Legal Assistant

State of Montana; Helena (MT); On-site; USD 40,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

Vacation and sick days

Paid holidays

Flexible scheduling

Job summary

The Montana Public Service Commission in Helena seeks a Legal Assistant to support our regulatory oversight of electric, water, telecom, and other essential services. You will join a small, dedicated legal team focused on fair prices, responsible practices, and reliable service for Montana customers.

Reporting to the Chief Legal Counsel and Commission Secretary, the role blends document processing, IT support, and general office duties.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• One year legal or general office experience.
• Other combinations of education and experience may be considered.

Responsibilities

• 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 REDDI system and finalizing PSC filings.
• Accepting/rejecting third party filings and coordinating with contractors.
• Monitoring deadlines and negotiating timelines with document remediation contractors.
• Upload public records information and update rulemaking information on the website.
• Handle IT matters during meetings, provide desk coverage, and assist with REDDI troubleshooting.

Skills

Excellent legal writing

Legal research skills

Microsoft Office 365

Discretion and professionalism

Education

High School Diploma or Equivalent

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.

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

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.

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.