Research Fellow (Staff Attorney)

General Summary:

The Staff Attorney of the Pension Action Center (PAC) within the Gerontology Institute is responsible for assisting clients in obtaining their pension benefits. The incumbent will respond to requests for assistance from the public; conduct and supervise the intake of clients' cases; select, supervise and train volunteers and student staff; and engage in outreach activities. The incumbent will prepare pension claims and appeal letters on behalf of PAC clients. In addition, the incumbent will assist the PAC Director and PAC Development and Outreach Director with raising money, including grant writing and fundraising efforts to ensure the continuation of the project.

Examples of Duties:

• Provide legal representation to Pension Action Center clients; advise clients concerning their rights in the full spectrum of private and public employer-sponsored retirement plans;
• Write legal claims and appeal letters; conduct legal and factual research; screen and assign cases to individual volunteers and staff members to provide counseling, factual investigation and legal research, where appropriate;
• Conduct case reviews of work performed by non-legal staff to ensure quality of the work;
• Educate and provide direction to the case handler on what should be done on the case;
• Hire, train and supervise counselors and legal interns;
• Support outreach efforts including writing articles on employer-based retirement benefits for the Pension Action Center's newsletter and web-based outlets;
• Prepare and give presentations to professionals in the pension field and consumers on such topics as private and public pension rights, how to locate a lost pension and training on screening and referring cases;
• Identify potential funding sources and collaborate with UMB staff and outside partners on grant writing to ensure continuous funding for the project; write grant reports as required by the funding source;
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Juris Doctorate Degree and admission or pending admission to the Bar of Massachusetts. Legal experience is preferred but not required. Familiarity with tax and/or employee benefits law is preferred. The incumbent may be required to travel.
• Competency in the use of web-based client tracking databases;
• Ability to work independently;
• Ability to maintain confidentiality;
• Strong legal and factual research skills;
• Strong oral and written communication skills;
• Strong interpersonal skills;
• Strong organizational skills;

Application Instructions:

Please apply online with your resume, cover letter and list of three references.

Review of candidates will begin following the application closing date.

Salary Range: Commensurate with experience

This is a non-union exempt position.

UMass Boston is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, we will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations for the hiring process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact HRDirect@umb.edu or 617-287-5150.