Closing Date: 23rd September, 2025
Description:
Description of Work:Are you looking to find meaningful work and positively impact the lives of the residents of North Carolina? If your answer is yes, then we want you to join our team at the Utilities Commission and make a difference.
The NC Department of Commerce, Utilities Commission is looking for a Senior Staff Attorney This position is assigned to the Legal Section of the NC Utilities Commission.
This is a full-time position (40 hours per week) with State Benefits (https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Foshr.nc.gov%2Fstate-employee-resources%2Fbenefits&data=05%7C02%7Cdenise.roberts%40commerce.nc.gov%7C96173915e33248337f1408dc59dca008%7C7a7681dcb9d0449a85c3ecc26cd7ed19%7C0%7C0%7C638484051316492556%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=aa2UDRa2BmmhOqXFC%2B2xgcmNhxcO8UaK0JzBLDq6FAU%3D&reserved=0), including health insurance, as well as retirement.
Salary Grade: LG09*
Recruitment Range: $92,917.00 - $145, 885.00
This is an anticipated vacancy
The Senior Staff Attorney serves as a legal advisor to the members of the Utilities Commission and its professional staff. As such, the incumbent in the role is responsible for the most advanced, difficult, and important legal matters in the highly complex and specialized field of public utilities regulation. In addition, the Senior Staff Attorney regularly advises the members of the Commission and other staff on matters pertaining to the subject matter jurisdiction of the Commission and in matters involving the decision-making process in contested cases, rulemaking proceedings, and other public policy related proceedings.
The Senior Staff Attorney is responsible for following and, at times, coordinating the proceedings before the Commission. This includes 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. The Senior Staff Attorney is expected to independently analyze facts, research and comprehend the legal issues, and make recommendations either alone or in conjunction with members of other divisions of the Commission Staff, such as accounting or engineering, to the Commission. The Senior Staff Attorney is responsible for ensuring the lawfulness of the decisions issued by the Commission.
The Senior Staff Attorney is also expected to coordinate among various Commission staff the order writing process and ensure that orders of the Commission are well-written, legally sound, and reflect decisions made by the Commission. The Senior Staff Attorney is expected to work independently, with minimal supervision from his/her manager.
The Senior Staff Attorney is expected to work professionally with other members of Commission Staff and with Commissioners and must be capable of clear, unambiguous and effective communication, both verbal and written.
The Senior Staff Attorney may be called upon to serve as a hearing examiner, in which case, he or she must be capable of presiding over a proceeding, developing a record, making a decision based on law applied to facts, and reducing the decision to writing.
Incentives of NC State Employment
We value our employees and offer a wide variety of competitive and family-friendly benefits. Benefits to include:
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 / Competencies:
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."
Management Preferences - Optional: These skills are not required but managers may choose to interview/select applicants who demonstrate Management Preferences.
Minimum 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 Oshr.Nc.Gov/experience-Guide for Details.
Licensed to Practice Law by The North Carolina State Bar and Four Years of Progressively Responsible Professional Legal Experience.
Recruitment Range: $92,917.00 - $145, 885.00
This is an anticipated vacancy
The Senior Staff Attorney serves as a legal advisor to the members of the Utilities Commission and its professional staff. As such, the incumbent in the role is responsible for the most advanced, difficult, and important legal matters in the highly complex and specialized field of public utilities regulation. In addition, the Senior Staff Attorney regularly advises the members of the Commission and other staff on matters pertaining to the subject matter jurisdiction of the Commission and in matters involving the decision-making process in contested cases, rulemaking proceedings, and other public policy related proceedings.
The Senior Staff Attorney is responsible for following and, at times, coordinating the proceedings before the Commission. This includes 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. The Senior Staff Attorney is expected to independently analyze facts, research and comprehend the legal issues, and make recommendations either alone or in conjunction with members of other divisions of the Commission Staff, such as accounting or engineering, to the Commission. The Senior Staff Attorney is responsible for ensuring the lawfulness of the decisions issued by the Commission.
The Senior Staff Attorney is also expected to coordinate among various Commission staff the order writing process and ensure that orders of the Commission are well-written, legally sound, and reflect decisions made by the Commission. The Senior Staff Attorney is expected to work independently, with minimal supervision from his/her manager.
The Senior Staff Attorney is expected to work professionally with other members of Commission Staff and with Commissioners and must be capable of clear, unambiguous and effective communication, both verbal and written.
The Senior Staff Attorney may be called upon to serve as a hearing examiner, in which case, he or she must be capable of presiding over a proceeding, developing a record, making a decision based on law applied to facts, and reducing the decision to writing.
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 (http://www.studentaid.gov/)
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 / Competencies:
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."
Management Preferences - Optional: These skills are not required but managers may choose to interview/select applicants who demonstrate Management Preferences.
- 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 express highly complex legal concepts and related facts in a clear, concise and organized manner, both oral and written.
- Demonstrated ability to effectively present legal issues.
- Demonstrated ability to coordinate, facilitate and participate in a collaborative approach to complete assignments.
Minimum 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 Oshr.Nc.Gov/experience-Guide for Details.
Licensed to Practice Law by The North Carolina State Bar and Four Years of Progressively Responsible Professional Legal Experience.
