State of Maryland

An Assistant People's Counsel I is the entry level of work providing legal services for the Office of People’s Counsel.  Employees in this classification monitor the utility industry and represent the interests of residential and non-commercial consumers of public utilities before the Maryland Public Service Commission, the courts, and federal and State agencies.  Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions.

Employees in this classification receive close supervision from the People’s Counsel or the Deputy People’s Counsel. Employees in this classification may be required to travel throughout the State to attend evening and weekend hearings and meetings and may be required to work overtime to meet deadlines.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Assistant People’s Counsel I, Assistant People's Counsel II and Assistant People's Counsel III are differentiated on the basis of degree of supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over these employees.  The Assistant People’s Counsel I performs duties under close supervision.  The Assistant People’s Counsel II performs duties under close supervision at times and under moderate supervision at other times depending upon the complexity of the specific duty being performed.  The Assistant People’s Counsel III performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.

Represents the interests of residential and non-commercial consumers of public utilities before the Maryland Public Service Commission, the courts, and federal and State agencies;

Evaluates consumer complaints and suggestions to determine and make recommendations regarding issues to be brought to the attention of the People’s Counsel, the Public Service Commission and other agencies;

Evaluates and analyzes utility company and court actions to determine and make recommendations regarding appropriate actions to be taken by the People’s Counsel;

Performs research to discover legal precedent, opinions and decisions and other information relevant to positions taken by the People’s Counsel;

Prepares legal documents, reports and summaries and drafts motions and arguments in order to present cases;

Negotiates settlements with the concurrence of the People’s Counsel;

Attends and participates in public hearings, conferences and meetings with consumer groups to exchange information on matters of rate making and public policy;

May provide advice and guidance to less experienced Assistants People’s Counsels;

May act as lead Attorney before the Maryland Public Service Commission, the courts and federal and State agencies;

May conduct and address public hearings, conferences and meetings with consumer groups to exchange information on matters of rate making and public policy;

May review legislative proposals and recommend and prepare People’s Counsel positions to be presented to the Maryland General Assembly;

Performs other related duties.

Education:   A Juris Doctor degree or an equivalent degree from an accredited school of law.

Experience: None.

Notes:

1. Employees in this classification must become members of the Maryland Bar within 18 months of appointment.

2. The above requirements are set by the Office of People’s Counsel in accordance with the Public Utilities Article, Public Services and Utilities, Title 2 Public Service Commission and People's Counsel, Section 203 of the Annotated Code of Maryland.

3. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in general attorney classification or general attorney specialty codes in the legal and kindred group field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required education.

Class Descriptions are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies.  Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

Class Descriptions provide information about the Nature of Work, Examples of Work, General Requirements and Acknowledgements.  The Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities; Minimum Education and Experience Requirements; Special Requirements; and recruitment and testing procedures are set by the using agency.

This is a Professional Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Professional Service positions.  Some positions in Professional Service classifications may be designated as Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is not assigned to a bargaining unit, as indicated by the designation of S (Supervisor), M (Manager), T (Agency Head), U (Board or Commission Member), W (Student), X (Used by Agency or Excluded by Executive Order), or Z (Confidential).  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from   collective bargaining.