Senior Attorney (Public Utility Litigation)
Salary: $61,188.00 - $122,748.00 Annually
Location : Tallahassee, Florida
Job Type: Salaried Full-Time
Job Number: 202600079
Office: Office of Public Counsel
Opening Date: 11/09/2026
Closing Date: Continuous
General Summary
The Office of Public Counsel seeks an exceptionally talented attorney to join our team of experienced advocates to represent Florida's customers in critical cases involving large utility rate increases, data center utility tariffs and agreements, defending utility systems from acquisition by out-of-state private equity companies, and promoting the cost-effective and affordable integration of future energy technologies to support Florida's energy needs. As the statutory legal counsel for 18 million customers of Florida's investor-owned public utilities, our advocates regularly take their electric and gas cases on direct appeal to the Florida Supreme Court.
OUR ORGANIZATION
The Office of Public Counsel has zealously represented Florida's customers in high-profile litigation for the past 51 years. We intervene as a matter of right for all residential, small business, commercial, and industrial customer classes, promoting their collective interests in public utility litigation. Our advocates actively confront critical affordability issues in televised hearings before the Public Service Commission, where the amounts in controversy can exceed billions of dollars.
The Office of Public Counsel performs independent analyses, presents the testimony of national expert witnesses, deposes and cross-examines utility witnesses, and prepares detailed legal briefs and recommendations. Our attorneys manage their own cases but operate as members of collaborative litigation teams, supported by in-house technical experts and paralegals. Nationally acclaimed experts augment our in-house staff by reviewing extensive case filings and providing critical technical advice to guide the cooperative development of effective legal strategies for prehearing discovery, trials, and appeals.
The Public Counsel is a completely independent consumer advocate that works for the citizens of the State of Florida under the authority of the Joint Committee on Public Counsel Oversight a joint Committee of the Florida House of Representatives and Senate.
Examples of Work Performed
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Minimum Qualifications
An attorney in good standing with The Florida Bar and two years of professional experience in the practice of law, legal research, teaching law, or in administrative or judicial hearings.
SALARY RANGE
$61,188-$122,748, commensurate with ability and experience. Current salary is relevant.
BENEFITS
Excellent individual and family health benefits include free dental insurance.
Retirement plan options include employer contributions.
Utilize state tuition opportunities to secure advanced degrees.
Enjoy a generous allotment and accrual of leave, sick leave, and holidays.
Capture a total of 200 excess hours toward block leave, with a large annual carryforward. The long-range hearing calendar promotes off-cycle utilization of the leave earned while trying an average of three complex, multi-day cases per year.
Take advantage of the unique opportunity to develop utility-specific litigation skills from recognized subject-matter experts in a fast-growing legal specialty.
APPLICATION DEADLINE
This position will remain open until it is filled.
SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION
Qualified applicants should submit an application and detailed resume through the Florida Legislature's
ACCOMMODATION FOR DISABILITY
Please notify Human Resources at (850) 488-6803 regarding accommodation for persons with disabilities.
Explore this opportunity by contacting the Public Counsel, Walt Trierweiler, directly by phone: (850) 717-0326, or by email: Trierweiler.Walt@leg.state.fl.us, to set up a visit to our offices in Tallahassee.
Note: Remote work is not an option.
Working for the Florida Legislature includes a lucrative benefits package, including affordable health insurance options, free dental, long-term disability and employee life insurance, as well as competitive retirement. Employees have access to a college tuition waiver program, an employee assistance program, paid annual and sick leave, and paid holidays. Learn more below!
Health and Dental Insurance
Employees have a choice of participating in the State Self Insured Plan or a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) if available in the county of residence or employment (Standard and High Deductible Investor plans are available). Full-time employees pay $30 per month for family coverage or $8.34 per month for individual coverage. Part-time employees pay premiums based on the total hours of work. For dental insurance, the Legislature offers a PPO plan that offers choice of dentist and pays from 50 to 100 percent of usual, customary, and reasonable charges. There is a $1500 maximum benefit per plan year. The Legislature pays the total premium for full-time employees and part-time employees pay premiums based on the total hours of work.
Leave Accrual Benefits
Annual Leave accrues as follows based on creditable state service:
Up to 5 years - 11 hours per month 5 to 10 years - 13 hours per month Over 10 years - 15 hours per month
Sick Leave accrues at 9 hours per month for all full-time employees.
Life and Disability Insurance
Group Term life Insurance with an accidental death and dismemberment benefit provides $25,000 coverage. The Legislature pays the total premium for full-time employees and part-time employees pay premiums based on the total hours of work. For disability insurance, the Legislature offers a Group Long Term Disability Insurance Plan that provides a monthly benefit of 60 percent of covered monthly earnings after an elimination period of 360 days. The Legislature pays the total premium.
Retirement
Participation in the Florida Retirement System is compulsory for all salaried staff, except certain re-employed retirees. New employees have until the end of the eighth month following their first month of employment to select a retirement plan, from the traditional pension plan or the investment plan. New employees will receive an informational packet approximately two months after the hire date. Members and staff contribute 3% of their salary towards retirement and the Legislature pays the remainder of the premium
Florida Pre-Tax Plan and Deferred Compensation Plan
This state sponsored program includes Supplemental Insurance Plans, Health Savings Account (when enrolled with an Investor Health Plan), and a Flexible Spending Program on a pretax basis. The Supplemental Insurance Plans include hospitalization, cancer/intensive care, dental, vision, and accidental/disability. The Flexible Spending Program includes healthcare and dependent care accounts. A competitive Deferred Compensation Plan is also offered. The State of Florida Deferred Compensation Plan offers a number of investment options including variable annuities, mutual funds, and a bank, with a variety of contract providers.
Paid Holidays
New Year's Day - Martin Luther King Day - Memorial Day - Independence Day - Labor Day - Veteran's Day - Thanksgiving Day - Friday After Thanksgiving - Christmas Day - Personal Holiday
Total Compensation Statement
The Total Compensation Statement provides a monetary value of each benefit listed below as well as a total annual compensation estimate. The annual salary amount used in this example is $60,000. Note: All values are based on individual plans.
Location : Tallahassee, Florida
Job Type: Salaried Full-Time
Job Number: 202600079
Office: Office of Public Counsel
Opening Date: 11/09/2026
Closing Date: Continuous
General Summary
The Office of Public Counsel seeks an exceptionally talented attorney to join our team of experienced advocates to represent Florida's customers in critical cases involving large utility rate increases, data center utility tariffs and agreements, defending utility systems from acquisition by out-of-state private equity companies, and promoting the cost-effective and affordable integration of future energy technologies to support Florida's energy needs. As the statutory legal counsel for 18 million customers of Florida's investor-owned public utilities, our advocates regularly take their electric and gas cases on direct appeal to the Florida Supreme Court.
OUR ORGANIZATION
The Office of Public Counsel has zealously represented Florida's customers in high-profile litigation for the past 51 years. We intervene as a matter of right for all residential, small business, commercial, and industrial customer classes, promoting their collective interests in public utility litigation. Our advocates actively confront critical affordability issues in televised hearings before the Public Service Commission, where the amounts in controversy can exceed billions of dollars.
The Office of Public Counsel performs independent analyses, presents the testimony of national expert witnesses, deposes and cross-examines utility witnesses, and prepares detailed legal briefs and recommendations. Our attorneys manage their own cases but operate as members of collaborative litigation teams, supported by in-house technical experts and paralegals. Nationally acclaimed experts augment our in-house staff by reviewing extensive case filings and providing critical technical advice to guide the cooperative development of effective legal strategies for prehearing discovery, trials, and appeals.
The Public Counsel is a completely independent consumer advocate that works for the citizens of the State of Florida under the authority of the Joint Committee on Public Counsel Oversight a joint Committee of the Florida House of Representatives and Senate.
Examples of Work Performed
- Learning and Personal Growth: If you bring the willingness to devote yourself to mastery of public utilities law, we will invest the substantial time and resources required to prepare you for success in this rapidly growing practice area.
- Customer Advocacy: Continue to hone your advocacy skills in a variety of public venues to promote the best interests of Florida's customers, ranging from the highest courts to local service hearings within impacted communities. Multilingual ability is an asset, not required.
- Advocate for Regulatory Change: Enforce the regulatory framework of customer protections and recommend changes that improve outcomes for customers.
- Appellate Advocacy: You will receive collaborative support from our experienced attorneys, industry consultants, legal assistants, and other intervening cooperative partners to present effective written and oral arguments.
- Depositions and Cross Examination: With the support of staff, collaboratively conduct effective discovery, depositions, and cross examinations of industry experts and executives.
- Expert Witnesses: Retain, prepare, and defend your own national industry experts in depositions and hearings.
- Communicate and Negotiate: Develop your "soft skills" to informally resolve discovery, and other litigation issues. Negotiate partial or global outcomes that have a positive impact on affordability for Florida's customers.
- Lead, Mentor, and Develop: As a member of the leadership team, set the example, mentor, and encourage the future success of junior counsel in a collaborative environment.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Display increasing mastery of the rules related to litigation practice in Florida
- Comprehend, utilize, and organize complex documents, legal theories, and research
- Interpret state and federal legislation, laws, and rules
- Employ legal reasoning to anticipate challenges and implement creative solutions
- Display independent leadership, cooperative teamwork, initiative, and common sense
- Work collaboratively with outside counsel, expert witnesses, officials, and public staff
- Conduct effective and efficient meetings and presentations
- Prepare well-written, accurate, and persuasive legal writing
- Conduct relevant and effective legal research to support your legal positions
- Prepare and present trial briefs, motions, pleadings, and oral arguments
- Practice good stewardship over all public funds and property
- Uphold the highest standards of ethics and professionalism
- Safeguard confidential and other sensitive information
- Treat all people with courtesy, dignity, and respect
- Effectively advocate for affordable utility rates and other positive litigation outcomes
- Collaborate in a professional work environment dedicated to operational excellence
Minimum Qualifications
An attorney in good standing with The Florida Bar and two years of professional experience in the practice of law, legal research, teaching law, or in administrative or judicial hearings.
SALARY RANGE
$61,188-$122,748, commensurate with ability and experience. Current salary is relevant.
BENEFITS
Excellent individual and family health benefits include free dental insurance.
Retirement plan options include employer contributions.
Utilize state tuition opportunities to secure advanced degrees.
Enjoy a generous allotment and accrual of leave, sick leave, and holidays.
Capture a total of 200 excess hours toward block leave, with a large annual carryforward. The long-range hearing calendar promotes off-cycle utilization of the leave earned while trying an average of three complex, multi-day cases per year.
Take advantage of the unique opportunity to develop utility-specific litigation skills from recognized subject-matter experts in a fast-growing legal specialty.
APPLICATION DEADLINE
This position will remain open until it is filled.
SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION
Qualified applicants should submit an application and detailed resume through the Florida Legislature's
ACCOMMODATION FOR DISABILITY
Please notify Human Resources at (850) 488-6803 regarding accommodation for persons with disabilities.
Explore this opportunity by contacting the Public Counsel, Walt Trierweiler, directly by phone: (850) 717-0326, or by email: Trierweiler.Walt@leg.state.fl.us, to set up a visit to our offices in Tallahassee.
Note: Remote work is not an option.
Working for the Florida Legislature includes a lucrative benefits package, including affordable health insurance options, free dental, long-term disability and employee life insurance, as well as competitive retirement. Employees have access to a college tuition waiver program, an employee assistance program, paid annual and sick leave, and paid holidays. Learn more below!
Health and Dental Insurance
Employees have a choice of participating in the State Self Insured Plan or a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) if available in the county of residence or employment (Standard and High Deductible Investor plans are available). Full-time employees pay $30 per month for family coverage or $8.34 per month for individual coverage. Part-time employees pay premiums based on the total hours of work. For dental insurance, the Legislature offers a PPO plan that offers choice of dentist and pays from 50 to 100 percent of usual, customary, and reasonable charges. There is a $1500 maximum benefit per plan year. The Legislature pays the total premium for full-time employees and part-time employees pay premiums based on the total hours of work.
Leave Accrual Benefits
Annual Leave accrues as follows based on creditable state service:
Up to 5 years - 11 hours per month 5 to 10 years - 13 hours per month Over 10 years - 15 hours per month
Sick Leave accrues at 9 hours per month for all full-time employees.
Life and Disability Insurance
Group Term life Insurance with an accidental death and dismemberment benefit provides $25,000 coverage. The Legislature pays the total premium for full-time employees and part-time employees pay premiums based on the total hours of work. For disability insurance, the Legislature offers a Group Long Term Disability Insurance Plan that provides a monthly benefit of 60 percent of covered monthly earnings after an elimination period of 360 days. The Legislature pays the total premium.
Retirement
Participation in the Florida Retirement System is compulsory for all salaried staff, except certain re-employed retirees. New employees have until the end of the eighth month following their first month of employment to select a retirement plan, from the traditional pension plan or the investment plan. New employees will receive an informational packet approximately two months after the hire date. Members and staff contribute 3% of their salary towards retirement and the Legislature pays the remainder of the premium
Florida Pre-Tax Plan and Deferred Compensation Plan
This state sponsored program includes Supplemental Insurance Plans, Health Savings Account (when enrolled with an Investor Health Plan), and a Flexible Spending Program on a pretax basis. The Supplemental Insurance Plans include hospitalization, cancer/intensive care, dental, vision, and accidental/disability. The Flexible Spending Program includes healthcare and dependent care accounts. A competitive Deferred Compensation Plan is also offered. The State of Florida Deferred Compensation Plan offers a number of investment options including variable annuities, mutual funds, and a bank, with a variety of contract providers.
Paid Holidays
New Year's Day - Martin Luther King Day - Memorial Day - Independence Day - Labor Day - Veteran's Day - Thanksgiving Day - Friday After Thanksgiving - Christmas Day - Personal Holiday
Total Compensation Statement
The Total Compensation Statement provides a monetary value of each benefit listed below as well as a total annual compensation estimate. The annual salary amount used in this example is $60,000. Note: All values are based on individual plans.