut Department of Banking is the primary state regulator for state-chartered banks and credit unions, securities, and consumer credit. Its mission is to protect users of financial services from unlawful or improper practices by ensuring regulated entities and individuals adhere to state banking, consumer credit and securities laws. The department accomplishes this through regular, thorough, and cost-effective examinations of the entities it supervises. The department also engages the public and other stakeholders through a variety of media platforms, educational outreach initiatives, and press communications.

  Watch the video below to see what it's like to be a State of Connecticut employee!

  Selection Plan

• 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.

• 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 applicants may be considered.

  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.

• The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.

• Ensure that your application is complete and detailed before submitting it. In order to comply with Public Act 21-69 (https://www.cga.ct.gov/2021/act/pa/pdf/2021PA-00069-R00SB-00056-PA.pdf) , 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.

• Please 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.

• In order to receive educational credits toward qualification for this job posting, 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 Talent Acquisition Professional listed on this job posting.

• 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.

FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:

• Please read (https://www.jobapscloud.com/ct/sup/applicanttips2023november.pdf) or watch (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8sOb10qYXQ) our Applicant Tips on How to Apply.

  Important Information After You Apply:

• 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 questionnaire'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.

• 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.

• Note: 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.

• Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position.

• Read through this helpful link to prepare for your interview (https://www.jobapscloud.com/CT/jobs/?b=IT&preview=1) .

• The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.

  Connect With Us:

• Due to the large volume of applications received, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account. Should you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Anamaria Giangarra at Anamaria.giangarra@ct.gov.

  PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

  In a state agency this class is accountable for providing advanced paralegal support in a highly complex legal unit. This class provides advanced technical leadership, research and consultation in the areas of preparing draft legal documents and draft decisions of highly complex cases, and is a resource regarding issues, procedures, process and timeframe as related to cases and presenting legal matters as needed.

  EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

Performs highly complex paralegal duties as defined in one or both of the following areas:

LEGAL OFFICE OPERATIONS

• Interprets complex state statutes and federal regulations governing legal records and documents;

• Determines and applies applicable state statute and/or regulation in preparing documentation;

• Interprets court rules and agency policies and regulations;

• Keeps abreast of the latest court rules, calendar changes and pending legislation;

• Monitors and adheres to court deadlines;

• Reviews legal documents and prepares legal documents such as briefs, writs and pleadings for court filings;

• Responds to relevant case information requests from courts;

• Performs legal research and analysis of law sources such as statutes, legal articles, legal decisions, opinions, rulings, memoranda and other legal material;

• Prepares draft legal documents;

• Provides assistance in the discovery process;

• Provides paralegal assistance by interpreting applicable legal provisions, regulations, precedents and policies;

• Responds to requests and obtains information of sensitive nature;

• Acts as liaison between agency, court system, relevant attorney’s offices and general public;

• Serves as agency liaison regarding relevant policies and procedures;

• Prepares legal and administrative reports;

• Updates and maintains case records, pleadings, policy manuals and filing systems;

• Assists in the drafting of proposed legislation and advisory opinions; provides training and assistance to staff;

• May perform business mathematical computations;

• Performs related duties as required.

CASE PRESENTATION OR HEARING

• Analyzes highly complex cases;

• Develops positions and strategies to settle or litigate cases at formal or informal hearings;

• Prepares for and represents the state’s interest at hearings or through case presentation;

• Researches and gathers relevant evidence and documentation;

• Interviews witnesses and clients;

• Drafts legal documents, complaints, stipulations, detailed memoranda, letters and proposed findings and awards reviews substantiation appeals and provides recommendation to management regarding the legal sufficiency of substantiation findings;

• Performs related duties as required.

  KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Considerable knowledge of

• legal processes and procedures;

• legal terminology and legal forms;

• legal research techniques;

• Knowledge of

• relevant agency policies and procedures;

• and the ability to interpret and apply relevant state and federal laws, statutes, regulations and legislation;

• Considerable

• interpersonal skills;

• oral and written communication skills;

• skill in fact finding techniques including interviewing clients and compiling evidence;

• Considerable ability to

• evaluate pertinent facts, cases and evidence and compile and assemble such legal data;

• compose correspondence and draft legal documents;

• Ability to

• understand complex laws and related reports;

• utilize computer software.

  MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

The General Experience is defined as one of the following:

• A Bachelor’s degree in legal studies and one (1) year of experience providing paraprofessional legal assistance to an attorney; OR

• An Associate’s degree in legal studies and three (3) years of experience providing paraprofessional legal assistance to an attorney; OR

• Completion of a Paralegal or Legal Assistance Certificate Program approved by the American Bar Association and three (3) years of experience providing paraprofessional legal assistance to an attorney; OR

• Completion of a Paralegal or Legal Assistance Certificate Program consisting of a minimum of twenty-four (24) semester hours from an accredited college or university and four (4) years of experience providing paraprofessional legal assistance to an attorney; OR

• Completion of a Paralegal or Legal Assistance Certificate Program from a business school approved by the State of Connecticut, Office of Higher Education and four (4) years of experience providing paraprofessional legal assistance to an attorney; OR

• A Law degree from an accredited Law School.

  PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience in financial services or consumer credit industries

• Experience with consumer financial protection laws

• Experience with legal research and analysis, including case citation

• Experience working as a paralegal for two or more attorneys in a governmental agency, law firm, or corporation

• Experience communicating both verbally and in writing with all levels of the organization

• Experience drafting and reviewing legal documents and memoranda

  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.

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