Staff Attorney

OUC - The Reliable One, is presently seeking a Staff Attorney to join the Office of General Counsel division. At OUC, we don’t just work – we’re building a bright future of innovation and transformation for future generations.

We are looking for a detail-oriented, solutions-driven attorney to provide legal counsel and support on contracts, compliance, and regulatory matters. As part of the Office of General Counsel, you’ll advise internal clients, mitigate legal risk, and ensure business decisions align with organizational policies and regulations.

In this role, you will draft, review, and approve contracts, including RFPs, RFQs, MSAs, and service or lease agreements, while educating and guiding stakeholders at all levels. The ideal candidate is flexible, collaborative, and resilient, with strong communication skills and the ability to navigate complex situations. During the first six months, you will work on-site (Monday–Friday) for onboarding, knowledge transfer, and cross-training before transitioning to a hybrid (3/2) schedule.

OUC is an industry leader and the second largest municipal utility in Florida committed to innovation, sustainability, and our community, OUC’s mission is to provide exceptional value to our customers and community by delivering sustainable and reliable services and solutions.

Join a team of visionary Change Agents, Strategists, and Community Ambassadors who understand the vital role of diverse experiences in powering creativity and industry transformation. At OUC, each position contributes to the success and achievement of our goals. Click here to learn more about what we do.

The ideal candidate will have:

• A Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an ABA-accredited law school and be licensed to practice law in the State of Florida, maintaining membership in good standing with the Florida Bar.
• At least one (1) year of legal practice experience within a law department, law firm, government agency, or corporate/commercial environment; a combination of in-house and law firm experience is a plus.
• Experience in contract law and employment law, with additional exposure to government law or work within a regulated industry preferred.
• Board certification in city, county, and local government law (preferred).
• Strong analytical, drafting, and negotiation skills, with the ability to interpret complex legal issues and provide clear, practical guidance.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the capacity to educate and advise internal stakeholders and foster collaboration across departments.
• Flexibility, adaptability, and resilience, with a proactive approach to managing multiple priorities and contributing to a supportive, learning-oriented team environment.

OUC offers a very competitive compensation and benefits package. Our Total Rewards package includes, to cite a few:

• Competitive compensation
• Low-cost medical, dental, and vision benefits and paid life insurance premiums with no probationary period.
• OUC’s Hybrid Retirement Program includes a fully-funded cash balance account, defined contribution with employer matching along with a health reimbursement account
• Generous paid vacation, holidays, and sick time
• Paid parental leave
• Educational Assistance Program, to include tuition reimbursement, paid memberships in professional associations, paid conference and training opportunities
• Wellness incentives and free access to all on-site OUC fitness facilities 
• Access to family-oriented recreational areas
• Paid Conference and Training Opportunities
• Free downtown parking

Click here to view our Benefits Summary.

Salary Range: $115,868 - $144,836 annually - commensurate with experience

Location: “The Greenest Building in Downtown”- Reliable Plaza, 100 W. Anderson Street, Orlando, FL 32801

Please see below a complete Job description for this position.

Job Purpose:

Responsible for providing support, analysis, and counsel on environmental issues, intergovernmental relations and public/private partnerships; anticipates and guards against legal risks facing the organization. Develops and recommends company policy and positioning on legal issues; represents the organization in court, in the case of a lawsuit or other legal and administrative proceedings. Provides broad subject matter experience in all aspects of law and has excellent communication skills across entire organization. Serves as a business partner to provide insights and advise of the potential legal, regulatory, and business ramifications in the decision-making process.

Primary Functions:

• Provide analysis and counsel on legal, policy, and environmental issues to include, but not be limited to: proposed new products, protecting intellectual property, public private partnerships, inter-local governmental agreements, financial structuring, compliance issues, nondisclosure agreements, outsourcing agreements, and business strategic planning;
• Draft, review and negotiate standard contracts including procurement agreements, government compliance agreements, construction agreements, sales contracts, subcontractor contracts, wholesale and retail utility agreements, simple real estate transactional agreements, permits, confidentiality agreements, commercial transactions, and insurance;
• Prepare legal pleadings, discovery, demands and responses, stipulations, memorandums, etc. Manage rate cases, tariff filings, and other regulatory filings;
• Manage claims and litigation (commercial, employment, product liability, etc.), depose witnesses if needed, and participate in settlement negotiations;
• Provide advice and counsel concerning legal rights and obligations; interpret laws, rulings, and regulations impacting the organization’s business operations;
• Develop a thorough understanding of and familiarity with the organization's business, its employees, products, markets, facilities, customers and competitors in order to develop legal strategies and policies to support the organization’s needs;
• Prepare legal briefs on topics related to issues that impact the organization’s business, with thorough analysis and recommendations on mitigating activities that can be taken to prevent legal action against the organization;
• Conduct and coordinate research into a variety of legal issues. Draft high-priority legal documents; write, review, and edit reports, opinions, correspondence, articles, and other documents;
• Provide advice concerning public sector general or environmental laws;
• Provide counsel to and collaborate with organizational compliance officers with respect to implementation of organizational compliance-related initiatives and the organization’s policies relating to information security, public records, Sunshine Law, social media, privacy, document retention, e-discovery, third party copyright, trademark and non-infringement;
• Participate as legal representative on cross-functional organizational-wide team projects;
• Assist with other departmental strategic goals and objectives as requested;
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Technical Requirements:

• Working knowledge in all, but not limited to, the following:
  • Documentum/Legalese
  • Westlaw Legal Research
• Ability to:
  • Conduct research, analyze information and data and present findings in a concise format; excellent computer skills, including e-filing in court and administrative dockets;
  • Review and respond to pleadings and other legal filings;
  • Analyze and interpret case law, statutes, policies, practices, and procedures;
  • Efficiently coordinate multiple projects under the pressure of deadlines;
  • Address difficult situations in a constructive manner;
  • Negotiate and problem solve;
  • Build a rapport with employees and management;
  • Work independently and in a team environment, work collaboratively;
  • Display a high degree of confidentiality and professional judgment;
  • Use Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Power Point, etc.) and standard office equipment (telephone, computer, copier, etc.);
• Demonstrate superior attention to detail and accuracy, excellent problem solving, analytical and research skills;
• Possess excellent skills in organization, customer service, and written and oral communication skills;
• Experience in high stress situations.

Education/ Certification/ Years of Experience Requirements:

• JD degree from ABA-approved law school; licensed to practice in the State of Florida and be a member in good standing with the Florida Bar
• Board certified in city, county, and local government law preferred
• Minimum of one (1) year of practice in a law department, law firm, government practice, or equivalent experience in a corporate or commercial environment is required. A combination of in-house and law firm experience a plus.                                                       
  • Experience in contract law and employment law
  • Experience in government law or regulated industry

Working Conditions:

This job is absent of disagreeable working conditions. This job is performed in an office environment.

Physical Requirements:

This job consists of sitting, reading, writing and typing, speaking and hearing, and detailed inspection. This job may consist of frequent standing, walking and lifting up to ten (10) lbs. This job may occasionally consist of driving a company vehicle.

OUC–The Reliable One is an Equal Opportunity Employer who is committed through responsible management policies to recruit, hire, promote, train, transfer, compensate, and administer all other personnel actions without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information and any other factor prohibited under applicable federal, state, and local civil rights laws, rules, and regulations. 

EOE M/F/Vets/Disabled  

Salary

• $115,868 - $144,836/year