Attorney IV

North Carolina Judicial Branch; North Carolina; On-site; USD 97,000 - 146,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

12 Annual Holidays

Health Plan

Retirement Plans

Employee Discounts

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

State Benefits

Job summary

North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Public Staff seeks an Attorney IV in Wake County to provide legal advice on electric, natural gas, water, and other utility services. The attorney will represent the Public Staff before the Utilities Commission and other forums, handling complex rate and service cases.

The position is full-time with state benefits. Eligibility requires NC bar admission and four+ years of progressive legal experience, with opportunities to influence regulatory policy and

Qualifications

• Licensed to practice law by the North Carolina State Bar.
• Four years of progressively responsible professional legal experience.
• Experience with regulatory issues and public utility matters preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice and representation to the Executive Director, Public Staff, and the public on utility rate and service matters.
• Represent before the Utilities Commission, appellate courts, and federal regulators in formal proceedings.
• Assist in development of legal strategies, filings, and policy analysis for electric, natural gas, water, and other utility services.

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Job description

Agency

Dept of Commerce

Division

Utilities-Public Staff

Job Classification Title

Attorney IV (NS)

Position Number

60081065

Grade

LG09

About Us

The North Carolina Department of Commerce is the state's lead agency for economic, community and workforce development. The department works with local, regional, national and international organizations to fulfill its mission to improve the economic well-being and quality of life for all North Carolinians.

The Department connects businesses with the site locations, workforce and infrastructure they need to succeed in one of the nation's top states for business. We also connect local communities with the grants and funding they need to attract new business and ensure future prosperity.

Description of Work

Start your journey towards success and unleash your potential to make an impact!

The NC Public Staff is currently accepting applications for the Attorney IV - Wake County.

This position will be in the Legal Division of the Public Staff. The primary purpose of the Staff Attorney position is to provide legal advice and representation to the Executive Director, members of the Public Staff, and the using and consuming public in matters involving the rates and service of electric utilities, natural gas utilities, water and sewer utilities, communications service providers, ferry operators, and movers of household goods.

Cases range in significance and complexity from rate increases for small water and sewer utilities serving as few as 15 residences to major electric and natural gas utility rate cases and corporate mergers involving millions of customers and hundreds of millions and sometimes billions of dollars.

This job opening is for an attorney to work in the Electric Section of the Legal Division on matters involving the provision of electric utility service. However, the attorney may be assigned to matters involving other types of utility service as needed.

Within the Public Staff, the primary purpose of the Legal Division is:

1. to provide legal representation of the Public Staff and the using and consuming public in formal proceedings before the Utilities Commission, appellate courts, and federal regulatory agencies,
2. to provide legal and policy advice on issues related to public utility regulation to the Executive Director and other members of the Public Staff and, upon request, members of the General Assembly, other governmental bodies, the general public, and entities that provide public utility service in North Carolina.

This is a full-time position (40 hours per week) with State Benefits, including health insurance, as well as retirement pursuant to State Policy.

Applicants invited to interview will be required to provide a writing sample. The writing sample must be the applicant’s original work and should demonstrate legal analysis, clarity of written communication, and the ability to present complex information in an organized and persuasive manner.

Acceptable samples include judicial decisions, administrative law decisions, legal memoranda, briefs, motions, or other comparable legal documents authored solely by the applicant. Samples should be submitted electronically prior to the interview, should have original formatting and content intact, and should be no more than 15 pages.

Incentives of NC State Employment

We value our employees and offer a wide variety of competitive and family-friendly benefits.

Benefits to include:

• 12 Annual Paid Holidays and monthly accrual of vacation and sick leave.
• North Carolina State Health Plan currently administered by Aetna.
• Supplemental Benefits including Flexible Spending Accounts, Accident Insurance, Cancer & Specified Disease, Critical Illness, Dental, and Vision.
• NC State Retirement (TSERS), 401(k), and 457 savings plans.
• WeSave Employee Discounts.
• Eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Learn more about new hire resources, safety, health, and wellness information, leave options, employee discounts and more by selecting the link below: https://oshr.nc.gov/state-employee-resources/benefits

Note to Current State Employees

The salary grade for this position is LG09. State employees are encouraged to apply for positions of interest even if the salary grade is the same as, or lower than, their current position. If selected for this position, a new salary will be recalculated taking into consideration the quantity of relevant education and experience, funding availability, and internal equity. Based upon those factors, a pay increase MAY result.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences

This is an anctipated vacancy.

Recruitment Range: $96,513 - $145,885

Important: This posting closes at 11:59:59 PM the night BEFORE the End Date above

Management Preferences - Optional: These skills are not required but managers may choose to interview/select applicants who demonstrate Management Preferences.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Utility Regulation

• Knowledge or experience that will enable a rapid understanding of case, statutory, regulatory, and common law and policy governing the regulation of public utilities in North Carolina and the role of the Public Staff in the regulatory process.

Research and Analytical Skills

• The ability to gather and synthesize relevant information, recognize legal and policy implications, and recommend appropriate solutions and courses of action.

Litigation Skills

• Knowledge or experience that will enable rapid development of litigation skills, including the ability to identify legal and factual issues, develop legal positions and strategies, deliver oral arguments, conduct discovery, and present and cross-examine expert witnesses in cases before the Utilities Commission.
• Knowledge or experience that will enable rapid development of appellate advocacy skills, including the ability to prepare persuasive briefs and present effective oral argument in novel and complex cases.

Communication Skills

• The ability to express legal concepts and related facts in a clear, concise, and persuasive manner both orally and in writing, to draft statutes and rules dealing with utility regulation and energy related issues, and to make public presentations.

Education and Experience Requirements

APPLICANTS MUST MET THE EDUCATIONAL AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR THIS POSITION.

Licensed to practice law by the North Carolina State Bar and four years of progressively responsible professional legal experience.

NOTE: GS 114-2 and 114-6 make it the duty of the Attorney General of NC to represent the State of North Carolina in all litigation unless another statute specifically states otherwise.

About the Public Staff

The Public Staff is an independent agency created in 1977 to review, investigate, and make appropriate recommendations to the North Carolina Utilities Commission with respect to the reasonableness of rates charged and adequacy of service provided by any public utility and with respect to the consistency with the public policy of assuring an energy supply adequate to protect the public health and safety. The Public Staff shall intervene on behalf of the using and consuming public in all Commission proceedings affecting rates or service.

The Public Staff will also:

• Petition the Commission to initiate proceedings when in the public interest;
• Participate in all certificate applications and assist the Commission in analysis;
• Make recommendations to the Commission with respect to standards, regulations, or practices;
• Investigate formal and informal complaints affecting the using and consuming public;
• Participate in all proceedings for franchise transfers, mergers, and consolidations of public utilities;
• Review, investigate, and recommend action to the Commission regarding affiliate contracts.

About the Department of Commerce

North Carolina Department of Commerce is the state's lead agency for economic, community, and workforce development. The department works with local, regional, national, and international organizations to fulfill its mission to improve the economic well-being and quality of life for all North Carolinians.

Commerce is an Equal Opportunity Employer who embraces an Employment First philosophy which consists of complying with all federal laws, state laws, and Executive Orders. Commerce does not provide employment visa sponsorship. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire and throughout employment.

NC Department of Commerce uses the Merit-Based Recruitment and Selection Plan to fill positions subject to the State Human Resources Act with the most qualified individuals.

The Minimum Education and Experience (E&E) is REQUIRED to qualify for this position. All work history and education (including accurate dates of employment/attendance) must be documented on the application.

Transcripts may be attached to supplement education and work experience may include internships, volunteerism, and full and part-time work. Supplemental Questions are also a required part of the application: answers must reference education or work experience listed on the application.

"Resumes may be attached as a supplement to the application but are not a substitution for a complete application."

We are committed to reviewing requests for reasonable accommodation at any time during the hiring process and throughout employment. Applicants requesting and receiving an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) are eligible to submit paper applications via mail or by fax by the vacancy closing date.

Re-Entry for Formerly Incarcerated Individuals

Our Agency supports the Governor's Executive Order 303 which seeks to re-employ individuals that were previously incarcerated. Formerly incarcerated individuals are invited to apply for any vacant Commerce position(s) in which they believe they are qualified.

By providing the requested information, you certify that you have given true, accurate and complete information on this attachment to the best of your knowledge. In the event confirmation is needed in connection with your work, you authorize educational institutions, associations, registration and licensing boards, and others to furnish whatever detail is available concerning your qualifications. You authorize investigation of all statements made in this application and understand that false information or documentation, or a failure to disclose relevant information may be grounds for rejection of your application, disciplinary action or dismissal if you are employed, and(or) criminal action. You further understand that dismissal upon employment shall be mandatory if fraudulent disclosures are given to meet position qualifications (Authority: GS 126-30, GS 14- 122.1).

Minimum Education and Experience

Some state job postings say you can qualify by an "equivalent combination of education and experience." If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See the Education and Experience Equivalency Guide for details.

EEO Statement

The State of North Carolina is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and dedicated to providing employees with a work environment free from all forms of unlawful employment discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. The state provides reasonable accommodation to employees and applicants with disabilities; known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; and for religious beliefs, observances, and practices.