This is a reposting.

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1 This is a reposting. MS DATE OF POSTING: January 15, 2016 TERMINATION DATE FOR APPLICATIONS: January 25, 2016 POSITION: COMPENSATION/BENEFITS: STAFF RELATIONSHIP: EMPLOYMENT DATE: SEND APPLICATION AND RESUME TO: PARALEGAL/SUBROGATION SPECIALIST Per SSA/USO Contract Grade G Responsible to Sandi Nelson Associate Manager, Legal and Compliance As soon as possible Human Resources Department Michigan Education Association 1350 Kendale Blvd., P.O. Box 2573 East Lansing, MI BASIC PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS: Review medical and disability claims for work relationships, third party responsibility and other legal actions; advise management and/or Benefit Analysts of processing direction or process accordingly; Review payment history and construct accurate summaries of charges related to work related injury claims, third party claims and other legal claims including automobile negligence and personal injury claims; Communicate with MESSA staff, members, leaders, school business offices, attorneys, MEA Uniserv Directors, Workers Disability Compensation Bureau officials, local courts, and other parties related to claims; Negotiate settlements of liens within established parameters and in consultation with MESSA management, attend mediations and/or other facilitations, testify on MESSA s behalf in workers disability compensation and third party recovery cases; Perform initial legal research concerning the impact of laws and regulations on MESSA operations and procedures. The work involves preparing research findings for presentation so that legal opinions may be formed by the appropriate parties;

2 Page 2 BASIC PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS (continued): This position is highly technical in nature and requires the ability to use legal research tools and databases, as well as standard word processing programs and database tools. This position exercises considerable independence. The person in this position must be a problem solver, must handle confidential information with discretion and accept responsibility for producing work that is consistently complete, timely, effective, and accurate; This position requires the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external counsel, members, consultants, vendors, underwriters, leaders, school business offices, MEA UniServ Directors, as well as MESSA staff and management. ASSIGNED DUTIES: Conduct legal research and writing; Create, manage, and maintain spreadsheets and databases regarding ongoing litigation involving MESSA; Prepare other correspondence, reports, routine legal documents, routing litigation related documents, presentations and the like using advanced knowledge and skills, as well as word processing and other software programs; Respond to detailed inquiries concerning departmental activities and operations that require in-depth knowledge of department and/or legal procedures; Use research methodologies and tools to gather input and extract complex data; Conduct legal research, as directed, and prepare summaries on a variety of issues related to compliance with state and federal laws and regulations; Verify the accuracy and reasonableness of data; Prepare reports, letters, charts, presentations and other records of data and analysis of the data; Prepare and make recommendations to management, as requested, regarding the results of the analysis and research; Use MESSA s current software, technical tools and systems to complete duties; Interact with an interdisciplinary team including General Counsel, outside Counsel, subrogation specialists, and other staff;

3 Page 3 ASSIGNED DUTIES (continued): Maintain objectivity and confidentiality; Process workers disability compensation and third party claims to obtain recovery from the responsible party; Evaluate and use sound judgment to make decisions about the accuracy of processed claims and their disposition, and about whether subrogation claims should be pursued in connection with workers disability compensation or third party actions (including but not limited to auto accidents) and advise Benefit Analysts of processing instructions; Access, interpret and summarize medical and disability benefit files, payment history, utilization and eligibility displays based on nature of legal issue involved in order to compile liens or summaries of related charges; Develop and maintain an understanding of the workers disability compensation law and processes for subrogation purposes; Develop and maintain an understanding of third party claims and processes for subrogation purposes; Process funds recovered through subrogation; Consistent with state and federal laws, maintain contact with appropriate MESSA departments, members, school business offices, MEA Uniserv Directors, and attorneys to answer questions and explain benefits, plan exclusions, right of recovery and to handle sensitive and confidential matters concisely, tactfully and diplomatically; Negotiate the settlement of liens using judgment within established guidelines in consultation with MESSA management when appropriate; Testify in Workers Disability Compensation and third party recovery cases; Consistent with state and federal laws, respond to subpoenas and/or other requests for members records; Perform other job-related duties as assigned. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: Graduation from a standard high school or vocational school;

4 Page 4 MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS (continued): Two years experience in the last four years as a paralegal with legal assistant certification or an Associate s Degree from an ABA-approved legal assistant program; Minimum of two years experience as a MESSA Benefit Analyst or commensurate experience in administration of benefits, subrogation, workers disability compensation administration, and/or a relevant field of law; Demonstrated ability to acquire knowledge of all MESSA medical and disability plans, the Michigan Workers Disability Compensation process, and other third party claims; Demonstrated ability to acquire, or actual experience and training in the following: Benefit payment rules, procedures and operations related to the administration of benefits, including technical knowledge of medical terminology; Generating and composing correspondence accurately; Making sound decisions using good judgment; Making moderately complex arithmetical calculations; Applying good judgment in reviewing the work of others, and in making decisions about situations for which application is not clearly defined; Efficiently operating a personal computer and common office equipment; Keyboard and typing skills. Communication and interpersonal skills necessary to effectively convey and obtain information with and from management, attorneys and staff within and outside the department and external contacts, including members; Ability to organize and prioritize a high volume of tasks and complete them under significant time constraints; Ability to proofread typed material to eliminate grammatical, typographical and spelling errors; Ability to follow and convey instructions effectively with a high degree of courtesy and tact, including ability to initiate follow-up; Excellent organizational skills; detail-oriented;

5 Page 5 MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS (continued): Excellent written and verbal skills; The applicant must have a valid driver license. TESTING: Computation: 75% Keyboard (Numbers): 15 npm Keyboard (Typing): 30 wpm, 98% accuracy Language Skills: 70% Reasoning: 45% Visual Speed & Accuracy: 80% Vocabulary: 70% Proofreading: 75% MS Word (Intermediate): Proficient Legal Business Letter: P/F 10/2/13