State of Maryland

STD0022

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE BARGAINING UNIT: X

A Public Service Commission (PSC) Assistant Staff Counsel Advanced the advanced level of work providing legal services to the technical staff of the Public Service Commission. An employee in this classification serves as an advanced technical expert in the areas of energy policy, law, and utility regulation and is assigned special projects, advanced testimony, and leads stakeholder groups on behalf of the Commission and may provide advice and guidance to less experienced PSC Assistant Staff Counsels. Employees in this classification do not supervise other employees.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from the PSC Deputy Staff Counsel. Employees in this classification may be required to travel throughout the State to attend evening and weekend hearings and may be required to work overtime to meet deadlines. Employees may be subject to work evenings, weekends and holidays.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology. The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Assistant Staff Counsel Advanced, PSC is differentiated from the Assistant Staff Counsel III, PSC in that the Assistant Staff Counsel Advanced, PSC serves as an advanced technical expert in the areas of energy policy, law, and utility regulation and is assigned special projects, advanced testimony, and leads stakeholder groups on behalf of the Commission.

Performs advanced levels of analysis and testimony on behalf of Technical Staff;

Performs special projects related to energy policy, utility regulation, and relevant issues;

Provides leadership to staff teams working on the most complex cases that come before the Commission;

Provide legal and policy advice to Staff Counsel upper management;

Analyzes applications and documents filed by public service companies and others in order to identify issues and make recommendations regarding necessary staff and Commission actions;

Consults, reviews and edits staff testimony and coordinates the testimony of witnesses in order to convey the staff position on issues before the Commission;

Drafts and answers data requests in order to formally communicate with other parties in Public Service Commission cases;
Initiates and negotiates settlement discussions in accordance with prior review by the Chief Staff Counsel, Public Service Commission;

Performs legal research to discover precedent;

Prepares and presents highly complex cases before the Public Service Commission;

Prepares legal documents such as briefs, memoranda of law, reports, summaries and appeals, and drafts motions and arguments in order to convey the staff position on issues before the Commission;

Presents arguments regarding motions and evidentiary objections and conducts cross examinations and direct examinations of witnesses in order to convey the staff position on issues before the Commission;

Reviews and evaluates evidence in the record of Commission proceedings;

May function as a team lead when teamed with lower-level Assistant Staff Counsels, Public Service Commission on assigned cases;

May assist in preparing reports required by law from the Public Service Commission to the General Assembly, Governor, or other state agencies;

May provide advice, guidance, and direction to lower-level Assistant Staff Counsel;

May participate in or lead stakeholder groups;

May assist with reviewing draft legislation, preparing analysis for testimony, and testifying on behalf of the agency before the General Assembly;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of legal procedures and substantive legal rules;

Knowledge of complex engineering, finance and public administration concepts as they interact in regulated public service industries such as the natural gas, electricity and telecommunications industries;

Knowledge of current issues and proceedings in the field of public regulation of utilities;

Skill in presenting and documenting information;

Ability to become Bar-certified and duly admitted and enrolled to practice before the Court of Appeals in the State of Maryland;

Ability to learn and apply Public Service Commission procedures and regulations;

Ability to identify important issues regarding specific cases;

Ability to provide advice and guidance to lower-level Staff Attorneys, Public Service Commission.

Education: A Juris Doctorate degree or equivalent degree from an accredited school of law.

Experience: Three years of experience in a government agency practicing law related to the regulation of public utilities.

Note:

1. Candidates may substitute four years of experience practicing law in a regulated public service industry for the required experience.

2. Candidates may substitute five years of experience as a practicing Attorney for the required experience.

3. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in general attorney classification or general attorney specialty codes in the legal and kindred group field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience and education.

1. Candidates for a position in this classification must be a member of the Bar in any state or federal jurisdiction, at the time of appointment.

2. Employees in this classification must be Attorneys-at-law, who are duly admitted and enrolled to practice before the Court of Appeals of this State within 18 months of appointment. Failure to obtain Court of Appeals admission and enrollment within 18 months of appointment will constitute grounds for termination from the position. This requirement is set by the Public Service Commission in accordance with Code of Maryland Regulation 20.07.01.04.

3. Employees in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. An employee assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator's license valid in the State of Maryland.

State law prohibits employees in this classification from engaging in certain transactions with or having interest in public service companies which may fall under the purview of the Public Service Commission, in accordance with Public Utilities Article, Title 2. Public Service Commission and People's Counsel, Subtitle 303 Ethics-Relationship with public service company and Title 13. Prohibited Acts; Penalties, Subtitle 101 and 204 of the Annotated Code of Maryland.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Professional Service classification in the State Personnel Management System. All positions in this classification are Professional Service positions. Some positions in Professional Service classifications may be designated as Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is not assigned to a bargaining unit, as indicated by the designation of M (Manager), T (Agency Head), U (Board or Commission Member), W (Student), X (Used by Agency or Excluded by Executive Order), or Z (Confidential). As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, managerial and confidential employees are excluded collective bargaining. Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

October 1, 2025

Director, Division of Classification and Salary