Associate General Counsel-MSRB

Socket.dev; Massachusetts; Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

The Office of the State Treasurer and Receiver General seeks an experienced attorney to provide legal counsel to the Massachusetts State Retirement Board (MSRB). The role focuses on retirement benefits, disability applications, and complex regulatory matters, with duties in hearings, policy interpretation, and collaboration with the Attorney General’s office.

The position supports a hybrid in-office/remote work arrangement. Qualified candidates will have a J.D.

Qualifications

• Admitted to the Massachusetts Bar and in good standing.
• Strong analytical and oral advocacy skills.
• Experience with administrative law, hearings, and litigation preferred.

Responsibilities

• Represent the MSRB in judicial and administrative forums on disability retirement, classification, and benefits matters.
• Advise on interpretation of GL c. 32 and related regulations and decisions.
• Develop expertise in state retirement and public employee benefits law and related statutes.
• Participate in monthly MSRB Board meetings and present matters related to retirement benefits.
• Review legal documents affecting retirement benefits and handle enforcement matters.
• Provide guidance to staff and collaborate with AG’s office as needed.
• Supervise paralegals and legal interns.

Skills

Oral advocacy

Legal research

Westlaw

Public sector law

Policy analysis

Education

J.D. from accredited law school

Tools

Microsoft Office

Video conferencing

Job description

About the Office of the Massachusetts State Treasurer and Receiver General ("Treasury")

Our mission is to manage and safeguard the State's public deposits and investments through sound business practices for the exclusive benefits of our citizens, and perform these duties with integrity, excellence, and leadership. Additionally, we strive to provide economic opportunity, stability, and security for every Massachusetts resident.

We are committed to excellence in recruiting, hiring, and retaining diverse and qualified individuals. We value a culture of diversity and professionalism in the workplace and strongly believe that our workforce should reflect our community.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FM68GFV

Purpose of the Job:

The Massachusetts State Retirement Board ("MSRB") is a department within the Office of the State Treasurer which administers a defined benefit retirement plan, the Massachusetts State Employees Retirement System ("MSERS"), for eligible employees of the Commonwealth and certain independent entities. Established in 1911, the MSRB supports more than 93,000 active members and more than 73,000 retirees and beneficiaries. The MSRB annually issues more than $3b in benefits. The MSRB Legal Unit is responsible for providing legal counsel in a high-volume work setting to the Board and staff on all matters related to the proper administration of the MSERS, as governed by G.L. c. 32.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Represent the MSRB in judicial and administrative forums on a variety of legal matters, including member appeals from MSRB decisions and Board-initiated matters before appointed Hearing Officers. These appeals include Board denials of applications for disability retirement, group classification, and service purchases, as well as disputes concerning retirement eligibility, beneficiary designations, survivor benefits, and benefit calculations.

• Advise Executive Director and staff regarding the interpretation and implementation of G.L. c. 32, related administrative regulations, and administrative or judicial decisions.

• Develop an expertise regarding G.L. c. 32 and administrative regulations. Develop a working familiarity with the statutes, regulations, and case law affecting public employees, including G.L. c. 66 (Public Records), G.L. c. 30A, §§ 18-25 (Open Meetings), and G.L. c. 268A (Conduct of Public Officials).

• Participate in the preparation for and present matters during monthly MSRB Board meetings, including accidental and ordinary disability retirement applications, group classification applications, beneficiary determinations, and forfeiture matters.

• Review proposed worker’s compensation lump sum agreements, domestic relations orders, and employment settlement agreements from Commonwealth agencies which may impact the calculation of retirement benefits.

• Participate in enforcement and adjudicatory efforts in connection with post-retirement earnings limits and disability retirees’ excess earnings cases pursuant to G.L. c. 32, § 91A and benefit forfeitures due to criminal convictions pursuant to G.L. c. 32, § 15.

• Monitor and analyze judicial and administrative decisions that may affect the Board, its policies, or administration of the system. Advise staff and the MSRB on judicial and administrative law decisions on a timely basis.

• Occasional travel to hearing locations, primarily before the Division of Administrative Law Appeals in Malden, MA.

Other Duties and Responsibilities:

• As necessary, provide legal counsel to the MSRB Board members on matters relevant to their duties and obligations as fiduciaries of the MSERS, including the Open Meeting and Public Records Laws.

• Collaborate with the Attorney General’s office on any litigation in which the MSRB or any staff member is a party.

• Collaborate with staff on matters and special projects related to the MSRB’s operations and functions.

• As necessary, participate in responding to public records request and subpoenas.

• Perform other legal tasks as requested.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Paralegals and legal interns as needed.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Education: J.D. from accredited law school.

• License/certification: Massachusetts bar certification and good standing with the Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers.

• Experience: At least three years’ experience in law firm and/or governmental agency. Experience in Massachusetts public employee benefits law strongly preferred. Administrative hearing and litigation experience under M.G.L. c. 30A, including matters
  under M.G.L. c. 32, also preferred. Familiarity with trusts and estate law, family law, personal injury, medical malpractice, and/or insurance defense will be useful.

• Abilities/skills: Adept oral advocate and strong oral presentation skills. Able to convey complicated issues in a readily understandable, professional, and (as necessary) compassionate manner. Excellent research skills, including facility with Westlaw and other online research tools; proficient with various office technologies, including Microsoft Office suite of products and video technologies. Strong attention to detail, organized, and adept at prioritizing and reprioritizing tasks; self-directed and self-motivated; able to work independently, with limited administrative support.

Hybrid Work Environment:

All new hires at the Office of the State Treasurer and Receiver General (Treasury) will go through an In-Office Orientation Period consisting of a combination of virtual, in-person and on-the-job training so as to assimilate you to the Treasury’s culture and work environment. Following the initial In-Office Orientation Period a gradual transition to hybrid work will take place over the first 3-8 weeks of employment.

The hybrid work environment will consist of two (2) days in the office each week, with one of these days being either a Monday or a Friday. There will be an additional (1) day in the office per month for a mandatory in person department meeting.

An Equal Opportunity Employer:

The Office of the State Treasurer and Receiver General is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law.

Employment Eligibility Regarding Family Members:

Please note that the Office of the State Treasurer and Receiver General will not consider family members of current employees as eligible for employment. Family members shall include an employee’s spouse, brother, sister, children, stepchildren, parents, stepparents, sister/brother-in-law, daughter/son-in-law or an individual residing in an employee’s household.