Law Clerk

Munro Footwear Group; Helena (MT); On-site; USD 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage including free care

Retirement plan choices

Flexible schedules

Job summary

The Montana Public Service Commission is seeking a law clerk to support regulatory oversight for essential industries. The successful candidate will draft legal documents, assist with hearings, and conduct legal research.

This role requires a Juris Doctor from an ABA-accredited law school and is pivotal for ensuring fair service practices in Montana. Benefits include health coverage, retirement plans, and a supportive work environment.

Qualifications

• Ability to learn and utilize the agency's online docket management system.
• Strong sense of discretion and integrity in handling sensitive materials.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships.

Responsibilities

• Draft and review legal documents including orders and notices.
• Assist with docket administration and hearing preparation.
• Review legal documents for compliance with rules.

Skills

Excellent legal writing skills

Excellent organization and prioritization skills

Excellent legal research skills

Strong digital literacy skills

Knowledge of legal terminology

Ability to communicate clearly

Ability to work effectively as a team

Education

Juris Doctor from an ABA-accredited law school

Tools

Microsoft Office 365

Lexis/Westlaw

Job description

The Montana Public Service Commission (Commission) seeks a law clerk to aid our agency in exercising regulatory oversight of some of the largest essential industries in Montana. The Commission works to ensure fair prices, responsible business practices, and reliable services for Montana customers. The successful candidate will join our legal team who finds the work to be interesting, meaningful, and critical to our agency’s goal of serving the citizens of Montana extraordinarily well.

The Commission is the head of the Montana Department of Public Service Regulation, a small state agency with a big impact. The Commission is composed of 5 selected Commissioners representing every region of beautiful Montana. Commonly referred to as the PSC, our agency is staffed by a team of approximately 33 professionals in the Legal, Regulatory, and Centralized Services Divisions. The PSC is responsible for supervising monopolistic industries within Montana to ensure fair prices, responsible business practices, and sustainable, reliable service for the Montana customers who rely upon them. Regulated industries currently include privately held power, water, sewer, telecommunications, sanitation, and certain commercial transportation providers. The PSC also plays a vital role in railway and pipeline safety. The agency has a clear and well-defined strategic plan to enhance our operations, work environment, and value to the public. Our team includes seasoned leaders with expertise and institutional knowledge coupled with newly elected commissioners with innovative ideas for the agency.

Duties

• Draft and review legal documents, including orders, notices, and staff memoranda.
• Confer with Department personnel concerning draft legal documents.
• Reviews party briefs, Commission casefiles, and transcripts.
• Assist with docket administration, hearing preparation, and rulemaking.
• Verify all legal citations as authoritative and current.
• Review, study, and research laws, court decisions, and related legal authorities.
• Edit orders and other legal documents for grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
• Review legal documents filed with the Commission for compliance with applicable rules.
• Monitor and report on state and federal legislative enactments.
• Assist in responding to public records requests.

Occasionally travel to assist with Commission hearings and other proceedings.

Successful applicants will be subject to background checks relevant to the position and must pass reference checks before an offer is extended.

This position may be eligible for a statutory base pay increase effective July 1, 2026.

Benefits

• Health coverage with medical, dental, vision, and prescriptions including free health care provided by the Montana Health Care Center.
• Wellness programs.
• Life insurance.
• Retirement plan choices.
• Prorated 15 vacation days.
• 12 sick days.
• Paid holidays including a floating holiday.
• Flexible schedules may be considered as work/life balance is healthy and encouraged.

Required Skills

• Excellent legal writing skills.
• Excellent organization, prioritization, multitasking and time management skills.
• Excellent legal research skills, including working knowledge of electronic legal research platforms (e.g. Lexis/Westlaw) and printed research materials. Ability to research complex legal problems or questions and apply legal principles.
• Strong digital literacy skills, including intermediate-to-advanced skills in Microsoft Office 365 and common technologies (e.g. personal computers and office machines).
• Knowledge of legal terminology and concepts.
• Ability to learn, understand, and consistently utilize the agency's online docket management system.
• Strong sense of discretion, integrity, and professional responsibility in handling confidential and/or sensitive material.
• Strong sense of the chain of command, decorum, and professionalism.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, with diverse groups of people.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to work effectively as a member of a team and individually.
• Ability to maintain professionalism when critiqued.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor from an ABA‑accredited law school.
• Admission to practice law in Montana or admission within one year from the date of hire.

State government does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth or medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, marital status, creed, political beliefs or affiliation, veteran status, military service, retaliation, or any other factor not related to merit and qualifications of an employee or applicant.