Research Attorney- ALJ (Attorney 1-3)

Grambling State University; Baton Rouge (LA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 63,000; Full time

Job summary

The Louisiana Public Service Commission is seeking an Attorney 1 to serve as Research Attorney in the Administrative Hearings Division. You will provide legal and technical research, writing, and organizational support to administrative law judges handling utility regulation matters.

Qualified candidates hold a current Louisiana license to practice law and will work under a provitional/promotion framework with a structured career path.

Qualifications

• Current Louisiana license to practice law is required.
• Strong legal research and writing skills required.
• Experience maintaining case charts and calendars is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Assign matters to judges and maintain case charts.
• Conduct legal/technical research and draft rulings, notices, reports, and orders.
• Draft confidential memoranda and assist with docket scheduling in Outlook.
• Act as liaison between parties and the assigned administrative law judge.

Skills

Legal research

Legal writing

Case management

Regulatory understanding

Education

Louisiana license to practice law

Job description

The Louisiana Public Service Commission (LPSC) is a constitutionally created regulatory agency dedicated to serving the public interest. The LPSC’s mission is to impartially, equitably, and efficiently regulate the rates and service of public utilities and common carriers operating in the State so as to ensure: safe, reliable, and reasonably priced services for consumers and provide the opportunity for a fair rate of return for the regulated utilities and common carriers; and to carry out legislative mandates.

We’re looking for an Attorney 1 to serve as Research Attorney in the Commission's Administrative Hearings Division, providing legal and technical research, writing, and organizational assistance to the administrative law judges overseeing the Commission's adjudicatory matters. The Division handles complex regulatory cases involving the infrastructure, processes, and finances of the electric, gas, water, sewer, telecommunications, railroad, and transportation industries.

This job is a great opportunity to learn the ropes of public utility and common carrier regulation in Louisiana, hone your legal research and writing skills, and observe trial litigation!

Possession of a current Louisiana license to practice law.

The official job specifications for this role, as defined by the State Civil Service, can be found here.

Job Duties

As an Attorney 1, you will:

• Be assigned to every matter before the Division, along with one of the three administrative law judges.


• The research attorney assists the administrative law judges throughout the duration of each matter by maintaining case charts, conducting any necessary legal or technical research, drafting documents (including rulings, notices, reports, recommendations, and orders), and preparing confidential memoranda. The research attorney also assists the administrative law judges with calendaring docket-related events and deadlines in Outlook.


• The research attorney is expected to attend hearings and status conferences and prepare draft reports/rulings, etc.


• The research attorney acts as a liaison between the parties and the assigned administrative law judge, responding to procedural questions of the parties in a proceeding.

Position Specific Details

Appointment Type: Probational and Promotional

Career Progression: This position participates in a Career Progression Group (CPG). This position provides the opportunity to advance within the job series Attorney 1-3.

Work Schedule: Work hours are 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday-Friday.

Compensation: This position has a Special Entrance Rate (SER) as follows: Attorney 1, the SER is $2,426.40 biweekly.

Contact Information

For further information about this vacancy contact:

Sara Simpson

Louisiana Public Service Commission

[e-mail]

Louisiana is a State As a Model Employer (SAME) that supports the recruitment, hiring, and retention of individuals with disabilities.