Legal Assistant

PowerLines; Helena (MT); Hybrid; USD 34,000 - 37,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Paid Leave & Holidays

Retirement Plan

Job summary

Montana Public Service Commission in Helena seeks a Legal Assistant to support document processing, IT duties, and general office tasks. The role involves proofreading, filing management, and coordinating with contractors to ensure timely PSC submissions.

The position is non-litigating, with benefits including health coverage, paid leave, and flexible scheduling consideration. Telework eligible, with a full-time telework option not available, and rolling interviews after September 13, 2026.

Qualifications

• Excellent legal writing and communication skills.
• Strong organizational and multitasking abilities.
• Knowledge of legal terminology and concepts.

Responsibilities

• Proofread Certifications of Service and other documents.
• Create, maintain and update PSC filings and certificates.
• Prepare coversheets for rulemaking filings.
• Publish legal ads in newspapers as needed.
• Monitor deadlines with document remediation contractors.
• Upload public records and update rulemaking information on the website.
• Provide IT support during meetings and for REDDI issues.
• Back up front desk coverage and assist with IT matters.

Skills

Legal writing

Organization

Legal research

Digital literacy

Legal terminology

Docket system

Discretion

Professionalism

Communication

Teamwork

Education

High School Diploma or Equivalent

Tools

MS Office 365

Lexis/Westlaw

Job description

The Montana Public Service Commission (Commission) seeks a legal assistant 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 elected 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.

Works under the supervision of the agency Chief Legal Counsel and the agency Commission Secretary.

This position is a modified position effective through June 30, 2027. After this date, the position may be permanently funded or subject to termination.

Duties: Document Processing (65%)

• Proofreading Certifications of Service and other service documents.
• Creating, maintaining, and updating certificate of services for PSC filings.
• Preparing coversheets for PSC rulemaking filings.
• Arranging for legal ads to be placed in appropriate newspapers.
• Creating bulletins in Gov Delivery.
• Processing third-party tariff filings.
• Opening new docket in the Commission's Replacement Electronic Database for Docket Information (REDDI).
• Finalizing PSC filings for uploading into REDDI.
• Accepting/rejecting third party filings.
• Exchanging documents with document remediation contractors.
• Monitoring deadlines for the return of documents from document remediation contractors.
• Negotiating deadlines as appropriate with document remediation contractors.

IT Support: (30%)

• Upload public records request information to the Commission website.
• Update rulemaking information on the Commission website.
• Handle IT matters during public Commission meetings, hearings, and listening sessions.
• Provide back-up coverage for front desk services.
• Assist with trouble shooting REDDI problems.
• Prepare training materials for using REDDI.
• Create and edit website content.

Other Duties as Assigned (5%)

Special Information

Please note that the Legal Assistant position is a non-litigating position.

Applications received by September 13, 2026, will be given priority consideration. Qualified candidates are encouraged to apply early as interviews may be conducted on a rolling basis.

Benefits

On the first day of employment, employees and eligible dependents receive health coverage with medical, dental, vision, and prescriptions including free health care provided by the Montana Health Care Center. Wellness programs, life insurance, and retirement plan choices are offered.

New employees also receive prorated 15 vacation days, 12 sick days, and paid holidays including a floating holiday. Flexible schedules may be considered as work/life balance is healthy and encouraged.

Competencies

• 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

• High School Diploma or Equivalent.
• One year legal or general office experience.
• Other combinations of education and experience may be considered.

Applicant Pool Statement: If another department vacancy occurs in this job title within six months, the same applicant pool may be used for the selection.

Training Assignment: Not Applicable

Salary

$25.00-27.50 Hourly

Telework Eligibility

Telework Eligible (Full-time telework is not available. Telework schedule must be supervisor approved.)

Benefits Package Eligibility

Health Insurance, Paid Leave & Holidays, Retirement Plan

Number of Openings: 1

Employee Status: Regular

Schedule: Full-Time

Job Type: Standard

Shift: Day Job

Travel: No

Primary Location: Helena

Agency: Public Service Commission

Union: 000 - None

Posting Date

Sep 3, 2026, 1:12:07 PM

Closing Date (based on your computer's timezone)

Ongoing

Required Application Materials

Cover Letter, Resume

Contact

Contact Name: Centralized Services Division

Contact Email: PSCHumanResources/[e-mail]

Contact Phone: [phone]

Anyone who needs to request a reasonable accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the HR staff identified on the job listing or by dialing the Montana Relay at 711. Montana Job Service Offices also offer services including assistance with submitting an online application.

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.