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The Public Service Commission seeks an attorney to aid our agency in exercising regulatory oversight of some of the largest essential industries in Montana. The Commission works to ensure fair prices, responsible business practices, and reliable services for Montana customers. This position offers a unique opportunity to work with a small but innovative state agency. The successful candidate will join our team of attorneys who find the work to be interesting, meaningful, and critical to our agency’s goal of serving the citizens of Montana extraordinarily well.
Duties
Reviews, studies, researches, and annotates laws, court decisions, documents, opinions, briefs, and related legal authorities.
Prepares draft orders, opinions, and legal memoranda, including appropriate analyses, suggestions, or recommendations to the Commission and its staff.
Reviews party briefs, Commission casefiles, and transcripts.
Confers with Commissioners and staff concerning legal questions, construction of legal documents, including orders.
In coordination with staff work team, presents staff recommendations in administrative cases.
Advises the presiding officer of the Commission during contested case hearings, rulemaking hearings, and listening sessions.
May be appointed to act as a hearing examiner in contested case proceedings, or prepare appropriate findings of fact, conclusions of law, and proposed orders for the Commission.
Provides advice to the Commission on complex contested case proceedings across multiple fields within the Commission’s jurisdiction.
Prepares evidence, exhibits, motions, briefs, and other litigation documents.
Represents the Commission before state and federal courts in a variety of litigation matters.
Conducts investigations, prepares reports, and advises the Commission and its staff on issues within the Commission’s jurisdiction.
Appears before various state legislative and administrative bodies to represent the Commission’s interests in rulemaking and legislative proceedings.
Assists staff in bill drafting and editing, and in the drafting or review of administrative rules.
Required Application Materials:
Please submit a cover letter describing how your professional career, experience, and education prepared you to meet the requirements of this position; a two-page resume detailing all relevant work experiences, including employer, and duties; and a writing sample (e.g., a brief, legal memo, order or similar work product you have authored) authored by you alone.
Competencies
Knowledge of Montana Rules of Civil and Appellate Procedure, Federal Rules of Civil and Appellate Procedure, Montana Rules of Evidence, Uniform District Court Rules, and the Montana Administrative Procedure Act.
Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite, personal computers, office machines, and other job-related technologies.
Proficiency in legal research, including a working knowledge of electronic legal research platforms (e.g., Lexis/Westlaw) and printed research materials.
Excellent legal writing skills and oral advocacy skills.
Excellent organization, prioritization, multitasking and time management skills.
Strong sense of discretion, integrity, and professional responsibility in handling confidential and/or sensitive material.
Ability to work effectively as a member of a team and individually.
Strong sense of the chain of command, decorum, and professionalism.
Education and Experience
Qualifications
Juris Doctor from an ABA-accredited law school.
Admission to practice law in Montana or admission within one year from the date of hire.
At least two years of experience as a practicing attorney preferred.
Familiarity with general principles of utility regulation or a professional background with utility, energy, or administrative law is preferred.
