Legal Intern

The Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel (OCC is the statewide legal representative for Ohio's residential consumers in matters related to their investor-owned electric, natural gas, telephone, and water services.  Led by the Ohio Consumers' Counsel, the Agency advocates for consumers in proceedings before the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO), the Supreme Court of Ohio, federal regulatory agencies, appellate courts, and the Ohio General Assembly.  The Agency also monitors public utilities' compliance with regulatory standards for consumer protection.  The OCC also educates consumers about utility issues that affecting their bills and quality of service

The Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel (OCC), the state’s voice for millions of Ohio residential utility consumers, seeks an employee with an interest in public service to serve as an intern in its Legal Department. This position is an opportunity to help consumers, including at-risk and low-income Ohioans, regarding justice for their electric, natural gas, telephone, and water utility services. Since the legislature created the agency in 1976, OCC has sought lower utility bills and reliable utility service for residential consumers. OCC provides legal representation for consumers in such forums as the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Supreme Court of Ohio.  At OCC, we put Consumers First.

At the State of Ohio, we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality, competitive benefits to eligible full-time and part-time employees*. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits, visit our Total Rewards website! Our benefits package includes:

• Medical Coverage
• Free Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance premiums after completion of eligibility period
• Paid time off, including vacation, personal, sick leave and 11 paid holidays per year
• Childbirth, Adoption, and Foster Care leave
• Education and Development Opportunities (Employee Development Funds, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and more)
• Public Retirement Systems (such as OPERS, STRS, SERS, and HPRS) & Optional Deferred Compensation (Ohio Deferred Compensation)

*Benefits eligibility is dependent on a number of factors. The Agency Contact listed above will be able to provide specific benefits information for this position.

The Legal Intern will assist the Consumers’ Counsel, Deputy Consumers’ Counsel/Legal Director and other OCC attorneys by researching law, legal precedent and other information. The research relates to OCC’s consumer advocacy in the government’s regulation of public utilities. Other duties may include:

·         Drafting pleadings and portions of legal briefs;

·         Reviewing legislation proposed by members of the Ohio General Assembly;

·         Assisting with discovery, witness preparation, and participation in evidentiary proceedings at the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio.

This is a part-time position during the school year, with the opportunity for increased hours during the summer.

Applicants must have completed their first year in an accredited law school. Excellence in communications, including writing, is expected. A knowledge of online research (Lexis), Microsoft Office programs (including Word, Excel, Outlook) and other technology used in legal research is expected.

The Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs, and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.  To request a reasonable accommodation due to a disability please contact Laurie Knight at Laurie.Knight@occ.ohio.gov

Ohio is a Disability Inclusion State and strives to be a model employer of individuals with disabilities. The State of Ohio is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.

The State of Ohio is a drug-free workplace which prohibits the use of marijuana (recreational marijuana/non-medical cannabis). Please note, this position may be subject to additional restrictions pursuant to the State of Ohio Drug-Free Workplace Policy (HR-39), and as outlined in the posting.