Assistant Attorney General, Contributory Retirement Appeal Board

Assistant Attorney General/Chair, Contributory Retirement Appeal Board
Government Bureau

Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell is looking for a highly motivated attorney to join her team as an Assistant Attorney General (AAG), assisting the Contributory Retirement Appeal Board in adjudicating public employee retirement appeals. The Contributory Retirement Appeal Board (CRAB) reviews appeals arising under G.L. c. 32, the retirement law applicable to public employees within the Commonwealth.

The CRAB board consists of an Assistant Attorney General, who acts as the chair, and three additional members, including a designee of the Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission (PERAC), a designee of the commissioner of public health, and an appointee of the governor. CRAB sits in panels of three. In disability cases the public health designee acts in place of the PERAC designee. Cases are appealed to CRAB after initial consideration and decision by an administrative magistrate of the Division of Administrative Law Appeals (DALA), who holds an evidentiary hearing and makes findings of fact and rulings of law. CRAB does not conduct hearings. It conducts its review based on the record of proceedings before DALA.

Duties and Responsibilities: Assisting the CRAB chair, the AAG will draft administrative decisions for consideration by the CRAB board, plan and attend meetings, and, with the assistance of the CRAB paralegal, address inquiries by the parties and provide guidance on procedural motions. The AAG will administer the CRAB caseload in accordance with CRAB's Standing Orders, which provide procedural rules governing appeals before CRAB, and which also provide that CRAB's rules are to be applied "so as to achieve a just, speedy, and fair determination" of appeals.

The AAG will also act as a resource to the attorneys in the Office of the Attorney General, and in particular, to those in the Constitutional & Administrative Law Division, relative to the retirement law, G.L. c 32. The AAG will consult on and assist with appeals of retirement decisions issued by CRAB to the Superior Court, Appeals Court, and Supreme Judicial Court. Additionally, the AAG may prepare related educational materials and conduct trainings for members of the Attorney General's Office.

Position Type: Full-Time/Exempt

Salary: $73,493 to $110, 239 commensurate with JD year and experience.

When applying for this position, you will be asked to provide a cover letter and resume.

The application deadline for this posting is March 6, 2024.

Qualified individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. We will gladly assist applicants in need of an accommodation. For assistance, contact the Human Resources Division at (617) 963-2041.

Inquiries regarding position & status may be made to:
Samuel Ades, Paralegal
Contributory Retirement Appeal Board
Government Bureau
(617) 963-2822

The Attorney General's Office is an Equal Opportunity Employer. As the representative of the Commonwealth and its residents, the Attorney General's Office strives to ensure that those working in our office reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. The Office encourages applicants from a broad spectrum of backgrounds to apply for positions.


Job Qualifications:

An applicant must be a member of the Massachusetts bar and the bar of the United States District Court for Massachusetts (or be eligible for admission to the federal bar upon hire). In addition, applicants must have strong legal writing skills and the ability to independently handle a large caseload of administrative appeals. Applicants should have familiarity with the retirement law, G.L. c. 32, and a strong background in statutory interpretation and administrative law. A minimum of two years of relevant legal experience is preferred. The successful candidate will appreciate the importance of a lawful and just resolution of retirement appeals brought by public employees and retirement boards and will be able and willing to communicate effectively with members of the public and litigants, including those who are self-represented. The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate a commitment to working for the public interest, a connection to the people and communities we serve, including historically marginalized communities, and an interest in supporting a respectful and inclusive work environment. Our hybrid model includes some remote workdays for most positions.