Staff Attorney 1(Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinator)
Full Time
Introduction
Do you have experience supporting government agencies in fulfilling legally required responsibilities related to Section 504 plans?
If so, join our team!
The Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) is now accepting applications for a Staff Attorney 1 to join our team to serve as a Section 504 (Americans with Disabilities Act) Coordinator. Through leadership, support, and systems of accountability, CSDE shares a common goal with our stakeholders to improve educational outcomes for students with disabilities in CT.
WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU:
- Visit our newState Employee Benefits Overview page!
- The opportunity to work for a Forbes top company: 'Forbes' State of Connecticut Ranked One of the Best Employers of 2023 - State of CT Receives National Recognition for Offering Job Growth, Competitive Benefits, and Flexible Schedule
- Professional growth and development opportunities
- A healthy work/life balanceto all employees
POSITION HIGHLIGHTS:
- Work Schedule: First Shift, Monday – Friday.
- Work Hours: Full -Time, 40 hours / week.
THE ROLE:
- You will support the agency in the area of school district Section 504 compliance.
- You will support school districts with their responsibility to prevent discrimination against students based on a disability.
- You will provide resources, information, and guidance to educators, families, and students on procedures, Section 504 plans, and procedural safeguards required under Section 504/ADA.
- You will also support the Legal Director in matters pertaining to education law as needed.
- Other related duties.
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.
- 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, 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 or watch 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.
- The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
- 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 receiving on the job training in all aspects of agency legal work.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES
- Receives generalized training in all aspects of agency legal work;
- Acts as hearing officer or represents agency in formal administrative and public proceedings involving legal and technical issues;
- Analyzes complex and technical evidence;
- Negotiates and drafts settlement agreements;
- Drafts advisory opinions, rulings, decisions, recommendations, findings, legislation, statutes, regulations, publications and other related legal documents;
- Assists in the preparation and presentation of trials and appeals;
- Consults with the Office of the Attorney General on legal issues;
- Researches routine legal issues and assists in researching complex legal issues;
- Conducts investigations and enforcement proceedings;
- Prepares comprehensive reports for use in administrative and court proceedings;
- Prepares pleadings and other court papers;
- Interprets statutes, regulations and rulings;
- Participates in the conduct of various educational activities;
- Reviews court decisions, new and proposed laws and regulations to determine impact on agency operations;
- Assists in the preparation and maintenance of precedent manuals;
- Reviews legal and other related documents for legal sufficiency;
- May provide legal counsel and advice when duly authorized;
- May testify at or monitor legislative proceedings;
- Performs related duties as required.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY
- Knowledge of
- legal principles, practices and procedures in Connecticut;
- legal research techniques;
- the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act and civil procedures;
- and the ability to interpret and apply relevant state and federal laws, statutes, regulations and legislation;
- relevant agency policies and procedures;
- the rules of evidence;
- criminal and constitutional law and legislative process;
- Considerable
- interpersonal skills;
- oral and written communication skills;
- Ability to
- apply judicial decisions to the interpretation of statues;
- comprehend, analyze and organize technical data and coordinate elements of legal cases.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE
A degree from an accredited law school.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience practicing anti-discrimination or special education law.
- Experience developing and reviewing Section 504 Plans.
- Experience serving as a local Section 504 Coordinator.
- Experience implementing state and federal anti-discrimination laws and regulations.
- Experience collaborating as a team with internal and external stakeholders to support students with disabilities.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
- Incumbents in this class must be admitted to practice law in the State of Connecticut within one (1) year of the date of appointment. Pursuant to Section 51-88 of the Connecticut General Statutes, an incumbent who has not been admitted to practice law may not "assume, use or advertise the title of lawyer, attorney and counsel at law, counselor at law, attorney, counselor, attorney and counselor, or an equivalent term, in such a manner as to convey the impression that he is a legal practitioner of law". Until such time that an incumbent is admitted to practice law in the State of Connecticut, the incumbent shall be referred to as a Legal Assistant.
- Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.
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.
