Senior Counsel

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Office of the Public Advocate

-Anticipated Vacancy-

Opening Date: May 26, 2026

Closing Date: June 09, 2026

Grade / Admin Unit: 37 / Confidential

Job Class Code: OC04

Salary: $97,281.60 - $137,883.20/Annually

Position Number: 004250764

Location: Hallowell

Telework: Telework is available with the option to work remotely approximately 50% of the time.

Currently, this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship or STEM OPT extensions.

OVERVIEW:

The State of Maine, Executive Department, Office of the Public Advocate (OPA), represents the interests of Maine users of utility services, including electricity, natural gas, water and telecommunications.

We are seeking an experienced attorney for the anticipated vacant position of Senior Counsel. As Senior Counsel, you will represent the interests of consumers in electricity, natural gas, telecommunications and water proceedings before the Maine Public Utilities Commission and applicable federal regulatory bodies; both individually and in collaboration with other OPA attorneys and consultants. In addition, you will assist in developing policy positions and consumer information for the Office's advocacy before the Maine Legislature and to the public at large.

The following website provides information on the Office of the Public Advocate, State of Maine: http://www.maine.gov/meopa/ 

REPRESENTATIVE TASKS:

• Represents the Public Advocate in contested cases before the Public Utilities Commission
• Coordinates the work of staff members and outside consultants employed as expert witnesses; acts as trial attorney in Commission hearings, including preparing and filing testimony, presenting direct evidence, cross-examining witnesses, making oral argument on issues of fact, law, procedure; and researches and writes briefs and exceptions to examiners' reports.
• Represents the Public Advocate in negotiating settlement in Commission cases; analyzes requests from consumers and utilities for Commission action; formulates and prepares positions on the issues, with assistance from other professional staff and expert consultants; participates in negotiations with utility attorneys, PUC staff attorneys and intervenor attorneys in resolving issues to avoid litigation.
• Represents the Public Advocate through appellate briefs and oral argument before the Supreme Judicial Court in appellate cases evolving from Commission orders or other action in which the Commission has an interest.
• Interprets federal and state law as it affects utility operations and activities, and advises the Public Advocate, and others thereof.
• Research, drafts and comments on rules for the Commission; reviews and analyzes written and oral comments on proposed rules submitted by utilities and the public.
• Advises the Public Advocate on emerging policy issues related to electricity, gas, water, and telecommunications.
• Assists the Public Advocate and other staff members in developing consumer-facing educational materials related to utility service. 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of legal concepts and practices, court procedures, and rules of civil procedure and evidence
• Ability to compose, review, and edit complex and/or technical legal correspondence 
• Ability to perform legal research and analysis, to prepare written legal briefs, motions, responses, and memoranda, to present oral arguments, and to make recommendations on policy
• Demonstrated ability to function effectively as part of a team; and have strong legal advocacy, research, and writing skills. Good organizational and time management skills are essential.
• Knowledge of utility regulatory frameworks and principles

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• A successful candidate will have a minimum of four years of experience practicing law.
• Applicants must be members of the Maine Bar in good standing or capable of being admitted within a reasonable time.

Preference will be given to those candidates with:

• Previous experience with state or federal utility regulation.
• Experience in litigation, practicing state or federal administrative law, or with professional experience or education in the fields of accounting, finance, engineering or economics

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

Please submit a cover letter, a legal writing sample and a current resume.

In order for us to properly determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for any posting, you must be sure your resume includes the month and year for any relevant experience listed. Your resume should include the duties and responsibilities associated with each position. Any experience that was not full-time employment should be identified as such.

CONTACT INFORMATION: For more information or questions specific to the position, please contact [email protected]

The selected candidate will be required to pass the required background checks as a condition of employment. 

Benefits of working for the State of Maine:

No matter where you work across Maine state government, you find employees who embody our state motto—"Dirigo" or "I lead"—as they provide essential services to Mainers every day. We believe in supporting our workforce's health and wellbeing with a valuable total compensation package, including:

• Work-Life Balance – Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave, and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave.
• Health Insurance Coverage – The State of Maine pays 85%-100% of employee-only premiums ($11,857.68-$13,950.24 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find the premium costs for you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State. 
• Health Insurance Premium Credit – Participation decreases employee-only premiums by 5%. Visit the Office of Employee Health and Wellness for more information about program requirements.
• Dental Insurance – The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($365.28 annual value).
• Retirement Plan – The State of Maine contributes 18.91% of pay to the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS), on behalf of the employee. 
• Gym Membership Reimbursement – Improve overall health with regular exercise and receive up to $40 per month to offset this expense.
• Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts – Set aside money pre-tax to help pay for out-of-pocket health care expenses and/or daycare expenses.
• Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness – The State of Maine is a qualified employer for this federal program. For more information, visit the Federal Student Aid office.
• Living Resources Program – Navigate challenging work and life situations with our employee assistance program.
• Parental leave is one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a child—including fathers and adoptive parents—receive forty-two (42) consecutive calendar days of fully paid parental leave. Additional, unpaid leave may also be available, under the Family and Medical Leave Act. 
• Voluntary Deferred Compensation – Save additional pre-tax funds for retirement in a MaineSaves 457(b) account through payroll deductions.

State employees are eligible for an extensive and highly competitive benefits package, covering many aspects of wellness. Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness.  

Note: Benefits may vary somewhat according to specific collective bargaining agreements and are prorated for anything less than full-time.

There's a job and then there's purposeful, transformative work. Our aim is to create a workplace where you can learn, grow, and continuously refine your skills. Applicants demonstrate job requirements in differing ways, and we appreciate that many skills and backgrounds can make people successful in this role.

As an Equal Opportunity employer, Maine State Government embraces a culture of respect and awareness. We are committed to creating a strong sense of belonging for all team members, and our process ensures an inclusive environment to applicants of all backgrounds including diverse race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, familial status or genetics.

If you’re looking for a great next step, and want to feel good about what you do, we’d love to hear from you. Please note reasonable accommodations are provided to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.

Thinking about applying?

Research shows that people from historically excluded communities tend to apply to jobs only when they check every box in the posting. If you’re currently reading this and hesitating to apply for that reason, we encourage you to go for it! Let us know how your experience and passion set you apart.

If you require a paper application, please download and print one HERE

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If you are unable to complete the online application, please contact the Human Resources representative listed on the job opening you are interested in applying for. They will work with you for an alternative method of submitting.