Paralegal Specialist

Introduction
Are you a skilled paralegal with experience in applying statutes and regulations?
If so, we invite you to explore this opportunity with the Workers' Compensation Commission.
The State of Connecticut , Workers' Compensation Commission ( WCC ) is a quasi-judicial agency responsible for the adjudication of disputed workers' compensation claims and administration of various programs.
If you enjoy working in a legal setting and have experience drafting and reviewing legal documents, the Paralegal Specialist position could be for you!
BENEFITS AND BALANCE AT THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT
The State of Connecticut has been ranked as a Forbes top company: 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
WE CAN OFFER YOU

• A Competitive starting salary
• NEW: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 an article by Ellen Andrews, Ph.D., along with comprehensive benefit offerings
• Extensive pension plan and supplemental retirement offerings
• Paid time off including 13 paid holidays per calendar year
• A culture that encourages work/life balance
• Professional growth and development opportunities
• Ample free parking with easy access from major highways or by public transportation
• Tuition reimbursement
• 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 for more information.
• Learn more about what sets us apart as an employer with our Employer Value Proposition .

THE ROLE
The Paralegal Specialist will be responsible for:

• reviewing and processing Stipulations, Motions, and Orders;
• preparing Subpoenas and files for Appellate review;
• communicating directly with claimants who are not represented by attorneys;
• drafting correspondence and other documentation for Administrative Law Judges.

In this position, you will discover the opportunity to interact with a wide variety of people on a daily basis and will work closely with the Staff and Administrative Law Judges to facilitate the workers' compensation hearing process. More details can be found in the class specification .
ABOUT US
The WCC administers the workers' compensation laws of the State of Connecticut with the ultimate goal of ensuring that workers injured on the job receive prompt payment of lost work time benefits and attendant medical expenses. To this end, the Commission facilitates voluntary agreements, adjudicates disputes, makes findings and awards, hears and rules on appeals, and closes out cases through full and final stipulated settlements.
POSITION HIGHLIGHTS

• Permanent full-time position working 40 hours per week
• Monday through Friday schedule
• First shift, 7:45 AM to 4:30 PM
• Office location is WCC's Third District Office which is located in New Haven, CT with an option to telework one day per week upon successful completion of a working test period.

Please watch the video below to see what it's like to be a State of CT employee!
Selection Plan
For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from branch to branch but it does not impact your state service credit.
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 , 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 recruiter 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.
• 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 Jasmyn.Raymond@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 interpreting and applying workers' compensation laws.
• Experience providing assistance to an attorney who practices in workers' compensation law.
• Experience communicating directly with claimants, attorneys, insurance adjustors, and physicians.
• Experience processing various legal documents provided by the Workers' Compensation Commission.

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.