Chief Attorney

General Summary

The Office of Public Counsel seeks a talented and experienced supervising attorney to lead, guide, and train litigation teams to achieve successful outcomes for Florida’s utility customers. You will play a critical role as the statutory intervenor for cases involving utility rate affordability, data center tariffs and agreements, clean energy resources, storm hardening plans, hurricane restoration costs, corporate accounting and finance, capital investment plans, and the cost-effective development and integration of future energy technologies. You will also take or supervise direct appeals to the Florida Supreme Court for electric and gas cases, and to the First District Court of Appeals for water cases.

THE WORK YOU WILL DO

• Learning and Personal Growth: Invest the substantial time and resources required to prepare for success in a rapidly changing legal specialty.
• Appellate Advocacy: Receive collaborative support from experienced attorneys to present effective written and oral arguments.
• Customer Advocacy: Hone your advocacy skills in various public venues to promote the best interests of Florida’s customers.
• Advocate for Much Needed Regulatory Change: Enforce the regulatory framework of customer protections and recommend improvements.
• Legal Expertise and Guidance: Quickly respond to Legislative inquiries.
• Depositions and Cross Examination: Conduct written discovery, depositions, and examinations of industry experts and executives.
• Expert Witnesses: Retain, prepare, and defend your own industry experts in depositions and hearings.
• Lead, Mentor, and Develop: Set the example, mentor, and encourage the future success of junior counsel in a collaborative environment.

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.
• Advocate effectively in written and oral communications.
• Display independent leadership, cooperative teamwork, initiative, and common sense.
• Work collaboratively with outside counsel, expert witnesses, officials, and public staff.
• Cook up effective and efficient meetings and presentations.
• Prepare well-written, accurate, and persuasive legal writing.
• Conduct relevant and effective legal research to support your positions.
• Prepare and present trial briefs, motions, pleadings, and oral arguments.
• Exercise stewardship over all public funds and property.
• Uphold the highest standards of ethics and professionalism.
• Safeguard confidential and sensitive information.
• Treat all people with courtesy, dignity, and respect.
• Zealously advocate for affordable utility rates and other positive customer outcomes.

Minimum Qualifications

• Attorney in good standing with the Florida Bar with at least three years of significant litigation experience. Appellate experience is helpful but not required. Your industry-specific knowledge will be developed.

BENEFITS

• Excellent individual and family health benefits including free dental insurance.
• Retirement plan options that include employer contributions.
• Utilize state tuition opportunities to secure advanced degrees.
• Enjoy a generous upfront allotment of leave, sick leave, and holidays.
• Achieve work-life balance by embracing the unique opportunity to capture a total of 200 excess hours towards block leave, with a large annual carryforward to offset the demands of trying 3-5 complex, multi-day cases per year as lead attorney.

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 (850) 488-6803 regarding accommodation for persons with disabilities.

Working for the Florida Legislature includes a lucrative benefits package, including affordable health insurance options, free dental, long-term disability and employee life insurance, as well as competitive retirement.

Health and Dental Insurance

• Employees have a choice of participating in the State Self Insured Plan or a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) if available in the county of residence or employment (Standard and High Deductible Investor plans are available).
• Full-time employees pay $30 per month for family coverage or $8.34 per month for individual coverage. Part-time employees pay premiums based on the total hours of work.
• For dental insurance, the Legislature offers a PPO plan that offers choice of dentist and pays from 50 to 100 percent of usual, customary, and reasonable charges. There is a $1500 maximum benefit per plan year.
• The Legislature pays the total premium for full-time employees and part-time employees pay premiums based on the total hours of work.

Leave Accrual Benefits

• Annual Leave accrues as follows based on creditable state service:
• Up to 5 years - 11 hours per month
• 5 to 10 years - 13 hours per month
• Over 10 years - 15 hours per month
• Sick Leave accrues at 9 hours per month for all full-time employees.

Life and Disability Insurance

• Group Term life Insurance with an accidental death and dismemberment benefit provides $25,000 coverage. The Legislature pays the total premium for full-time employees and part-time employees pay premiums based on the total hours of work.
• For disability insurance, the Legislature offers a Group Long Term Disability Insurance Plan that provides a monthly benefit of 60 percent of covered monthly earnings after an elimination period of 360 days. The Legislature pays the total premium.

Retirement

• Participation in the Florida Retirement System is compulsory for all salaried staff, except certain re-employed retirees. New employees have until the end of the eighth month following their first month of employment to select a retirement plan, from the traditional pension plan or the investment plan. New employees will receive an informational packet approximately two months after the hire date. Members and staff contribute 3% of their salary towards retirement and the Legislature pays the remainder of the premium.

Florida Pre-Tax Plan and Deferred Compensation Plan

• This state sponsored program includes Supplemental Insurance Plans, Health Savings Account (when enrolled with an Investor Health Plan), and a Flexible Spending Program on a pretax basis. The Supplemental Insurance Plans include hospitalization, cancer/intensive care, dental, vision, and accidental/disability. The Flexible Spending Program includes healthcare and dependent care accounts. A competitive Deferred Compensation Plan is also offered. The State of Florida Deferred Compensation Plan offers a number of investment options including variable annuities, mutual funds, and a bank, with a variety of contract providers.

Paid Holidays

• New Year's Day
• Martin Luther King Day
• Memorial Day
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Veteran's Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Friday After Thanksgiving
• Christmas Day
• Personal Holiday

Total Compensation Statement

The Total Compensation Statement provides a monetary value of each benefit listed below as well as a total annual compensation estimate. The annual salary amount used in this example is $60,000. Note: All values are based on individual plans.

Employer

Florida Legislature

Address

111 W Madison St STE 874
Tallahassee, Florida, 32399-1400

Phone

(850) 488-6803