About Joseph William
Joseph William Kaatz earned his undergraduate degree from Pepperdine University in 2006 and took his law degree from the University of San Diego School of Law in 2011. He moved from the classroom into legal work tied closely to public policy. His education combined a regional liberal arts background with several years of legal study in Southern California.
Soon after completing his J.D., Kaatz joined the University of San Diego School of Law as a staff lawyer at the Energy Policy Initiatives Center (EPIC). In that role he worked inside an academic clinic that engages on energy and utility issues. The position placed him at the intersection of legal research, public policy analysis, and engagements that involve regulators and other stakeholders.
At EPIC, Kaatz handled matters that required translating legal concepts into policy options. He contributed to projects that examined utility regulation, energy efficiency programs, and the legal frameworks that shape utility operations. His work relied on careful statutory and regulatory reading, research into administrative processes, and the drafting of memos and comments intended for public and regulatory audiences.
Colleagues describe his approach as methodical and evidence-oriented. He has operated in an environment where academic inquiry meets practical legal work. That setting often requires balancing technical energy industry details against legal constraints and policy goals. The clinic structure also meant collaborating with students, faculty, and outside parties to produce work that could inform decision makers.
Kaatz remains based at the University of San Diego School of Law and continues his role at EPIC. He practices in areas connected to energy policy and regulatory matters, supporting efforts that examine how law shapes the delivery and governance of energy services. He currently practices as a staff lawyer at the University of San Diego School of Law's Energy Policy Initiatives Center, focusing on energy policy and regulatory matters.
