Closing Date: 12th May, 2026

Description:

Introduction:
The State of Connecticut (http://ct.gov/), Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) (http://ct.gov/DESPP) has an exciting opportunity for a Staff Attorney 2 (http://www.jobapscloud.com/CT/specs/classspecdisplay.asp?ClassNumber=0088AR&R1=&R3=) in the Legal Affairs Unit.

What we can offer you:
  • Visit our NEW State Employee Benefits Overview (https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jobapscloud.com%2FCT%2Fjobs%2F%3Fb%3DBenefits&data=05%7C02%7CMackenzie.Robinson%40ct.gov%7Cff9d6212567b4147e2e708dc78e20332%7C118b7cfaa3dd48b9b02631ff69bb738b%7C0%7C0%7C638518159311874580%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=31NWPHsflFHvOaUe8PNNfHQWwUv%2FNVhAj8KQDjWwWS0%3D&reserved=0) page!
  • Professional growth and development opportunities
  • A healthy work/life balance (https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jobapscloud.com%2Fct%2Fsup%2FEVPPDF123020.pdf&data=05%7C02%7CMackenzie.Robinson%40ct.gov%7Cff9d6212567b4147e2e708dc78e20332%7C118b7cfaa3dd48b9b02631ff69bb738b%7C0%7C0%7C638518159311879996%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=yxCP2VwHXi9UotEN0yGc2oE3oYcwWdB2Q1uKA%2BRc4lI%3D&reserved=0) to all employees
  • 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 (https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service) for more information.

Position Highlights:
This position provides agency-wide legal support, with a specialized focus on the Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security and the Connecticut Intelligence Center.

In this role, you will:
  • Provide legal guidance to leadership and staff
  • Interpret and apply relevant laws and regulations, and
  • Assist with policy, contract, and regulatory matters that support the agency's public safety mission.
  • This is a full-time position, Monday-Friday. A Hybrid schedule may be available based on agency availability.

About Us:
The Legal Affairs Unit manages all agency legal matters, including responding to records requests, managing administrative hearings, and overseeing regulations, legislative proposals, ethics matters, contracts, and litigation.

DESPP is committed to protecting and improving the quality of life for all by providing a broad range of public safety services, training, regulatory guidance, and scientific services utilizing enforcement, prevention, education and state of the art science and technology. DESPP is structured on three key Strategic Pillars created by Commissioner Ronnell Higgins. (https://portal.ct.gov/despp/division-of-emergency-service-and-public-protection/ronnell-higgins-biography?language=en_US)
  • Operational Efficiency, Efficacy and Excellence
  • Making decisions through the thoughtful and informed use of data
  • Challenging the "that's the way it's always been done" construct—i.e., thinking outside the box as to how we can improve
  • Constantly seeking better results

Shared Fiscal Responsibility
  • Recognizing our collective responsibility to steward the agency's resources
  • Realigning planned budgetary actions to ensure that they are in taxpayers' interests
  • Preparing together for potential budget stresses and fiscal challenges

Ethics and Accountability
  • Critically and constantly measuring our practices against our policies
  • Performing quarterly performance evaluations agency-wide to measure success and flag areas needing improvement
  • Regularly engaging external partners for feedback and assessments
  • Opening our doors to Connecticut students and workers for apprenticeships, internships, and career pathways

Selection Plan
Before You Apply:
  • Meet Minimum Qualifications: Ensure you meet the Minimum Qualifications listed on the job opening by the job closing date. You must specify your qualifications on your application. The minimum experience and training requirements listed must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
  • Educational Credits: List your earned credits and degrees from accredited institutions accurately on your application. To receive educational credits towards qualification, 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 contact listed below.
  • Resume Policy: Per Public Act 21-69 (https://www.cga.ct.gov/2021/act/pa/pdf/2021PA-00069-R00SB-00056-PA.pdf), resumes are not accepted during the initial application process. As the recruitment process progresses, candidates may be required to submit additional documentation to support their qualification(s) for this position. This documentation may include: a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the request and discretion of the hiring agency.
  • Preferred Shift/Location: 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.
  • Timely Submission: All application materials must be received by the job posting deadline. You will be unable to make revisions once you officially submit your application to the State. Late submissions are rarely accepted, with exceptions only for documented events that incapacitate individuals during the entire duration of the job posting. Request exceptions by emailing DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.
  • Salary Calculations: 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.
  • Note: The only way to apply to this posting is via the ‘Apply' or ‘Apply Online' buttons on the official State of Connecticut Online Employment Center job posting.

After You Apply:

  • Some email providers may experience delays or issues delivering messages. To avoid missing important updates—such as referral questionnaires or interview scheduling links—please check your Personal Status Board (https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jobapscloud.com%2FCT%2Fnewregpages%2FIDPassfind.asp%3Ffrom%3Dexisting&data=05%7C02%7CMackenzie.Robinson%40ct.gov%7C745a562b98c64623282208de6fbac302%7C118b7cfaa3dd48b9b02631ff69bb738b%7C0%7C0%7C639071045079741124%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=YGauJ6oqa38%2Bv9ksj8Q1UIwodb4bJiarhTN5hKwZwmk%3D&reserved=0) regularly. For added convenience, you can also enable text (SMS) notifications. To do this, log in to your Personal Status Board and select “Update My Contact Information.”
  • Referral Questions: This posting may require completion of additional Referral Questions (RQs), which must be completed by the questionnaire's expiration date. If requested, RQs can be accessed via an email sent to you after the job close date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section).
  • Prepare For An Interview: Interviews are limited to those whose experience and training are most aligned with the role. To prepare, review this helpful Interview Preparation Guide (https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jobapscloud.com%2FCT%2Fjobs%2F%3Fb%3DIT%26preview%3D1&data=05%7C02%7CHeather.Tweeddale%40CT.GOV%7Cf9e7149c6f984997a68f08dd30f7ada4%7C118b7cfaa3dd48b9b02631ff69bb738b%7C0%7C0%7C638720562500260604%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=R%2BUKQnQd%2B5YB7zAqjlcwrcnRtQvEd%2B9zbZq6g%2BxlX4M%3D&reserved=0) to make the best impression!
  • Stay connected! Log in daily to your JobAps Personal Status Board to track your status and check email (including spam/junk folders) for updates and tasks.
  • The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
  • Note: This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State employees, available at www.ct.gov/ethics.
  • Candidates selected for an interview must provide the following at the time of interview:

State Employees:
  • Two (2) most recent performance evaluations
  • Cover letter
  • A copy of your unofficial transcript(s)

Non-State Employees:

  • Two (2) professional references contact information including name, email and phone number (at least one being a current and/or previous supervisor)
  • Completed CT-HR-13
  • Cover letter
  • A c