Senior Attorney (Public Utility Litigation)

State of Florida; Tallahassee (FL); On-site; USD 61,000 - 123,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Tuition opportunities

Leave accrual

Retirement plan

Job summary

The Office of Public Counsel of the State of Florida seeks an experienced Senior Attorney to represent Florida’s utility customers in rate cases, tariffs, and related regulatory matters. You will advocate for affordable energy, coordinate with staff and outside counsel, and present complex litigation before authorities and courts.

Your role includes mentoring junior counsel, developing regulatory strategies, and ensuring ethical, responsible handling of public funds and sensitive information in

Qualifications

• Admitted to The Florida Bar in good standing.
• Minimum of two years of professional legal experience or equivalent.
• Experience in public utility or regulatory litigation is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Master and apply Florida and federal legal rules in utility litigation.
• Organize complex documents, research, and briefs for cases.
• Interpret state and federal legislation and rules affecting utilities.
• Lead and collaborate with colleagues, outside counsel, and staff.
• Prepare and present trial briefs, motions, pleadings, and oral arguments.
• Maintain ethical standards and safeguard confidential information.
• Advocate for affordable utility rates and customer protections.

Skills

Litigation mastery

Legal reasoning

Document management

Regulatory understanding

Oral arguments

Ethics

Leadership

Team collaboration

Policy advocacy

Research skills

Education

Florida Bar admission

Job description

The State Personnel System is an E-Verify employer. For more information click on our E-Verify Website .

Senior Attorney (Public Utility Litigation)

THE WORK YOU WILL DO

The Office of Public Counsel seeks an exceptionally talented attorney to join our team of experienced advocates to represent Florida’s customers in critical cases involving large utility rate increases, data center utility tariffs and agreements, defending utility systems from acquisition by out-of-state private equity companies, and promoting the cost-effective and affordable integration of future energy technologies to support Florida’s energy needs. As the statutory legal counsel for 18 million customers of Florida’s investor-owned public utilities, our advocates regularly take their electric and gas cases on direct appeal to the Florida Supreme Court.

OUR ORGANIZATION

The Office of Public Counsel has zealously represented Florida’s customers in high-profile litigation for the past 51 years. We intervene as a matter of right for all residential, small business, commercial, and industrial customer classes, promoting their collective interests in public utility litigation. Our advocates actively confront critical affordability issues in televised hearings before the Public Service Commission, where the amounts in controversy can exceed billions of dollars.

EXAMPLES OF WORK PERFORMED

• Learning and Personal Growth: If you bring the willingness to devote yourself to mastery of public utilities law, we will invest the substantial time and resources required to prepare you for success in this rapidly growing practice area.
• Customer Advocacy: Continue to hone your advocacy skills in a variety of public venues to promote the best interests of Florida’s customers, ranging from the highest courts to local service hearings within impacted communities. Multilingual ability is an asset, not required.
• Advocate for Regulatory Change: Enforce the regulatory framework of customer protections and recommend changes that improve outcomes for customers.
• Appellate Advocacy: You will receive collaborative support from our experienced attorneys, industry consultants, legal assistants, and other intervening cooperative partners to present effective written and oral arguments.
• Depositions and Cross Examination: With the support of staff, collaboratively conduct effective discovery, depositions, and cross examinations of industry experts and executives.
• Expert Witnesses: Retain, prepare, and defend your own national industry experts in depositions and hearings.
• Communicate and Negotiate: Develop your “soft skills” to informally resolve discovery, and other litigation issues. Negotiate partial or global outcomes that have a positive impact on affordability for Florida’s customers.
• Lead, Mentor, and Develop: As a member of the leadership team, set the example, mentor, and encourage the future success of junior counsel in a collaborative environment.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Display increasing mastery of the rules related to litigation practice in Florida
• Comprehend, utilize, and organize complex documents, legal theories, and research
• Interpret state and federal legislation, laws, and rules
• Employ legal reasoning to anticipate challenges and implement creative solutions
• Display independent leadership, cooperative teamwork, initiative, and common sense
• Work collaboratively with outside counsel, expert witnesses, officials, and public staff
• Conduct effective and efficient meetings and presentations
• Prepare well-written, accurate, and persuasive legal writing
• Conduct relevant and effective legal research to support your legal positions
• Prepare and present trial briefs, motions, pleadings, and oral arguments
• Practice good stewardship over all public funds and property
• Uphold the highest standards of ethics and professionalism
• Safeguard confidential and other sensitive information
• Treat all people with courtesy, dignity, and respect
• Effectively advocate for affordable utility rates and other positive litigation outcomes
• Collaborate in a professional work environment dedicated to operational excellence

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

An attorney in good standing with The Florida Bar and two years of professional experience in the practice of law, legal research, teaching law, or in administrative or judicial hearings.

SALARY RANGE

$61,188-$122,748, commensurate with ability and experience. Current salary is relevant.

BENEFITS

Excellent individual and family health benefits include free dental insurance.

Retirement plan options include employer contributions.

Utilize state tuition opportunities to secure advanced degrees.

Enjoy a generous allotment and accrual of leave, sick leave, and holidays.

Capture a total of 200 excess hours toward block leave, with a large annual carryforward. The long-range hearing calendar promotes off-cycle utilization of the leave earned while trying an average of three complex, multi-day cases per year.

Take advantage of the unique opportunity to develop utility-specific litigation skills from recognized subject-matter experts in a fast-growing legal specialty.

APPLICATION DEADLINE

This position will remain open until it is filled.

ACCOMMODATION FOR DISABILITY

Please notify Human Resources at [phone] regarding accommodation for persons with disabilities.

For assistance, call the People First Service Center at [phone] Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Eastern time. Pursuant to Florida Law, 110.211 F. S., the State of Florida is an EEO employer.