Staff Attorney, Energy Practice (Hybrid-Oakland CA)

Utility Reform Network•Oakland, CA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Utility Reform Network (TURN) seeks an experienced Staff Attorney to join its team of high-impact energy regulatory consumer advocates practicing primarily before the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). TURN’s Energy Team advances the clean energy transition, with a focus on bill affordability and racial and economic equity, by representing the interests of residential utility customers in California’s regulation of investor-owned utility companies. TURN is successful through its combined talent of attorneys, policy analysts, economists, engineers, and community organizing professionals. A strong applicant communicates effectively (written and oral) with all levels throughout the organization and the public, is committed to economic and racial justice, is a proactive and creative problem solver, has a background in energy utility regulation, and is committed to holding energy providers accountable, advancing clean energy, and promoting safe utility service at affordable rates.

Requirements

Graduate of an accredited school of law.
Licensed to practice law in California or any jurisdiction within the United States.
A minimum of 2 years of regulatory litigation before the CPUC or a similar regulatory agency on energy issues, with at least 1 year before the CPUC.
Excellent oral and written communication with internal and external audiences at all levels of knowledge.
Willingness to serve as a spokesperson on TURN initiatives.
Demonstrated commitment to economic and racial justice.
Supportive of an inclusive and diverse TURN workplace.
Demonstrated record of careful research and creative analysis to address problems and develop successful arguments.
Ability to work independently and manage competing priorities while still delivering timely and high-quality work product.
Able to coordinate with others towards a common goal.
Willing to assist colleagues with their workload when necessary.
Able to calmly and respectfully resolve conflict.
Enthusiastic and dedicated advocate with the ability to help others achieve their best outcomes.
Eager to share knowledge and insight with others.
Understanding of standard computer-based applications, including email, Microsoft Office, Adobe.

Nice To Haves

TURN welcomes applicants with more than the required experience.

Responsibilities

Review CPUC filings and develop case strategy
Draft and file timely legal pleadings
Conduct legal and policy research utilizing the CPUC website and other online sources
Draft, review, and utilize discovery
Direct the work of expert consultants and witnesses
Appear in administrative hearings and conduct witness cross-examination
Participate in settlement discussions
Lobby CPUC decision-makers
Build coalitions with other consumer and community groups
Participate in a range of CPUC proceedings that support its mission, including dockets considering reasonable infrastructure investments for electric and natural gas utility services and utility accountability for investments in infrastructure, particularly for safety and reliability; equitable and effective clean energy policies and utility accountability for clean energy expenditures; equitable funding of utility expenditures; reasonable and affordable rates for residential electric and natural gas utility services, including development of policies and rules enabling access to essential utility services for low-income households, communities of color, immigrants, and rural communities.
Manage caseload and potentially oversee the work of junior attorneys
Participate in regular team meetings to discuss key policy developments, forge alignment between TURN’s legal, organizing, and communications efforts and develop overall regulatory and political strategies, and review/adjust caseload assignments.
Develop positions on emerging issues in energy policy and ratemaking and identify how best to advocate for these positions.
Contribute to TURN communications by drafting summaries and reports for the TURN website, online alerts, newsletters, and fundraising and program-related materials.
Track time contemporaneously and with the required level of detail to support TURN’s requests for compensation from the CPUC for successfully contributing to the CPUC’s decisions.
Prepare the intervenor compensation request for submission at the CPUC at the conclusion of each regulatory proceeding.