Utilities Attorney

About the role

The State Corporation Commission’s (“Commission” or “SCC”) Office of General Counsel (“OGC”) seeks a staff attorney to join its Utilities practice. Staff attorneys in OGC perform a wide range of legal activities and work closely with internal clients (technical staff in the utilities divisions of the SCC).

Responsibilities

• Conduct formal proceedings before the Commission as staff counsel
• Research questions of law and interpret rulings
• Provide oral and written legal advice as requested
• Prepare draft Commission orders, opinions, regulations, administrative procedures, memoranda, and correspondence
• Represent and provide counsel mainly to the Commission’s Divisions of Public Utility Regulation and Utility Accounting and Finance involving matters of energy and utility regulation
• Assist the utilities divisions with legislative matters, including drafting, reviewing, and providing advice on proposed legislation
• Participate with utilities staff in activities before the federal regulatory agencies and in cooperation with staff of regional alliances of utility commissions, such as the Organization of PJM States and the Mid-Atlantic Conference of Regulatory Utility Commissioners

Requirements

• Experience in utility, regulatory, and/or administrative law
• Graduated from an accredited law school
• Member of the Virginia State Bar, eligible for membership by motion, or successfully passed the next available bar examination
• Ability to make oral presentations in adversarial proceedings
• Research questions of law and interpret rulings
• Draft legal memoranda, pleadings, and motions
• Perform complex legal tasks while meeting deadlines
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Work effectively both independently and as part of legal teams representing divisional clients
• Time management skills, the ability to handle multiple projects, and the ability to meet deadlines
• Experience with public utilities or knowledge of Virginia statutory authority and administrative law pertinent to areas of Commission regulation is a plus

Qualifications

• Law degree from an accredited law school
• Bar membership or eligibility to become a member
• Ability to meet deadlines and manage multiple projects

Skills

• Legal research and analysis
• Oral and written advocacy
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Complex task execution
• Public speaking and presentation

Benefits

This position offers a hybrid work schedule (generally 3 days of telework, 2 days in office each week) as well as training and professional development opportunities.

Pay

$98,000 - $125,000

Schedule

Hybrid work schedule (generally 3 days of telework, 2 days in office each week)