Associate General Counsel

Agnello & Rogers; Springfield (IL); On-site; USD 118,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension benefits

Medical and dental insurance

35-hour work week

Paid vacation & holidays

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) seeks an in-house counsel to provide legal guidance to staff and the Board of Trustees. You will defend administrative decisions in state court and advise on all aspects of IMRF participation, including hearings and pension-related matters.

The role requires strong legal writing and communication skills, Illinois bar admission, and prior experience with governmental pensions.

Qualifications

• Licensed to practice law in Illinois; appellate experience preferred.
• Strong legal writing and communication skills.
• Experience with administrative review matters and municipal/government pensions is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Defend IMRF Board decisions in state court.
• Serve as staff counsel to Board of Trustees benefits committee and in administrative hearings.
• Respond to inquiries regarding the Illinois Pension Code.
• Advise staff on past service, death, disability and retirement claims.
• Provide counsel on employment law matters to Human Resources.
• Interpret and opine on state/federal statutes.
• Review and approve RFPs and contracts, and advise on procurement rules.
• Manage procurement function for IMRF in compliance with policies.
• Oversee Trustee election process.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Legal writing

Communication skills

Leadership

Legal research

Education

Licensed to practice law in Illinois

Job description

SUMMARY

Provide legal guidance to IMRF staff and Board of Trustees. Advise employers and members in all aspects of IMRF participation. Responsible for preparing and conducting all non-disability administrative hearings. Defends or manages all non-investment-related litigation involving IMRF and Board of Trustees.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Defend administrative decisions of IMRF Board in state court.
• Serve as counsel to the Board of Trustees Benefit Review Committee and as staff counsel in administrative hearings before the Benefit Review Committee and IMRF hearing officers.
• Respond to inquiries from employers, members and other involved individuals regarding all aspects of the Illinois Pension Code.
• Review and advise staff on past service applications, death claims, disability claims and retirement claims, and other matters as needed by respective department management.
• Provide counsel to Human Resources on employment law matters.
• Review, interpret and opine on various state and federal statutes.
• Review and approve RFPs and contracts for the purchase of services and equipment, provide legal advice when issues arise related to contracts and procurement rules.
• Manage the procurement function for IMRF in compliance with established policies and procedures.
• Oversee and administer the Trustee election process.
• Other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

This position directly supervises the legal department, and procurement staff. Duties include hiring and training; planning, assigning and directing work; performance appraisals; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Licensed to practice law in Illinois with prior experience in Administrative Review Law matters
• Must have strong legal writing skills and general knowledge of the Supreme Court Rules. Prior appellate experience is preferred.
• Previous experience as counsel to municipal or other local governments or with governmental pensions and employee benefits is strongly preferred.
• Must possess excellent communication skills. Must be self-motivated, a self-starter with strong organizational skills.
• Must be able to motivate and discipline subordinates in a constructive manner.
• Previous management experience preferred.
• Must have the ability to interpret and administer the Illinois Pension Code. Some knowledge of the federal tax code is a plus.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to read, analyze and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports and legal documents. Ability to respond to complex inquiries or complaints from various sources. Ability to effectively communicate and present information to senior management, public groups and Board of Trustees.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

The expected annual salary range for this role is $117,844 - $140,000. Please note the salary information is a general guideline only. Salaries are based upon candidate skills, experience, and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations. The range listed is just one component of IMRF's total compensation package for employees.

• Pension, death, and disability benefits as a member of IMRF
• Generous insurance benefits, including medical and dental
• 35-hour base work week, Monday-Friday.
• Paid vacation, paid sick, 12-13 paid holidays and 2 personal days
• Tuition reimbursement
• Business casual attire