State of Maryland

STD0023

MANAGEMENT SERVICE BARGAINING UNIT: X

A Public Service Commission (PSC) Deputy Chief Staff Counsel is the supervisory level of work providing legal services to the technical staff of the PSC. An employee in this classification supervises PSC Assistant Staff Counsels I, II, III, and Advanced.

An employee in this classification receives managerial supervision from the PSC Chief Staff Counsel. An employee 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 PSC Chief Staff Counsel is differentiated from the PSC Deputy Chief Staff Counsel in that the Chief Staff Counsel supervises all legal counsel to the technical staff.

Supervises PSC Assistant Staff Counsels I, II, III, and Advanced in the preparation and presentation of all cases;

Appears in formal cases as lead attorney;

Assists Chief Staff Counsel as needed;

In consultation with the Chief Staff Counsel and Executive Director, develops parameters to choose outside consultants for specific Commission cases that involve complex economic, business and engineering issues;
Discusses proposed case settlements with the Chief Staff Counsel prior to litigation and negotiates settlements within set parameters;

Analyzes applications and documents filed by public service companies and other parties to identify issues, determine legal applications, strategies and necessary staff actions and recommend Commission actions;

Assists with information and testimony on proposed legislation and fiscal notes;

Identifies and reviews evidence regarding issues for presentation to the Commission;

Reviews, edits and coordinates staff testimony and coordinates the testimony of witnesses in order to convey staff positions on issues before the Commission;

Makes policy proposals and recommendations to the Chief Staff Counsel;

Provides information to elected representatives as needed;

Provides policy direction to witnesses and Assistant Staff Counsels through in-house conferences and meetings;

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 participate in stakeholder groups;

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;

Knowledge and application of Public Service Commission procedures and regulations;

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 identify important issues regarding specific cases;

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

 

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.

Education: Possession of a Juris Doctor or equivalent degree from an accredited school of law.

Experience: Four years of experience in a government agency practicing law related to the regulation of public utilities or in a regulated public service industry.

Notes:

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

2. Candidates may substitute six 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.

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 Management Service classification in the State Personnel Management System. All positions in this classification are Management Service positions.

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