Staff Attorney 2
Recruitment # 260603-0088AR-001
Location New Haven, CT
Date Opened 6/16/2026 12:00:00 AM
Salary $102,060 - $130,604/year(New hires to state service start at the minimum)
Job Type Open to the Public
Close Date 6/25/2026 11:59:00 PM
Go Back Apply View Benefits (https://www.jobapscloud.com/CT/jobs/?b=Benefits)
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Introduction
The Connecticut (https://portal.ct.gov/) Department of Transportation is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Staff Attorney 2 (https://www.jobapscloud.com/CT/specs/classspecdisplay.asp?ClassNumber=0088AR&R1=undefined&R3=undefined) in our Bureau of Public Transportation, Office of Rail. This position will report to a Staff Attorney 3 (https://www.jobapscloud.com/CT/specs/classspecdisplay.asp?ClassNumber=0089AR&R1=undefined&R3=undefined) in Office of Rail and will be responsible for providing legal support and advice directly to the Rail Administrator and staff in the Passenger and Freight Operations, Stations and Property Management, and Rail Design and Construction units.
What We Can Offer You:
Visit our State Employee Benefits Overview (https://www.jobapscloud.com/CT/jobs/?b=Benefits) page!
Professional growth and development opportunities
A healthy work/life balance (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6n9M1Qd5fo) to all employees
Join an award winning agency! CTDOT has been recently awarded the Employer of the Year award by the Connecticut Society of Civil Engineers ( CSCE (https://sections.asce.org/connecticut/awards) ) and named the Women's Transportation Seminar ( WTS (https://user-qiydjxo.cld.bz/WTS-CT-2023-Year-in-Review-Newsletter/4-5/) ) CT Employer of the Year for 2024!
Position Details:
Full-time, 40 hours/week
Monday-Friday
Located in New Haven, CT
Hybrid work opportunity
The Role:
The selected candidate will collaborate with colleagues in the Legal Services Unit in DOT's Office of the Commissioner and as needed will liaison with the Office of the Attorney General, Office of Policy and Management, and outside counsel.
Responsibilities of the position include contract preparation and interpretation and performing complex legal analysis, legal research, and the interpretation of statutes and regulations.
This position will be also be responsible for the office of Rail legal work, focusing on:
Agreement work including drafting and interpretation of contracts with passenger and freight operators, station managers, and others providing services in support of rail operations, and lessees and licensees on rail right-of-way
Research of federal and state laws and rail regulations and review of compliance with the same
Legal support of procurements
Review and analysis of property instruments such as easements, leases and licenses related to rail property
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 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 regularly. For added convenience, you can also enable text (SMS) notifications. To do this, log in to your Personal Status Board (https://www.jobapscloud.com/CT/newregpages/IDPassfind.asp?from=existing) 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 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.
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 Hayley Newhouse at hayley.newhouse (hayley.newhouse@ct.gov) @ct.gov.
Join the State of Connecticut and take your next career step with confidence!
PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)
In a state agency this class is accountable for independently performing a full range of tasks in the legal work of the agency.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES
Performs advanced and complex legal work of an agency;
Researches, interprets, analyzes and applies complex and conflicting laws and regulations, case law and legal principles;
Acts as hearing officer or represents agency in formal administrative and public proceedings on a full range of cases involving complex legal and technical issues;
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 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 and applies complex or conflicting laws and regulations, case law and legal principles;
Participates in the conduct of various educational activities;
Provides legal guidance when duly authorized;
Provides input into policy formation;
Reviews court decisions, new and proposed laws and regulations to determine impact on agency operations;
Prepares and maintains precedent manuals;
Reviews legal and other related documents for legal sufficiency;
May testify at or monitor legislative proceedings;
May represent agency in court when authorized;
Performs related duties as required.
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;
Considerable
interpersonal skills;
oral and written communication skills;
Considerable ability to
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 complex agreements for contracted services;
Experience with leases, licenses and other instruments affecting real property;
Experience with agreements involving state and/or federal funding, such as for design or construction projects;
Experience with procurements, including competitive selection requirements and compliance with State and federal funding requirements;
Experience performing legal research and/or interpreting contract language and providing legal advice to clients;
Experience interpreting federal and state statutes and regulations;
Cooperative agreements with governmental entities;
Experience in State of Connecticut Real Estate Law, real property transactions, and preparation of real estate instruments; and
Experience in State of Connecticut agreement requirements and approval process.
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.
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
