Legal Specialist

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Analyze and interpret marital litigation-related documents (including, e.g., divorce decrees and QDROs) to determine legal and operational impact on benefit entitlements across retirement, health, and welfare plans.
• Provide guidance to participants, alternate payees, and legal counsel regarding complex benefit plan rules, legal requirements, and administrative processes related to marital litigation.
• Conduct detailed legal and plan compliance review of draft and filed QDROs, identifying deficiencies, interpreting ambiguous provisions, and ensuring alignment with Internal Revenue Code requirements and plan terms.
• Administer and process the division of retirement benefits pursuant to approved QDROs, including data entry, calculations, record updates, and generation of participant communications.
• Respond to marital litigation-related questions from Wespath personnel in other departments.
• Work collaboratively with the Senior Legal Analyst to oversee incoming work, e.g., process incoming correspondence and calls, index and allocate work, and coordinate with other functional areas.
• Analyze and respond to subpoenas and document requests for participant data, ensuring appropriate application of privacy and disclosure requirements.
• Demonstrate knowledge of and familiarity with benefit plan documents, summary plan descriptions, plan procedures/interpretations, and recordkeeping system functionality.
• Identify legal, financial, and operational risks related to benefit plan administration and escalate or recommend mitigation strategies as appropriate.
• Cross-functionally with Legal, Compliance, Customer Solutions, and external stakeholders to resolve complex, non-routine cases and improve administration processes.
• Participate in special projects and process improvement initiatives related to benefit administration and marital litigation workflows, as needed.

Benefits and Compensation

• Choose the medical, dental, vision, and well-being benefits that best fit your needs from day one.
• 8% employer contribution to retirement plan with an additional match up to 2% on day one.
• 22 days of PTO + 12 paid holidays.
• Hybrid working arrangement.
• The compensation range for this position is $73,000 – $91,000 with a bonus opportunity and customary benefits.

Minimum Requirements/Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.
• 5–8+ years of progressive experience in employee benefits administration, benefits legal or compliance support, or related experience.
• Experience handling complex or escalated benefit plan participant matters or inquiries.
• Advanced oral and written communications skills.
• Advanced knowledge of MS Office products.