Who we are and what we do:

The Tennessee Public Utility Commission (Commission) seeks an experienced attorney interested in public service to join the Commission as a Senior Associate Counsel. This position reports to and works at the direction of the General Counsel. A Senior Associate Counsel at the Commission should expect to work closely with executive-level directors, policy experts, regulatory analysts, and professionals in various fields.

The Commission is the regulatory body created by the Tennessee General Assembly to provide general supervisory and regulatory oversight over all aspects of Tennessee's privately owned natural and methane gas, electric, telephone, water, and wastewater public utilities. Commission personnel also mediate complaints against utility service providers and provide consumer-focused outreach.

The Gas Pipeline Safety Division exercises delegated federal authority to inspect all intrastate pipelines and enforces federal and state safety laws. Finally, Commission staff also provide administrative and investigative support to the 17-member Underground Utility Damage Enforcement Board (Board).

The Commission operates under a hybrid working arrangement that includes in-office presence and some opportunity for remote work flexibility.

For more information, visit https://www.tn.gov/tpuc.html.

The applicant must be a licensed Tennessee attorney in good standing or able to become licensed in Tennessee by reciprocity or bar exam passage within six months of employment. The applicant must have 5+ years of full-time relevant legal experience, preferably in state or federal administrative law, administrative hearings, or litigation related to regulation and general civil matters.

Applicants should submit a cover letter of no more than 500 words, resume, and three professional references and upload it to the application. All materials should be combined into a single PDF file. Some applicants may be asked to provide a persuasive writing sample.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide ongoing legal support to the General Counsel, internal agency divisions, and program areas.
• Review and analyze utility petitions and evidence, including financial, accounting, engineering, and other technical data and issues related to public utilities.
• Provide expert legal advice and recommendations on complex, technical, and financial matters related to public utility regulation and other matters entrusted to the Commission by the General Assembly.
• Research, interpret, and prepare written opinions on various relevant legal issues, including the impact of statutes, rules, legislation, rate-making policy, and decisions of the Commission on agency operations, policies, and precedent.
• Represent and defend the Commission, Board, their members, and staff in their official capacities in trial court litigation before the various Tennessee courts, including courts of appeal, and at times before the Commission or Board itself.
• Draft agency orders, memorandums, pleadings, appellate briefs, policies and procedures, regulations, and other legal documents clearly and accurately within time-sensitive deadlines.
• Prepare and give verbal opinions and presentations in multiple settings (open meetings, court, legislature, regulatory associations, etc.) as the opportunity arises and
• Additional related duties and projects as position requires.

DEMONSTRATED SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Adherence to the highest personal and professional integrity standards, judgment, and conduct.
• Skilled in working as a team member, aptitude to work collaboratively, collegially, and respectfully, and maintaining positive, professional interactions with outside counsel and public officials.
• In-depth knowledge or demonstrated ability to master complex technical, financial, and economic concepts inherent to public utility regulation and related legal developments.
• Self-starter requiring general to minimal supervision with proficiency to achieve stated objectives while managing varied, competing matters and projects.
• Experience and high-level proficiency in drafting legal documents¿ including proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Teams, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Superior oral communication and public speaking skills.

About Tennessee Public Utility Commission

Created by the Tennessee General Assembly, the Tennessee Public Utility Commission is the regulatory body responsible for providing general, supervisory, and regulatory oversight over all aspects of Tennessee's privately owned natural and methane gas, electric, telephone, water, and wastewater public utilities. Pursuant to the State of Tennessee's Workplace Discrimination and Harassment policy, the State is firmly committed to the principle of fair and equal employment opportunities for its citizens and strives to protect the rights and opportunities of all people to seek, obtain, and hold employment without being subjected to illegal discrimination and harassment in the workplace. It is the State's policy to provide an environment free of discrimination and harassment of an individual because of that person's race, color, national origin, age (40 and over), sex, pregnancy, religion, creed, disability, veteran's status or any other category protected by state and/or federal civil rights laws.

Connections working at Tennessee Public Utility Commission