Senior Assistant Consumer Advocate

The Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate (OCA) seeks a fulltime attorney to serve as a Senior Assistant Consumer Advocate. The OCA is the statutory representative of Pennsylvania utility consumers before the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC), federal regulatory agencies, and state and federal courts. As a Senior Assistant Consumer Advocate, an experienced attorney is responsible for leadership, supervision, and providing legal services and advice representing the office at a significantly high level of scope and complexity.

In coordination with the policy direction from the Deputy Consumer Advocate and Consumer Advocate, work is performed with wide latitude for independent judgment. Senior Assistant Consumer Advocates work with a dedicated team of attorneys to develop legal opinions and strategies that protect Pennsylvania utility consumers, and requires multi-disciplinary skills in accounting, engineering, and consumer protection work.

Telework: Part-time telework is a potential feature of this position. The salary for these positions will generally depend on the qualifications and experience level of the applicant and can fall within the following range:

Senior Assistant Consumer Advocate: $109,027 - $151,218 (Minimum 10 years’ experience)

• Supervise and coordinate the work of attorneys and other advocacy staff in rate cases and other proceedings before the PUC and in appellate courts.
• Provide overall direction and guidance to the legal and policy priorities of the OCA in coordination with the Deputy Consumer Advocate and Consumer Advocate.
• Develop and present the OCA’s position concerning various aspects of a utility’s claim and participate in settlement negotiations in coordination with the Deputy Consumer Advocate and the Consumer Advocate.
• Manage and direct expert witnesses, including coordinating the development of testimony and preparing them for cross-examination, and prepare and conduct cross-examination of expert witnesses.
• Initiate suits against utilities when necessary where their operations contain system-wide service inadequacies or actions that are otherwise inconsistent with the requirements of the Public Utility Code and other applicable law.
• Speak before various community and consumer groups concerning public utility related matters.
• Advise Consumer Liaison and Call Center regarding statutory and other legal issues necessary to effectuate clear communications with the public and consumers about their rights to safe, adequate, reliable, and affordable utility service.
• Supervise and coordinate the preparation of trial and appellate motions and briefs.
• Travel to and represent the OCA in hearings and events throughout the Commonwealth.
• Assist  consumers,  both  formally  and  informally,  in complaint proceedings before the PUC or act as an advisor to non-attorney staff who assist consumers.
• Review and comment upon rulemaking proceedings before the PUC, legislation before the General Assembly, and monitor actions before other state and federal agencies and recommend whether and how the OCA should participate.

• Licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania.
• Pennsylvania resident or must establish residency within 6 months of hire.
• 10 years of progressively responsible legal experience which affords the employee the necessary knowledge and skills to perform the duties of the position.
• An understanding of relevant accounting, financial and economic concepts is required.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Knowledge of the principles and methods of employee supervision and evaluation.