​Assistant Chief Public Utilities Counsel

California State Personnel Board Specification

SALARY INFORMATION

Description

Under administrative direction, to assist the General Counsel, Public Utilities Commission, in planning, organizing, and directing all phases of the legal work of the Public Utilities Commission; to act for the General Counsel, Public Utilities Commission, in his/her absence; and to do other related work.

Assists the General Counsel, Public Utilities Commission, in the planning, organizing, directing, and reviewing of the Commission s legal work, and acts for the General Counsel, Public Utilities Commission, in his/her absence; confers with and advises the Commission, individual Commissioners, and staff members on the application of regulatory statutes to Commission policies, powers, duties, precedents, and procedures; confers with and advises the public and officials and representatives of political subdivisions, public utilities, and carriers with respect to legal rights and obligations in connection with regulatory problems; attends Commission conferences for consideration of policies and specific actions; acts as presiding officer or as counsel at certain Commission hearings; independently conducts or supervises the conduct of litigation and intervention proceedings in Federal and State courts and before Federal public utility boards and commissions which involve the highest degree of importance or complexity; prepares and recommends Commission orders; analyzes and drafts proposed legislative measures and Commission regulations; analyzes records and petitions for rehearing and recommends actions and orders relating thereto; trains and evaluates the performance of personnel, and takes or recommends appropriate action; directs the preparation of the divisional budget requests and the execution of the approved budget; coordinates the work of the Legal Division with that of other divisions of the Commission; is generally responsible for the administrative details of the Legal Division operation; and dictates and reviews correspondence and prepares reports.

Minimum Qualifications

Membership in The State Bar of California. (Applicants must have active membership in The State Bar before they will be eligible for appointment.) and

Either I

One year of experience performing the duties of a Public Utilities Counsel IV, or two years performing the duties of a Public Utilities Counsel III, or three years performing the duties of a Public Utilities Counsel II in the California state service.

Or II

Experience: Broad and extensive experience (more than five years) in the practice of law*, at least three years of which shall have been either:

1. In the field of public utility regulations; or in the preparation and presentation of public utility proceedings before public utility regulatory agencies or the courts. or

2. In the legal fields of energy, telecommunications, water, natural resources and environment, antitrust and trade law, transportation, consumer protection, law enforcement, antitrust, litigation, or appellate advocacy. or

3. In the preparation and presentation in administrative proceedings before local, State, or Federal Government licensing or Regulatory Bodies or Before the Courts; or in the representation of government entities in administrative proceedings or before the courts.

* Experience in the “practice of law" or “performing legal duties" is defined as: (1) only that legal experience acquired after admission to any State Bar or (2) experience as a judicial clerk for a federal court, California's state courts, or any other state's courts, or (3) legal experience acquired while practicing under a provisional license to practice law issued by the State Bar of California's Provisional Licensure Program, to constitute experience in the practice of law. For an individual's judicial clerkship to qualify as experience in the practice of law or performing legal duties, the experience must have been gained after receipt of a Juris Doctor or equivalent degree.

Knowledge and Abilities

Knowledge of: Law governing and administered by the Public Utilities Commission or other regulatory or licensing bodies and judicial interpretations of such law; rules and regulations of the Public Utilities Commission or other regulatory or licensing bodies; conduct of proceedings and rules of evidence and procedure in State and Federal courts, or before public utility regulatory bodies or other regulatory or licensing bodies; legal principles; purposes, organization, and operation of the Public Utilities Commission or other regulatory or licensing bodies; administrative law applicable to the Public Utilities Commission or other administrative or licensing bodies; basic principles of organization and structure; principles of personnel management and supervision manager's/supervisor's responsibility for promoting equal opportunity in hiring and employee development and promotion, and for maintaining a work environment that is free of discrimination and harassment.

Ability to: Analyze legal problems and apply legal principles and precedents to particular sets of facts; make accurate summaries of evidence and prepare appropriate findings, opinions, and orders; perform legal research; present statements of fact, law, and argument clearly and logically in written and oral form; draft rules, regulations, and legislative measures; direct the work of others; analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action effectively promote equal opportunity in employment and maintain a work environment that is free of discrimination and harassment.

High degree of skill in: Assembling and directing the assembling of facts and law for presentation before courts and regulatory agencies and conducting such presentations and proceedings.

Preferred or Desirable Qualifications

All employees shall have general qualifications as described by California Code of Regulations, title 2, section 172.

Class History