Paula M. Carmody – Maryland People's Counsel
Paula Carmody was appointed People’s Counsel by Douglas F. Gansler, Attorney General of Maryland, and confirmed by the Senate in 2007. She has extensive experience working on consumer issues with government agencies, including the Office of People’s Counsel, and nonprofit legal services organizations. In her capacity as President (formerly Vice-President and Treasurer) and member of the Executive Committee of the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates (NASUCA), she is able to advocate for Maryland consumers on national issues.
Prior to her appointment, Ms. Carmody was an Assistant Attorney General in the Consumer Protection Division, Office of the Attorney General of Maryland, from 2004 – 2007. While there, she was responsible for investigating violations of, and enforcing, Maryland’s Consumer Protection Act and related consumer protection laws.
From 1988 - 2003 Ms. Carmody served as an Assistant People’s Counsel with the Office of People’s Counsel, representing the interests of residential consumers of gas and electricity before the Maryland Public Service Commission and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, as well as the Maryland General Assembly. During that time she developed a particular expertise in consumer protection issues related to the restructured gas and electric industries.
Before coming to the Office of People’s Counsel, Ms. Carmody was the Managing Attorney of the Baltimore, Maryland office of the UAW-GM Legal Services Plan, and represented autoworkers, family members and retirees in a variety of civil matters in state and federal courts. Additionally, she served as a Staff Attorney for the Legal Aid Bureau, Inc., in Maryland.
Ms. Carmody graduated with a Juris Doctor degree from Antioch School of Law, Washington, D.C. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.