Staff Attorney 15/16 (Public Service Division)

State of Michigan; Lansing (MI); On-site; USD 72,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, vision insurance

Retirement plans (401(k)/457)

Paid parental leave

Paid holidays

Professional development

Alternative/remote work schedules

Job summary

State of Michigan seeks an entry-level attorney to represent the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) at meetings and hearings. You will provide day-to-day legal counsel to MPSC staff and respond to citizen inquiries, appearing in state and federal courts as needed.

The position advances to a Senior level with broader responsibilities, including advising and representing the MPSC and its staff in complex utility matters that may involve large sums and issues of first impression.

Qualifications

• Possession of a Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited school of law.
• Membership in good standing in the Michigan State Bar.
• Four years of post-bar admission legal experience (Senior 16).
• No specific type or amount of experience required for Attorney-Staff P15.

Responsibilities

• Represent the MPSC at designated meetings and administrative hearings.
• Appear on behalf of the MPSC in state and federal courts.
• Provide day-to-day legal counsel to the MPSC staff and respond to citizen inquiries.

Skills

Legal representation

Litigation

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Job description

Job Description

As an entry level attorney under the general supervision of the Division Chief or the First Assistant, represents the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) at designated meetings and administrative hearings; appears on behalf of the MPSC in state and federal courts; provides day to day legal counsel to the MPSC staff, and responds to citizen complaints/inquiries.

Position Description (15 Level)

A senior level attorney that, under the supervision of the Division Chief or the First Assistant, provides legal advice to, and represents the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) and its staff in public utility matters that can involve legally and factually complex litigation in both state administrative and court proceedings. Cases can also involve legal issues of first impression with broad social impact or large sums of money impacting the citizens of the state.

Position Description (16 Level)

Required Education And Experience

Education

Possession of a Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited school of law.

Experience

Attorney-Staff P15

No specific type or amount is required.

Attorney-Senior 16

Four years of post-bar admission legal experience.

Additional Requirements And Information

Special Requirements, Licenses, and Certifications

Membership in good standing in the Michigan State Bar

Accommodations

If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in the application or selection processes, please contact the ADA coordinator for the agency that posted this position vacancy.

Benefits

• Rewarding Work: State of Michigan jobs allow you to serve Michiganders in many different ways depending on your interests and skills. Help preserve and protect our environment and the public health; enforce state laws and regulations; advocate for children, families, and victims of discrimination; support our state’s military and veterans; rebuild our state’s infrastructure; or support other state agencies through our fiscal, IT, and HR systems.
• Insurance Benefits: The State of Michigan offers health, mental health, dental, and vision insurance to eligible career employees, their spouses, and their children. The state also covers a life-insurance benefit of two times employees’ annual salary (up to $200,000). The state also offers long-term-disability insurance that can provide continuing benefits if an injury or illness prevents employees from working. More information is available at www.mi.gov/employeebenefits.
• Retirement Programs: The State of Michigan offers 401(k) and 457 plans for new hires to save for retirement. The state will automatically contribute an amount equal to 4% of your pay to a 401(k) account. The state will also match up to 5% of your pay if you contribute to your 401(k) account. Your contributions vest immediately, and the state’s contributions fully vest after just 4 years. More information is available at http://www.mi.gov/orsstatedc.
• Vacation and Sick Leave: Eligible full-time employees receive between 15 and 35 personal days and 13 sick days per year that may be rolled over to the following year if not used. Eligible employees also receive an additional day each year for community service or school functions.
• Paid Parental Leave: Eligible employees can take 12 weeks of paid leave immediately after a birth or adoption to allow needed time together at home with a new child.
• Paid Holidays: Eligible employees receive 13 or 14 paid holidays each year including New Year’s Eve and Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Election Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving Friday, Christmas Eve and Day.
• Bonus Programs: Eligible employees with five years of service also receive annual longevity bonuses that grow as seniority increases. Some positions also may qualify for recruitment, retention, and performance bonuses or other special pay premiums.
• Military Pay Differential: Employees in the guard or reserves may also qualify for supplemental pay benefits if miliary pay during qualifying duty is less than normal state pay. Prior military service may also allow seniority credits to accelerate eligibility for longevity bonuses and additional personal leave accrual.
• Tax-Advantaged Programs: In addition to 401(k) and 457 retirement accounts, the state also offers flexible spending account (FSA), health savings account (HSA), and qualified transportation fringe benefit (QTFB) programs that can help you save money by reducing your taxable income.
• Student Loan Forgiveness: Working for the State of Michigan may allow you to participate in programs that forgive the balance of qualifying student loans. Please view Student Loan Information to help determine if you could qualify is available from the U.S. Department of Education.
• Tuition Reduction: Some colleges and universities offer savings to eligible employees and family members to further their education while working for the State of Michigan.
• Professional Development: To help develop your career, programs are available to apply for reimbursement of up to $2,000 a year for education and training for college course credits and non-degree programs.
• Alternative and Remote Work Schedules: Depending on the nature of their duties, many state jobs offer flexible work schedules and remote or hybrid telecommuting options that can help obtain the work-life balance that you seek.

Great Lakes and Great Times: Michigan boasts four Great Lakes, 11,000 inland lakes, 36,000 miles of rivers and streams, 20 million acres of forests, 100 state and national parks and recreation areas, 1,300 miles of bike trails, 6,500 miles of snowmobile trails, the second-most ski areas in the nation, 650 public golf courses, 600 campgrounds, and an international dark-sky park—just for starters. Our cities offer concerts and cultural events, storied sports teams, education hubs, vibrant downtowns, one-of-a-kind craft beverages, and renowned restaurants for every appetite. From urban centers to beach towns to the great outdoors, the opportunities are endless. With your state salary and benefits and Michigan’s affordable cost of living, you can explore all that Michigan has to offer.

Updated: 2/28/24