RRC - Admin Law Judge II

General Description

The Railroad Commission of Texas is seeking an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) within the Hearings Division. The division conducts hearings concerning regulatory aspects of gas utilities rates and safety, surface mining and reclamation, and oil and gas exploration and production. The position presides over complex contested-case proceedings, evaluates evidence, drafts proposals for decision and orders, summarizes expert technical and legal testimony and after researching pertinent facts and law, formulates recommendations for final consideration by the elected Commissioners.

Responsibilities involve Utilities Code and Natural Resources Code contested cases, including gas utility and common carrier ratemaking proceedings, discrimination complaints, and related cases. Must have the ability to identify, review, and analyze complex legal concepts and evidentiary materials from differing scientific disciplines, as well as accounting, finance, and economics principles. Works closely with other administrative law judges and technical examiners, as well as assigned support staff.

Reliability and timeliness are crucial, as this position works under minimal supervision with considerable latitude and independent judgment. This position reports to the Hearings Division Director and will require meticulous attention to detail and the ability to work on multiple projects and meet crucial deadlines.

Writing Sample is Required

A legal writing sample, written solely by the candidate within the past two years without assistance from AI programs , must be submitted for the application to be considered. The writing sample should be at least 2,500 words in length.

Job Duties

• Manage and preside over assigned contested-case dockets in the Hearings Division.

• Apply knowledge of trial and administrative hearing procedures, applicable laws, government regulations, and agency rules.

• Analyze testimony and legal arguments of parties involved in hearings. Use reasoning, logic, and judgment to identify solutions and approaches to make rulings in assigned cases.

• Determine and apply relevant law (including case law, statutes, and agency rules), comply with ethical standards, recognize problems and identify and facilitate solutions, communicate effectively, and assign and/or supervise the work of others.

• Write well-reasoned, legally supported, and grammatically correct legal documents, including orders and rulings, letters to parties, proposals for decision, findings of fact, and conclusions of law.

• Speak publicly to present recommendations and answer questions at agency-open meetings.

• Maintain docket files in compliance with open government and confidentiality procedures.

• Use computers and applicable software.

• Must be able to work 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM M-F, with occasional nights, weekends, holidays.

• Performs other duties, as assigned.

For Military Crosswalk information, please visit: https://hr.sao.texas.gov/Compensation/MilitaryCrosswalk/MOSC_Legal.pdf

Minimum Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited law school with a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) degree.

• Member in good standing with the State Bar of Texas.

• Five years of relevant experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Preference will be given to applicants with experience litigating or presiding over complex administrative and regulatory proceedings.

• A master’s in business administration (MBA) or education and experience in accounting, finance, or economics is beneficial for this position.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Knowledge of trial and administrative hearing procedures, applicable laws, government regulations, and agency rules.

• Skill in listening to testimony of parties involved in hearings, in using reasoning and logic to identify solutions and approaches to cases, in using judgment to make rulings in assigned cases, and in using computers and applicable software.

• Ability to determine and apply relevant rules and statutes, to comply with ethical standards, to recognize problems and identify and facilitate solutions, to communicate effectively, and to assign and/or supervise the work of others.

• Ability to present recommendations at the Commission’s public open meetings.

• Demonstrates strong organizational and time management abilities and able to properly manage sensitive documents and to appropriately coordinate preservation of records.

• The ability to work under pressure, coordinate multiple priorities, and meet strict deadlines.

• Ability to work effectively on a team or individually.

• Ability to learn and understand regulatory policies and procedures and interpret processes.

• Ability to exercise tact and courtesy and to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

• Experience in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Access, PowerPoint).

• Performs other duties, as assigned.

Work Environment:

Primarily indoors with heating and cooling regulated in the general office environment; the noise level in the work environment ranges from low-to-moderate.

Physical Requirements:

The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Ability to reach high and low; open, close and retrieve files from file cabinets as well as operate computer keyboard and appropriate office equipment.