What are the responsibilities and job description for the Litigation Attorney position at State of Ohio Jobs?
Litigation Attorney
(220003I6)
About Us:
The Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel, the state’s voice for millions of Ohio residential utility consumers, seeks an experienced litigator with a passion for public service to serve as an Assistant Consumers’ Counsel in its Legal Department. This position is an opportunity to help consumers, including at-risk and low-income Ohioans, regarding justice for their electric, natural gas, telephone, and water utility services. Since the legislature created the agency in 1976, we have sought lower utility bills and reliable utility service for residential consumers. At OCC, we put Consumers First.
The attorney will provide legal advice to management and the Agency director (the Consumers’ Counsel) for leading the Agency’s consumer protection role. The attorney will litigate and negotiate the Agency’s consumer protection issues in forums that principally include the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO), the Ohio Supreme Court, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Other services can include legislative advocacy, where utility regulation and consumer protection are set forth in Ohio law.
The attorney will need an understanding of utility regulation – that broadly involves rate-setting, service quality issues and policy matters such as the agency’s favoring of effective competitive markets over monopolies for providing services to consumers. The attorney will assist with retaining and functionally supervising consultants for this work. The attorney will need to work well within Agency teams and also be adept at independent work requiring personal initiative.
Salary negotiable within state government standards, commensurate with experience.
What’s in it for you:
At the State of Ohio, we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality, competitive benefits to eligible full-time and part-time employees. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits, visit our Total Rewards website! Our benefits package includes:
Medical Coverage
- Quality, affordable, and competitive medical benefits are offered through the Ohio Med PPO plan.
Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance
- Dental, vision and basic life insurance premiums are free after one year of continuous service.
Time Away From Work and Work/Life Balance
- Paid time off, including vacation, personal, and sick leave
- 11 paid holidays per year
- Childbirth/Adoption leave
Ohio Public Employees Retirement System
- OPERS is the retirement system for State of Ohio employees. The employee contributes 10% of their salary towards their retirement. The employer contributes an amount equal to 14% of the employee’s salary. Visit the OPERS website for more information.
Deferred Compensation
- The Ohio Deferred Compensation program is a 457(b) voluntary retirement savings plan. Visit the Ohio Deferred Compensation website for more information.
Ohio is a Disability Inclusion State and strives to be a Model Employer of Individuals with disabilities. The State of Ohio is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.
The Assistant Consumers’ Counsel should have a license to practice law in the State of Ohio with a minimum of fifteen years of litigation experience. Knowledge of public utility regulation is highly preferred. Excellence in oral and written communications is needed, including with persuasive writing. Familiarity with word processing programs, online research and other technology used in legal advocacy is expected. A willingness to work more than forty hours per week, as needed for consumer advocacy, and a commitment to public service are expected.
Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check and a drug test. Per the Ohio Revised Code 124.151(B), all newly hired employees will be required to have their compensation deposited directly to a financial institution. The Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel is an Equal Opportunity Employer. When contacted for an interview, an applicant who requires special accommodations due to a disability should notify the Office of Human Resources at the time he/she is contacted so that proper arrangements can be made for the interview.
The applicant is required to provide details of minimum qualifications and job duties on the application form. Failure to provide the information will preclude consideration of the applicant. If an interview is offered, supporting documentation/paperwork (e.g., college transcripts, copy of pertinent license or certifications, etc.) may be required at the time of the interview.
