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Research Fellow (Staff Attorney)

Employer
University of Massachusetts Boston
Location
UMass Boston
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Position Type
Postdoc
Employment Type
Full Time
Institution Type
Four-Year Institution
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Job Details

Job no: 526362
Position Type: Staff Full Time
Campus: UMass Boston
Department: Gerontology Institute
Pay Grade: No Pay Grade
Date opened: 26 Feb 2025 Eastern Standard Time
Applications close: 26 Mar 2025 Eastern Daylight Time

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.

    All official salary offers must be approved by Human Resources.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.

    Applications close: 26 Mar 2025 Eastern Daylight Time

    Organization

    Working at University of Massachusetts Boston

    The University of Massachusetts Boston is nationally recognized as a model of excellence for urban public universities. The scenic waterfront campus is located next to the John F. Kennedy Library, with easy access to downtown Boston. 

    The second-largest campus in the UMass system, UMass Boston combines a small-college experience with the vast resources of a major research university. With a 16:1 student-to-faculty ratio, students easily interact with professors because most teaching occurs in small class sizes. Ninety-three percent of full-time faculty hold the highest degree in their fields.

    UMass Boston’s academic excellence is reflected by a growing student body of nearly 16,000 undergraduate and graduate students. The university’s eight colleges offer more than 100 undergraduate programs and 50 graduate programs. The University Honors Program serves 300 students who thrive on intellectual challenge. Enriched courses probe more deeply into theory or venture further into application.

    UMass Boston’s diverse student body provides a global context for student learning, and its location in a major U.S. city provides connections to employers in industries such as finance, health care, technology, service, and education, offering students opportunities to gain valuable in-school experience via internships, clinicals, and other career-related placements.

    More than 100 student organizations — including clubs, literary magazines, newspaper, radio station, art gallery, and 16 NCAA Division III sports teams — offer a rich campus life. Students live throughout Greater Boston and in apartment communities just steps from the campus, and enjoy the rich amenities, cultural attractions, and educational opportunities that make the city the biggest and best college town in the nation.

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