Attorney IV

Agency

Dept of Commerce

Division

Utilities Commission

Job Classification Title

Attorney IV (NS)

Position Number

60077208

Grade

LG09

About Us

The North Carolina Department of Commerce is the state's lead agency for economic, community and workforce development. The department works with local, regional, national and international organizations to fulfill its mission to improve the economic well-being and quality of life for all North Carolinians.

The Department connects businesses with the site locations, workforce and infrastructure they need to succeed in one of the nation's top states for business. We also connect local communities with the grants and funding they need to attract new business and ensure future prosperity.

Description of Work

Are you looking for meaningful public service work that will positively impact the residents of North Carolina? If your answer is yes, we want you to join our team at the Utilities Commission.

The NC Utilities Commission is looking for an Attorney IV. This position is assigned to the Commission’s Legal Division.

The Commission regulates the rates charged and service provided by approximately 3,000 public utilities operating in the State. The Legal Division is currently comprised of 9 attorneys, including the General Counsel and Deputy, plus 4 paralegals, 1 legal assistant, and 5 other employees in the records management and court reporter sections.

The Attorney IV serves as a legal advisor to the members of the Utilities Commission and its professional staff. The Attorney IV is responsible for the most advanced, difficult, and important matters of legal interpretation, counsel, and litigation in the highly complex and specialized field of public utilities regulation.

They regularly advise Commission members and professional staff on matters in the Commission’s jurisdiction and in matters involving the decision-making process in contested cases, rulemaking proceedings, and other public policy related proceedings.

Responsibilities include:
• Coordinating the proceedings before the Commission.
• Analyzing and making recommendations for Commission action on the most advanced, difficult, and complex legal issues presented in these proceedings. These proceedings include general rate cases and other cost recovery proceedings, rulemaking proceedings, certification proceedings, complaint cases, show cause proceedings, and special investigations.
• Working under minimal supervision to analyze facts, research and comprehend legal issues, and make recommendations to the Commission, either alone or with other Commission staff members, such as accountants, engineers, and policy analysts.
• Ensuring the lawfulness of decisions issued by the Commission.
• Coordinating case management timelines and the order writing process among various Commission staff to ensure that orders of the Commission are timely, well-written, legally sound, and accurately reflect decisions made by the Commission.

The Attorney IV is expected to work independently, with minimal supervision from their manager. The Senior Staff Attorney is also expected to work constructively and collaboratively with commissioners and other Commission staff. They must communicate clearly and effectively on complex topics, both verbally and in writing.

When serving as a hearing examiner, the Attorney IV must preside over a legal proceeding, develop a record, make a sound decision based on law applied to the findings of facts, and draft a clearly written decision that is well-reasoned and accurate.

This a full-time position (40 hours per week) with State Benefits, including health insurance, as well as retirement.

Applicants invited to interview will be required to provide a writing sample. The writing sample must be the applicant’s original work and should demonstrate legal analysis, clarity of written communication, and the ability to present complex information in an organized and persuasive manner. Acceptable samples include judicial decisions, administrative law decisions, legal memoranda, briefs, motions, or other comparable legal documents authored solely by the applicant. Samples should be submitted in hard copy at the interview, should have original formatting and content intact, and should be no more than 15 pages.

Incentives of NC State Employment
We value our employees and offer a wide variety of competitive and family-friendly benefits.

Benefits to include:
• 12 Annual Paid Holidays and monthly accrual of vacation and sick leave.
• North Carolina State Health Plan administered by Aetna.
• Supplemental Benefits including Flexible Spending Accounts, Accident Insurance, Cancer & Specified Disease, Critical Illness, Dental, and Vision.
• NC State Retirement (TSERS), 401(k), and 457 savings plans.
• WeSave Employee Discounts.
• Eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Learn more about new hire resources, safety, health, and wellness information, leave options, employee discounts and more by selecting the link below: https://oshr.nc.gov/state-employee-resources/benefits

Note to Current State Employees
The salary grade for this position is LG09. State employees are encouraged to apply for positions of interest even if the salary grade is the same as, or lower than, their current position. If selected for this position, a new salary will be recalculated taking into consideration the quantity of relevant education and experience, funding availability, and internal equity. Based upon those factors, a pay increase MAY result.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences

Recruitment Range: $96,513 - $145,885

Important: This posting closes at 11:59:59 PM the night BEFORE the End Date above

Management Preferences - Optional: These skills are not required but managers may choose to interview/select applicants who demonstrate Management Preferences.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities / Competencies

• Demonstrated ability to conduct legal research and analyze the law in highly complex issues.
• Demonstrated ability to provide independent legal advice and counsel.
• Demonstrated ability to find creative solutions to legal issues with major ramifications.
• Demonstrated ability to express highly complex legal concepts and related facts in a clear, concise, and organized manner, both oral and written.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate, facilitate, and participate in a collaborative approach to complete assignments.

Education and Experience Requirements

APPLICANTS MUST MEET THE EDUCATIONAL AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR THIS POSITION. 
  
Some state job postings say you can qualify by an “equivalent combination of education and experience.” If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See the OSHR Guide for details.

Licensed to practice law by the North Carolina State Bar and four years of progressively responsible professional legal experience.

NOTE: GS 114-2 and 114-6 make it the duty of the Attorney General of NC to represent the State of North Carolina in all litigation unless another statute specifically states otherwise.

Supplemental and Contact Information

About the Utilities Commission
The primary purpose of the Utilities Commission is to regulate the rates and quality of service of investor-owned public utilities in the State of North Carolina. The primary purpose of the Legal Division of the Commission is to provide the Commission with a full range of expert legal counsel and technical advice, assistance, and support with respect to all aspects of agency operations in the complex and specialized field of public utility regulation.

More specifically, the major responsibilities of the Legal Division are as follows:
• Advising and assisting members of the Commission and its professional staff in the deliberative and decision-making process.
• Preparing and issuing Commission Orders and reports.
• Managing the Commission's formal dockets.
• Performing hearing examiner functions and duties.

About the Department of Commerce
The North Carolina Department of Commerce is the state's lead agency for economic, community, and workforce development. The department works with local, regional, national, and international organizations to fulfill its mission to improve the economic well-being and quality of life for all North Carolinians.

Commerce is an Equal Opportunity Employer who embraces an Employment First philosophy which consists of complying with all federal laws, state laws, and Executive Orders. Commerce does not provide employment visa sponsorship. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire and throughout employment.

NC Department of Commerce uses the Merit-Based Recruitment and Selection Plan to fill positions subject to the State Human Resources Act with the most qualified individuals. The Minimum Education and Experience (E&E) is REQUIRED to qualify for this position. All work history and education (including accurate dates of employment/attendance) must be documented on the application. Transcripts may be attached to supplement education and work experience may include internships, volunteerism, and full and part-time work. Supplemental Questions are also a required part of the application: answers must reference education or work experience listed on the application. 

"Resumes may be attached as a supplement to the application but are not a substitution for a complete application."

We are committed to reviewing requests for reasonable accommodation at any time during the hiring process and throughout employment.  Applicants requesting and receiving an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) are eligible to submit paper applications via mail or by fax by the vacancy closing date.

Applicants seeking Veteran's Preference must attach a DD-214 Form (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to their applications.

Applicants seeking National Guard Preference must attach a NGB 23A (RPAS) if they are a current member of the NC National Guard in good standing.  If a former member of the NC National Guard who served for at least 6 years and was discharged under honorable conditions, they must attach either a DD256 or NGB 22.

Our Agency uses the OSHR Recruiting and Posting of Vacancies Policy to fill positions subject to the State Human Resources Act with the most qualified individuals. All applicants must complete and submit a state application for employment.

**PLEASE NOTE**  It is critical to our screening and salary determination process that applications contain comprehensive information. Please make sure you complete the application in full.   Information should be provided in the appropriate areas to include all work experience, the beginning and ending dates of jobs worked, education with the graduation date, and certificates/licenses.  

Any information omitted from the application cannot be considered in screening for qualifying credit.  Hiring salary will be based on relevant qualifications, internal equity, and budgetary considerations pertinent to the advertised position.  

***INCLUDE ALL RELEVANT EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE IN THE DESIGNATED EDUCATION AND WORK HISTORY SECTION ON THE FORMAL APPLICATION***

Attached or incorporated resumes (including Text resumes on the application form) WILL NOT be accepted in lieu of completing this application and WILL NOT be used for screening for qualifying credit.  "See Resume" or “See Attachment" within the fillable application sections WILL NOT be accepted and will be considered an incomplete application and will not be processed.

 Answers to Supplemental Questions must refer to education or work experience listed on this application to receive credit.  Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.  To receive credit for your work history and credentials, you must list the information on the application form.   For additional information about applications and processes with the state of NC, please visit:  How Do I Get the Job.

   
Applications for positions requiring specific coursework must be accompanied by a copy of the applicant's transcript. If applicants earned college credit hours but did not complete a degree program, they must attach an unofficial transcript to each application to receive credit for this education.

Re-Entry for Formerly Incarcerated Individuals
Our Agency supports the Governor's Executive Order 303 which seeks to re-employ individuals that were previously incarcerated.  Formerly incarcerated individuals are invited to apply for any vacant Commerce position(s) in which they believe they are qualified.

By providing the requested information, you certify that you have given true, accurate and complete information on this attachment to the best of your knowledge. In the event confirmation is needed in connection with your work, you authorize educational institutions, associations, registration and licensing boards, and others to furnish whatever detail is available concerning your qualifications. You authorize investigation of all statements made in this application and understand that false information or documentation, or a failure to disclose relevant information may be grounds for rejection of your application, disciplinary action or dismissal if you are employed, and(or) criminal action. You further understand that dismissal upon employment shall be mandatory if fraudulent disclosures are given to meet position qualifications (Authority: GS 126-30, GS 14- 122.1).

Minimum Education and Experience

Some state job postings say you can qualify by an “equivalent combination of education and experience.” If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See the Education and Experience Equivalency Guide for details.

EEO Statement

The State of North Carolina is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and dedicated to providing employees with a work environment free from all forms of unlawful employment discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. The state provides reasonable accommodation to employees and applicants with disabilities; known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; and for religious beliefs, observances, and practices.

Recruiter:

Maxine Anderson

Recruiter Email:

MANDERSON@NCUC.GOV