Staff Attorney 2

Northeast Energy & Commerce Association; Connecticut; On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The Connecticut Office of Consumer Counsel (OCC) is seeking a Staff Attorney 2 to advance regulatory and legal work across energy, water, and telecommunications. You will handle cases in administrative and judicial settings and contribute to policy advocacy for Connecticut consumers.

Two years of law practice are required; CT bar admission is preferred. The position involves collaboration with state agencies and possible travel to support OCC’s mission of fair utility rates and services.

Qualifications

• Two years of legal practice experience.
• Experience in regulatory proceedings or court.
• Experience with administrative agency processes and the Uniform Administrative Procedure Act.
• Experience in legal research and writing.
• Experience interpreting and applying state and/or federal laws.
• Experience with energy, natural gas, water, telecommunications, or related technical field.
• Experience working in a multi-disciplinary team setting.
• Experience explaining complex information to diverse audiences.
• Interest in policy research and analysis related to energy and consumer protection.

Responsibilities

• Performs advanced and complex legal work for the agency.
• Researches, interprets, analyzes and applies laws, regulations, and case law.
• Represents the agency in formal administrative and public proceedings.
• Drafts advisory opinions, rulings, and legal documents.
• Collaborates with the Attorney General’s Office and other agencies on legal issues and policy development.
• Provides legal guidance to the Consumer Counsel and management.
• Assists in legislative proposals and policy initiatives.
• Maintains precedent manuals and prepares reports for proceedings.

Skills

Legal principles

Legal research

Uniform APA Act

Statutory interpretation

Oral communication

Written communication

Interpersonal skills

Education

Juris Doctor

Job description

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

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Staff Attorney 2

Organization: Connecticut Office of Consumer Counsel

Date Posted: 3/16/2026

City: New Britain

Location: Connecticut

Country: United States

Primary Category: Legal

Subcategories: Energy, Environmental, Financial, Regulatory/ Policy

Type of Position: Full-Time

Description & Details

Company Summary

The OCC is an independent State agency that acts as the advocate for consumer interest in matters which may affect Connecticut consumers relating to electricity, natural gas, water, and telecommunications. The OCC works on cutting edge energy policy issues as the voice of the consumer. We are a statutory party to all proceedings before the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) and are authorized to appear and participate in any regulatory or judicial proceedings, federal or state, in which the interests of Connecticut utility consumers may be involved.

In addition to representing consumer interests before PURA and the courts, the OCC:

• Participates in proceedings before federal agencies, including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC);
• Promotes the interests of consumers at the Connecticut legislature and in regional and national forums and conferences;
• Serves as a voting member of New England Power Pool (NEPOOL), as the representative of Connecticut ratepayers.
• Promotes and supports public transparency and understanding of complex regulatory and ratemaking concepts.

Our Work Covers a Wide Range Of Topics, Including

• Energy infrastructure (e.g., electric transmission lines, non-wires alternatives);
• Renewable energy, distributed generation, and grid modernization;
• Energy efficiency and demand response;
• Wholesale and retail electric and gas markets and rates;
• Water rates, infrastructure, and resource planning;
• Utility service quality and storm response;
• Electric vehicles and energy storage;
• Telecommunications service, service quality, and infrastructure, broadband access, and telecommunications policy.

Job Overview

The Staff Attorney 2 will have the opportunity to work on and participate in cases in both administrative and judicial settings, and to engage in policy advocacy and outreach to inform and educate state leaders and the public about complex energy sector issues.

This position will support OCC’s core mission of advocating for fair and equitable electric, water, and gas utility rates and reliable, quality utility service before PURA and other venues, and will also more broadly support OCC’s analytical, research, and policy advocacy work.

Responsibilities of this position may include, but are not limited to:

• Working and participating in cases in administrative and judicial settings, including the opportunity to serve as lead counsel on matters involving a variety of advanced and complex legal issues related to OCC’s statutory responsibilities;
• Serving as a team member of a small, highly-skilled staff dedicated to the mission of consumer advocacy;
• Working independently and creatively to solve complex problems;
• Corresponding with subject-matter experts on contested and uncontested matters;
• Collaborating with the Office of the Attorney General, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, and other state agencies on legal issues, policy development, or resource procurements;
• Providing legal guidance to the Consumer Counsel and managerial team;
• Developing, reviewing, and providing opinion on state legislative proposals;
• Working with members of OCC on cutting edge policy initiatives at the state, regional and federal level;
• Developing consumer information guides and public materials explaining utility regulation, energy rates and costs, and utility consumer protection issues;
• Other related duties as deemed necessary.

After completion of three (3) years of successful and satisfactory performance as a Staff Attorney 2 in the same agency, an incumbent will be moved to the Staff Attorney 3 classification (on the first pay period following the completion of three (3) year requirement).

Job Responsibilities

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Performs advanced and complex legal work of an agency;
• Researches, interprets, analyzes and applies complex and conflicting laws and regulations, case law and legal principles;
• Acts as hearing officer or represents agency in formal administrative and public proceedings on a full range of cases involving complex legal and technical issues;
• Negotiates and drafts settlement agreements;
• Drafts advisory opinions, rulings, decisions, recommendations, findings, legislation, statutes, regulations, publications and other related legal documents;
• Assists in the preparation and presentation of trials and appeals;
• Consults with the Office of the Attorney General on legal issues;
• Researches complex legal issues;
• Conducts investigations and enforcement proceedings;
• Prepares comprehensive reports for use in administrative and court proceedings;
• Prepares pleadings and other court papers;
• Interprets and applies complex or conflicting laws and regulations, case law and legal principles;
• Participates in the conduct of various educational activities;
• Provides legal guidance when duly authorized;
• Provides input into policy formation;
• Reviews court decisions, new and proposed laws and regulations to determine impact on agency operations;
• Prepares and maintains precedent manuals;
• Reviews legal and other related documents for legal sufficiency;
• May testify at or monitor legislative proceedings;
• May represent agency in court when authorized;
• Performs related duties as required.

Job Qualifications

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

Considerable Knowledge Of

• legal principles, practices and procedures in Connecticut;
• legal research techniques;
• the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act;
• and the ability to interpret and apply relevant state and federal laws, statutes, regulations and legislation;
• relevant agency policies and procedures.

Knowledge Of

• the rules of evidence;
• criminal and constitutional law and legislative process.

Considerable

• interpersonal skills;
• oral and written communication skills.

Considerable Ability To

• apply judicial decisions to the interpretation of statutes;
• comprehend, analyze and organize technical data and coordinate elements of legal cases.

Minimum Qualifications – General Experience

Two (2) years of experience in the practice of law.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in regulatory proceedings or court, including oral advocacy on complex issues.
• Experience with administrative agency processes and the Uniform Administrative Procedure Act, including administrative hearings or administrative appeals.
• Experience in legal research and writing skills.
• Experience interpreting and applying state and/or federal laws.
• Experience with one or more of the following: energy, natural gas, water, telecommunications, utility, finance, economics, environmental, or other related technical field.
• Experience working in a multi-disciplinary team setting, including with technical experts.
• Experience explaining complex information to various and diverse audiences, orally and through written materials.
• Experience and interest in researching and analyzing policy issues related to energy, consumer protection, water, and telecommunications.

Special Requirements

• Incumbents in this class must be admitted to practice law in the State of Connecticut.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.