Staff Attorney 2

The Office of Consumer Counsel (OCC) is a small, independent state agency that acts as the advocate for consumer interests in matters which may affect Connecticut consumers relating to electricity, natural gas, water, and telecommunications.  The OCC is a statutory party to all proceedings before the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) and is authorized to appear and participate in any regulatory or judicial proceedings, federal or state, in which the interests of Connecticut utility consumers may be involved. In addition to representing consumer interests before PURA, the OCC participates actively in proceedings before federal agencies, including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) and the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”), advocates on behalf of consumer interests in state and federal courts, and promotes the interests of consumers at the Connecticut legislature and in regional and national forums.

The OCC’s work covers a wide range of topics, including:

 ·        Wholesale and retail electric and gas markets and rates;

 ·        Water rates, infrastructure, and resource planning;

 ·        Energy infrastructure (e.g., gas pipelines; electric transmission lines);

 ·        Energy efficiency and demand response;

 ·        Utility service quality and storm response;

 ·        Renewable energy, distributed generation, and grid modernization;

 ·        Electric vehicles and energy storage;

 ·        Policy development on issues relating to electricity, natural gas, and water; and

·        Telecommunications service, service quality, and infrastructure, broadband access, and telecommunications policy.

The OCC currently has a job opportunity for a Staff Attorney 2, who will be part of the agency’s legal team that is comprised of motivated, highly-skilled attorneys with expertise in consumer advocacy, litigation and administrative practice, energy, water, and telecommunications law, as well as public policy development and implementation.  The position will be located at Ten Franklin Square, New Britain, CT 06051. This position is 40 hours per week, Monday - Friday, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. 

Applicants are required to upload a cover letter, resume, a legal writing sample of five (5) to ten (10) pages for which the applicant was the sole or primary author.

The selected candidate must be able to provide proof of admission to practice law in the State of Connecticut and a member in good standing of the Connecticut bar prior to any offer of employment. 

Qualified current State employees being considered for further steps in the hiring process will be required to submit their last two performance appraisals while qualified non-state employees being considered for further steps in the hiring process may be required to submit two professional references.  

This position is non-examined. Open to the public.

In a state agency this class is accountable for independently performing a full range of tasks in the legal work of the agency.

A Staff Attorney 2 at the Office of the Consumer Counsel will have the opportunity to work and participate in cases in administrative and judicial settings, including the opportunity to serve as lead counsel or team leader on matters involving a variety of advanced and complex legal issues related to OCC’s statutory responsibilities;  work with members of OCC and represent OCC before other agencies or entities on cutting edge policy initiatives; be a team member of a small, highly-skilled staff dedicated to the mission of consumer advocacy;  work independently and creatively solve problems; work with subject-matter experts on contested and uncontested matters; research, analyze, and apply complex laws and regulations, case law, and legal principles; collaborate with the Office of the Attorney General, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, and other state agencies on legal issues,  policy development, or resource procurements; provide legal guidance to the Consumer Counsel; negotiate and draft settlements related to multimillion dollar utility issues; develop, review, and opine on legislative proposals; interact with Connecticut legislators and state officials on a broad array of issues related to the Office of Consumer Counsel and its mission.

Considerable knowledge of legal principles, practices and procedures in Connecticut; considerable knowledge of legal research techniques; considerable knowledge of the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act; considerable knowledge of and the ability to interpret and apply relevant state and federal laws, statutes, regulations and legislation; considerable knowledge of relevant agency policies and procedures; knowledge of the rules of evidence; knowledge of criminal and constitutional law and legislative process; considerable interpersonal skills; considerable oral and written communication skills; considerable ability to apply judicial decisions to the interpretation of statues; considerable ability to comprehend, analyze and organize technical data and coordinate elements of legal cases.

STAFF ATTORNEY 2: Two (2) years of experience in the practice of law.
STAFF ATTORNEY 3: Three (3) years of experience in the practice of law at the level of Staff Attorney 2 in the same state agency.

Demonstrated interest or experience in the core advocacy mission of the Office of Consumer Counsel. Excellent legal writing skills.  Knowledge of or experience in one or more of the following: energy, natural gas, water, telecommunications, utility, finance, economics, environmental, or other related technical field.  Demonstrated ability to work in a team setting.  Experience in litigation or administrative law.  Experience or interest in effective communication skills or public speaking.

1. Must be admitted to practice law in the State of Connecticut.
2. May be required to travel.

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.