Chief Attorney

Florida Legislature

$59K — $131K *
Legal & Accounting
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Attorney in good standing with the Florida Bar
  • At least three years of significant litigation experience
  • Ability to master complex public utilities law
  • Strong legal research and writing skills
  • Capacity to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders
  • Leadership experience in mentoring attorney teams

Responsibilities

  • Lead and train litigation teams for successful outcomes
  • Supervise direct appeals to the Florida Supreme Court and First District Court
  • Conduct depositions and cross-examinations of industry experts
  • Advocate for regulatory changes benefiting utility customers
  • Provide legal guidance in response to legislative inquiries
  • Prepare persuasive trial documents and arguments
  • Mentor junior counsel in a collaborative environment

Benefits

  • Comprehensive individual and family health benefits including free dental insurance
  • Employer contributions to retirement plans
  • Tuition opportunities for advanced degrees
  • Generous leave policy with potential carryforward hours
  • Employee assistance program for support and wellness
Full Job Description
Salary: $59,772.00 - $131,568.00 Annually
Location : Tallahassee, Florida
Job Type: Salaried Full-Time
Job Number:
Office: Office of Public Counsel
Opening Date: 06/26/2026
Closing Date: Continuous

General Summary
THE WORK YOU WILL DO

The Office of Public Counsel seeks a talented and experienced supervising attorney to lead, guide, and train litigation teams to achieve successful outcomes for Florida's utility customers. You will play a critical role as the statutory intervenor for cases involving utility rate affordability, data center tariffs and agreements, clean energy resources, storm hardening plans, hurricane restoration costs, corporate accounting and finance, capital investment plans, and the cost-effective development and integration of future energy technologies. You will also take or supervise direct appeals to the Florida Supreme Court for electric and gas cases, and to the First District Court of Appeals for water cases.

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 a rapidly changing legal specialty.
  • Appellate Advocacy: If you bring your substantial legal research and writing skills, 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.
  • 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 but not required.
  • Advocate for Much Needed Regulatory Change: Enforce the regulatory framework of customer protections and recommend improvements that promote positive outcomes for customers.
  • Legal Expertise and Guidance: Display your growing subject-matter expertise by quickly responding to Legislative inquiries.
  • Depositions and Cross Examination: Conduct written discovery, depositions, and examination of industry experts and executives.
  • Expert Witnesses: Retain, prepare, and defend your own industry experts in depositions and hearings.
  • 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
  • Advocate effectively in written and oral communications
  • 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 positions
  • Prepare and present trial briefs, motions, pleadings, and oral arguments
  • Exercise stewardship over all public funds and property
  • Uphold the highest standards of ethics and professionalism
  • Safeguard confidential and sensitive information
  • Treat all people with courtesy, dignity, and respect
  • Zealously advocate for affordable utility rates and other positive customer outcomes
  • Put forth the full effort required to organize, plan, and achieve your litigation goals


Minimum Qualifications
Attorney in good standing with the Florida Bar with at least three years of significant litigation experience. Appellate experience is helpful but not required. Your industry-specific knowledge will be developed.
BENEFITS

Excellent individual and family health benefits including free dental insurance. Retirement plan options that include employer contributions. Utilize state tuition opportunities to secure advanced degrees. Enjoy a generous upfront allotment of leave, sick leave, and holidays. Achieve work-life balance by embracing the unique opportunity to capture a total of 200 excess hours towards block leave, with a large annual carryforward to offset the demands of trying 3-5 complex, multi-day cases per year as lead attorney.
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

You are encouraged to explore this opportunity by contacting the Public Counsel, Walt Trierweiler, directly by phone or text at (850) 717-0326, or by email at [email protected].
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.

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