Staff Attorney 2

Organization: Connecticut Office of Consumer Counsel (OCC)

Location: New Britain, Connecticut

Type of Position: Full-Time

About the Organization

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.

• 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.

About the Role

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.

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.

Responsibilities

• Work and participate 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;
• Serve as a team member of a small, highly-skilled staff dedicated to the mission of consumer advocacy;
• Work independently and creatively to solve complex problems;
• Correspond with subject-matter experts on contested and uncontested matters;
• Collaborate 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;
• Provide legal guidance to the Consumer Counsel and managerial team;
• Develop, review, and provide opinion on state legislative proposals;
• Work with members of OCC on cutting-edge policy initiatives at the state, regional, and federal level;
• Develop consumer information guides and public materials explaining utility regulation, energy rates and costs, and utility consumer protection issues;
• Perform advanced and complex legal work of an agency;
• Research, interpret, analyze, and apply complex and conflicting laws and regulations, case law, and legal principles;
• Act as hearing officer or represent agency in formal administrative and public proceedings on a full range of cases involving complex legal and technical issues;
• Negotiate and draft settlement agreements;
• Draft advisory opinions, rulings, decisions, recommendations, findings, legislation, statutes, regulations, publications, and other related legal documents;
• Assist in the preparation and presentation of trials and appeals;
• Consult with the Office of the Attorney General on legal issues;
• Conduct investigations and enforcement proceedings;
• Prepare comprehensive reports for use in administrative and court proceedings;
• Prepare pleadings and other court papers;
• Interpret and apply complex or conflicting laws and regulations, case law, and legal principles;
• Participate in the conduct of various educational activities;
• Provide legal guidance when duly authorized;
• Provide input into policy formation;
• Review court decisions, new and proposed laws and regulations to determine impact on agency operations;
• Prepare and maintain precedent manuals;
• Review legal and other related documents for legal sufficiency;
• Testify at or monitor legislative proceedings;
• Represent agency in court when authorized.

Requirements

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.