The Montana Public Service Commission (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. 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. The Commission is the head of the Montana Department of Public Service Regulation, a small state agency with a big impact. The Commission is composed of 5 selected Commissioners representing every region of beautiful Montana. Commonly referred to as the PSC, our agency is staffed by a team of approximately 33 professionals in the Legal, Regulatory, and Centralized Services Divisions. The PSC is responsible for supervising monopolistic industries within Montana to ensure fair prices, responsible business practices, and sustainable, reliable service for the Montana customers who rely upon them. Regulated industries currently include privately held power, water, sewer, telecommunications, sanitation, and certain commercial transportation providers. The PSC also plays a vital role in railway and pipeline safety. The agency has a clear and well-defined strategic plan to enhance our operations, work environment, and value to the public. Our team includes seasoned leaders with expertise and institutional knowledge coupled with newly elected commissioners with innovative ideas for the agency.
Duties:
- Draft and review legal documents, including orders, notices, and staff memoranda.
- Reviews party briefs, Commission casefiles, and transcripts.
- Review, study, and research laws, court decisions, and related legal authorities.
- Advise the Commission and its staff on complex contested case and investigatory proceedings across multiple fields within the Commission's jurisdiction.
- In coordination with staff work teams, manage administrative dockets, rulemakings, and responses to public records requests.
- Present staff recommendations to the Commission during public business meetings.
- Occasionally travel to Commission hearings and other proceedings to advise the presiding officer.
- When appointed to act as a hearing examiner in contested case proceedings, prepare appropriate findings of fact, conclusions of law, and proposed orders for the Commission's review.
- Represents the Commission in a variety of litigation matters. Prepare motions, briefs, and other litigation documents.
Required Application Materials:
Please submit the following:
- A cover letter describing your interest in the position and how your experiences, and education have prepared you to perform the duties and meet the competencies of this position.
- A two-page resume detailing all relevant work experience, including employer and duties;
- A legal writing sample of 3,000 words or less (e.g., a brief, legal memo, order, similar work product, or portion thereof) that you prepared within the last three years at the time of application . Please include a cover sheet as the first page of the file explaining the extent of any editing by someone else and any other details about the writing sample that you believe the agency will find helpful; and if applicable.
- An official or unofficial copy of your law school transcript if you graduated from law school within the last two years.
Please Note: You do not need to complete the "work experience" or the "education & certifications" portion of the application process in our recruiting system. You only need to upload the requested documentation. Successful applicants will be subject to background checks relevant to the position and must pass reference checks before an offer is extended.
Special Information:
The Commission presently has two vacancies. One of the positions may be filled with a Law Clerk or Attorney, depending on the successful candidate's preferred position. Please apply for the position that interests you the most and provide all the required application materials. If you are interested in the Attorney position but do not possess all the competencies needed for the position, please note that we provide training assignments for successful candidates to gain the necessary skills.
Benefits Provided:
On the first day of employment, employees and eligible dependents receive health coverage with medical, dental, vision, and prescriptions including free health care provided by the Montana Health Care Center. Wellness programs, life insurance, and retirement plan choices are offered. New employees also receive prorated 15 vacation days, 12 sick days, and paid holidays including a floating holiday. Flexible schedules may be considered as work/life balance is healthy and encouraged.
Competencies:
- Excellent legal writing skills and oral advocacy skills.
- Excellent organization, prioritization, multitasking and time management skills.
- Excellent legal research skills, including a working knowledge of electronic legal research platforms (e.g. Lexis/Westlaw) and printed research materials. Ability to research complex legal problems or questions and apply legal principles.
- Strong digital literacy skills, including intermediate-to-advanced skills in Microsoft 365 and common technologies (e.g. personal computers and office machines).
- Thorough knowledge of the Montana Administrative Procedure Act and the Montana Rules of Evidence.
- Thorough knowledge of the Montana Rules of Civil and Appellate Procedure and Uniform District Court Rules.
- Ability to learn, understand, and consistently utilize the agency's online docket management system.
- Strong sense of discretion, integrity, and professional responsibility in handling confidential and/or sensitive material.
- Strong sense of the chain of command, decorum, and professionalism.
- Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, with diverse groups of people.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
- Ability to work effectively as a member of a team and individually.
- Ability to maintain professionalism when critiqued.
- Ability to stay abreast of changes and developments in the law.
- Ability to analyze difficult legal problems and synthesize a course of action to develop practical, defensible recommendations and action plans.
Qualifications:
- Juris Doctor from an ABA-accredited law school.
- Admission to practice law in Montana or admission within six months from the date of hire.
- At least two years of experience as a practicing attorney preferred.
The State of Montana has a decentralized human resources (HR) system. Each agency is responsible for its own recruitment and selection. Anyone who needs a reasonable accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the agency's HR staff identified on the job listing or by dialing the Montana Relay at 711. Montana Job Service Offices also offer services including assistance with submitting an online application.
State government does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth or medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, marital status, creed, political beliefs or affiliation, veteran status, military service, retaliation, or any other factor not related to merit and qualifications of an employee or applicant.