Human Rights Lawyer Jobs in Connecticut (NOW HIRING)

Introduction
This is an excellent opportunity for current law students to intern/extern in a mid-sized-city municipal environment.
Interns are given broad exposure to a variety of issues, including but not limited to: Municipal Law; Housing; Zoning; Municipal Finance; Employment Law; Labor Law; Environmental Law; Government Contracts; and Litigation.
Office of The Corporation Counsel
The Office of The Corporation Counsel ("OCC") is the chief legal advisor to, and the attorney for, the City and all City officers, boards, commissions, and departments in matters relating to their official duties. The Corporation Counsel is responsible for the following activities: renders advice and legal opinions to City officials; and advises and represents departments, boards, commissions, officers, and officials on legal matters within their respective jurisdictions, including court cases, transactions, and administrative hearings before state agencies.
The OCC is organized into four (4) sections: Transactional and Policy Practice Group, Litigation Group, Real Estate & Commercial Practice Group, and Employment Practice Group. It is also responsible for the Labor Relations Division of the City of New Haven. All sections are located at 165 Church Street, 4th Floor, New Haven, CT 06510, and remote work option is available. Below are summaries of the responsibilities of each section of OCC.
Transactional & Policy Practice Group
The OCC maintains a Transactional & Policy Practice Group that is responsible for the following activities:

• Negotiates, drafts, and reviews all City contracts as to form and correctness, including memoranda of agreement with third parties and memoranda of understanding among governmental entities.
• Works on all matters relating to land use, acquisition, contract, and zoning law.
• Advises the City with respect to policy development and drafting procedures.
• Advises and train City officials, departments, boards, and commissions with respect to compliance with applicable law and regulations.
• Represents City officials, departments, boards, and commissions at administrative hearings before the Freedom of Information Commission.

Litigation Group
The OCC maintains a Trial Practice Litigation Group that is responsible for the following activities:

• Civil litigation before federal and state courts; administrative litigation before the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities; and the Freedom of Information Commission:
  • Areas of practice include personal injury, wrongful death, civil rights (including excessive force and false arrest), education law, constitutional law, tax appeals, foreclosures, real property, zoning, landlord/tenant, commercial law, employment law, civil service disputes, worker's compensation, and environmental law.

Real Estate & Commercial Practice Group
The OCC maintains a real estate and commercial practice group that is generally responsible for the following activities:

• Work on projects overseen by the Economic Development Administration and the Livable City Initiative, including:
  • Real estate acquisition and disposition, commercial loans, small business loans, home loans, façade grants, real estate closings, releases, liens, tax collections and related matters.
  • Negotiates and drafts documentation for complex City development projects.

Employment Practice Group
The OCC maintains an employment practice group that is generally responsible for the following activities:

• Collaborates with the Department of Labor Relations and Department of Human Resources on employee-related matters such as workers' compensation claims and complaints before the Commission on Human Rights & Opportunities.

PRIMARY FUNCTIONS
This is an internship/externship position for a student enrolled in an accredited law school, under the direction and supervision of attorneys in the Office of the Corporation Counsel.
This position involves assisting attorneys in working with city officials, departments, boards, and commissions, in all areas of municipal law. The law student intern is encouraged to exercise independent, professional judgement in the performance of work, and will be expected to learn basic principles of file management and will have opportunities to practice in all areas of municipal law as outlined above under the supervision of an attorney.
TYPICAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Typical assignments may include but are not limited to:

• Appears with attorneys at administrative hearings, court proceedings, witness depositions, pretrials, and trials.
• Perform legal research and draft legal memoranda as requested.
• Draft pleadings, motions, briefs, appeals and memoranda for filing in the appropriate court.
• Participate with attorneys in all aspects of litigation process, including drafting discovery requests, assisting with preparation of depositions, and attending pretrial/settlement conferences.
• Work closely with attorneys to advise client officials, departments, boards, commissions on legal issues within their jurisdiction, pursue civil enforcement actions, and defend the City before administration agencies.
• Applies legal principles and procedures of municipal law, constitutional law, employment law, and real property law to a wide variety of legal issues affecting the operation of a municipality.
• Perform other related work as requested.

See above Groups for additional details.
Law Student Interns will receive mentoring including attending depositions, court appearances and trials/hearings. They will interact with stakeholders and clients as appropriate and will receive substantive feedback on assignments.
EDUCATION, QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
Preferred Education: First year (or, second year part-time) law students.
Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited College/University law school program; proof of current enrollment required.
KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Knowledge of principles and procedures of civil law especially as they relate to municipal government; and the ability to apply this knowledge to varied legal issues.
• Knowledge of the principles, methods, and practices of legal research.
• Knowledge of judicial and administrative procedures, and the rules of evidence.
• Knowledge of constitutional provisions, laws, regulations, and ordinances affecting municipal operations.
• Knowledge of municipal government structures, and operations of Boards and Commissions, and their relationship to other public jurisdictions.
• Software skills, including use of Microsoft Office software and web-based applications.
• Verbal and written communication skills necessary to communicate with all levels of management.
• Time management, organizational and multi-tasking skills necessary to work in a fast-paced environment, handling various tasks and changing priorities, while maintaining a high attention to detail and accuracy to achieve daily assignments and goals.
• Ability to analyze, review, and make recommendations.
• Experience in municipal law is preferred.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
Applicant must attach the following to online submission, or their application will be incomplete:

• Resume
• Writing Sample
• Transcript (unofficial is acceptable)

SALARY, BARGAINING UNIT & TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT
These internships are unpaid positions open to graduate and law students, undergraduate, and very occasionally highly motivated high-school students. Accepted applicants may arrange externships with their schools for course credit for their work.
This part time internship position is not eligible to receive medical benefits, vacation pay, holiday, union membership, or union contractual benefits. Any period of part time employment will not be construed in any way to mean probationary employment. Persons may not be employed in two concurrent part time positions with the City and/or the Board of Education at the same time.
Selection Plan
Applications will be reviewed by the Department of Human Resources. Applicants must demonstrate that they meet the minimum requirements as listed within the job description; failure to do so may result in disqualification.
It is critical that you complete the application thoroughly, as the information you provide will be used to ascertain if you are eligible to move forward in the selection process. Your application and resume should indicate that you meet the minimum requirements as listed. A hiring decision may be made prior to the removal of the job posting.
You must submit the following with your online application submission:

• Resume
• Writing sample
• Transcript (unofficial is acceptable)

Please note that the only method of communication with applicants for this position will be by email. You must provide a valid, working email address and you will need to monitor your email, including spam/junk folders, for correspondence from the New Haven Human Resources Department.
We reserve the right to extend an application deadline or close a job posting early to ensure we can attract and identify the best candidate(s) for a position.
Conclusion
To apply for this opportunity:

• Complete your User Registration. You are encouraged to save your Applicant Profile for future use.
• You MUST click on the job posting you are interested in, and click Apply or Apply Online from within that posting.
• MAKE SURE the job you are applying for is named at the top of the page as you review your application!
• Review or modify your application for that position
• Click "Ready to Send App" or the "Send" tab; read page and click the attestation
• Click "Send to City of New Haven"
• You will be redirected to "CONFIRMATION OF EMPLOYMENT APPLICATION SUBMISSION"
• You will also receive an email and text, if a number was provided, confirming your submission
• If you do not receive this confirmation in the next 24 hours, your application has not been submitted - please contact us at NHJobs@newhavenct.gov

Please Note, your Profile is NOT an application for an open position. After you create your Applicant Profile, you must still click on a Job Title and complete the application as instructed for each position.