Senior Attorney (Public Utility Litigation)

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

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Retirement plan

Tuition opportunities

Generous leave accrual

Job summary

Florida Legislature's Office of Public Counsel seeks an exceptionally talented attorney to represent Florida’s customers in major utility rate and tariff cases, including data centers and energy technology integration. The role involves high-stakes litigation, prehearing discovery, and appellate work before the Florida Supreme Court.

You will work with a collaborative team, rely on in-house technical experts, and advocate for affordable rates while protecting consumers across Florida.

Qualifications

• Active membership in good standing with The Florida Bar.
• Two years of professional experience in practice of law, legal research, teaching law, or in administrative/judicial hearings.

Responsibilities

• Represent Florida’s customers in high-stakes utility cases and public interest matters.
• Engage in appellate advocacy, write briefs, argue before courts including the Florida Supreme Court.
• conduct depositions, cross-examinations, and manage discovery with in-house and outside experts.
• Collaborate with staff, outside counsel, and public staff to develop litigation strategies and recommendations.

Skills

Public utility law

Oral advocacy

Legal research

Appellate advocacy

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Job description

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.

The Office of Public Counsel performs independent analyses, presents the testimony of national expert witnesses, deposes and cross-examines utility witnesses, and prepares detailed legal briefs and recommendations. Our attorneys manage their own cases but operate as members of collaborative litigation teams, supported by in-house technical experts and paralegals. Nationally acclaimed experts augment our in-house staff by reviewing extensive case filings and providing critical technical advice to guide the cooperative development of effective legal strategies for prehearing discovery, trials, and appeals.

The Public Counsel is a completely independent consumer advocate that works for the citizens of the State of Florida under the authority of the Joint Committee on Public Counsel Oversight a joint Committee of the Florida House of Representatives and Senate.

• 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.

• 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

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.

SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION

Qualified applicants should submit an application and detailed resume through the Florida Legislature's Job Portal.

ACCOMMODATION FOR DISABILITY

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

Explore this opportunity by contacting the Public Counsel, Walt Trierweiler, directly by phone: [phone], or by email: [e-mail], to set up a visit to our offices in Tallahassee.

Note: Remote work is not an option.