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Assistant Legal Director

Recruitment # 251209-3438MP-001

Location Middletown, CT

Date Opened 12/18/2025 11:30:00 AM

Salary $111,028 - $151,386/year

Job Type Open to the Public

Close Date 1/5/2026 11:59:00 PM

Go Back Apply View Benefits (https://www.jobapscloud.com/CT/jobs/?b=Benefits)

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+ Introduction

The State of Connecticut (https://portal.ct.gov/) , Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) (https://portal.ct.gov/DESPP) is recruiting for an Assistant Legal Director (https://www.jobapscloud.com/CT/specs/classspecdisplay.asp?ClassNumber=3438MP&R1=undefined&R3=undefined) to join their team in Middletown.

WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU:

+ Visit our new State Employee Benefits Overview page!

+ Professional growth and development opportunities

+ A healthy work/life balance !

+ Thirteen (13) paid holidays each calendar year.

Position Highlights

+ This position will be on-site with the potential for situational telework.

+ The LAU manages all the agency's legal needs, which include responding to records requests, managing hearings, and overseeing agency regulations, legislative proposals, ethics matters, contracts, and litigation.

+ Within DESPP, the Assistant Legal Director will be responsible for providing diverse legal services to the six divisions including:

+ Providing legal counsel and advice to DESPP leadership and staff;

+ Writing, compiling, and reviewing plans, policies, standard operating procedures, reports, and memoranda of agreement/understanding;

+ Providing legal advice related to Freedom of Information requests, litigation, and the Police Accountability Act;

+ Making presentations to, communicating with, and otherwise working closely with, a diverse number of agency partners, including federal agencies, other state agencies, municipal officials, non-governmental organizations and the public;

+ Interpreting plans, policies, statutes, regulations, rulings, contracts, and grants materials;

+ Supervising staff attorneys and paralegals; and

+ Representing the agency in hearings before administrative bodies.

About Us

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) .

1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:

Check out our Applicant Tips on How to Apply! Need more resources? Visit our Applicant Toolkit (https://jobapscloud.com/CT/jobs/?b=KIT) for additional support throughout the recruitment process.

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 by the closing date listed on the job posting.

+ 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 [email protected].

+ 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:

+ 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 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

+ Completed CT-HR-13

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

Candidates who have been selected for employment with the Department of Emergency Services & Public Protection are subject to a detailed background investigation, including a fingerprint supported state and federal criminal history record check along with reference checks. Selection for employment is contingent upon satisfactory completion of the background investigation. Any pending disciplinary history within the past 2 years and review of attendance records are also considered in this selection process.

Click here (https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/DAS/Statewide-HR/A---Z-Listing-Task-PDFs/Criminal-Convictions---Addendum-to-Application-for-Examination-or-Employment-Form---CT-HR-13.pdf) to complete the Criminal Convictions addendum (CT-HR-13). The CT-HR-13 can also be found on the DAS website (https://portal.ct.gov/DAS) by typing in "CT-HR-13" into the "Search Department of Administrative Services" search field.

QUESTIONS? WE’RE HERE TO HELP:

Due to high volume, we are unable to confirm receipt or provide status updates directly. For recruitment updates, please check your Personal Status Board and review our Frequently Asked Questions. If you have additional questions about the recruitment process, reach out to Nick Naples at [email protected].

Join the State of Connecticut and take your next career step with confidence!

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a large state agency, this class is accountable for assisting in the direction of legal staff engaged in the legal work of the agency and works closely with the Office of the Attorney General on all legal matters.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

+ Assists in directing staff and operations in a legal unit;

+ Coordinates, plans and manages unit activities;

+ Formulates program goals and objectives;

+ Determines priorities and oversees and reviews work;

+ Provides staff training and assistance;

+ Conducts performance evaluations;

+ In consultation with Office of the Attorney General performs a variety of difficult, complex and sensitive legal work;

+ Researches and advises Commissioner on matters pertaining to legislation, regulations and administrative policy;

+ Conducts and assists staff in preparation for administrative proceedings including preparation of administrative record;

+ Prepares final decisions of Commissioner in contested cases;

+ Assists staff and Office of the Attorney General in preparation for court cases;

+ Interprets statutes and regulations and ensures conformance with statutory purpose and authority;

+ Advises Commissioner concerning matters which require an opinion from the Office of the Attorney General and drafts requests for opinions;

+ Acts as liaison between Commissioner and the Attorney General;

+ Assists staff on matters relating to enforcement orders and civil penalties;

+ Makes recommendations regarding agency program proposals, rules and policy;

+ Assists in developing budget proposals for consistency with statutes and regulations;

+ Drafts proposed legislation and regulations;

+ Provides assistance to staff in implementing newly enacted legislation;

+ Participates in the recruitment and hiring of staff, including outreach, interview and selection;

+ May conduct legal seminars for department staff;

+ Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

+ Considerable knowledge of

+ and ability to apply management principals and practices;

+ and ability to interpret relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations;

+ relevant agency policies and procedures;

+ the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act and civil procedures;

+ legal practices and procedures in state and federal courts;

+ Knowledge of legislative process;

+ Considerable

+ interpersonal skills;

+ oral and written communication skills;

+ administrative ability.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Three (3) years of experience as an attorney with some responsibility for research, development, planning and review of legislative and/or regulatory programs.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

+ Experience supervising attorneys and paralegals;

+ Experience in drafting and reviewing regulations and policy;

+ Experience with State and Federal litigation;

+ Experience interpreting and applying the Connecticut Uniform Administrative Procedures Act;

+ Experience interpreting and applying the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act;

+ Experience interpreting and applying the Connecticut Police Accountability Act.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Incumbents in this class must be a member of the Connecticut Bar.

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.

Click on a link below to apply for this position:

Fill out the Supplemental Questionnaire and Application NOW using the Internet. Apply Online