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Request attorney fee approval from the Board of Review

Before an attorney can bill you for legal services in an appeal to the Board of Review (BOR), the Board must approve the amount of the attorney’s legal fees. This legal requirement applies only to attorneys that are representing workers, not employers.
There is no deadline for seeking fee approval, but the attorney must get the Board of Review’s approval before collecting any legal fees. Generally, the approval process takes about 1-2 weeks from the date the Board receives the fee approval request.

Board of Review

The Details   of Request attorney fee approval from the Board of Review

What you need   for Request attorney fee approval from the Board of Review

In order to request fee approval, attorneys should submit a letter to the Board of Review with the following information: 

  • Worker’s full name
  • Claimant ID number assigned by the Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA)
  • Issue ID number assigned by DUA
  • Copy of the signed fee agreement
  • A detailed billing statement with a breakdown of time spent on each task
  • Total fee amount to be charged
  • Attorney’s name and address

How to request   Request attorney fee approval from the Board of Review

Attorneys should submit a letter to the Board of Review requesting approval of their fee. Include the information listed above.

Mail the letter to:

Board of Review
100 Cambridge St., Suite 400

Boston, MA 02114

Attorneys should submit a letter to the Board of Review requesting approval of their fee. Include the information listed above.

Hand-deliver the letter between 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. to:

DUA Re-Employment Center
2 Avenue de Lafayette
Boston, MA 02111

Attorneys should submit a letter to the Board of Review requesting approval of their fee. Include the information listed above.

Fax the letter to:

Board of Review

(617) 727-5874

Next steps   for Request attorney fee approval from the Board of Review

After your attorney fee approval request is submitted

The attorney must wait for an approval letter from the Board of Review before collecting any legal fees from a client. Generally, the approval process takes about 1-2 weeks from the date the Board receives the fee approval request. The Board will notify the attorney by letter with a copy sent to the client.  Please note that the Board will not approve any fees until after it has rendered its decision.

More info   for Request attorney fee approval from the Board of Review

The attorney fee approval process is required by section 37 of Chapter 151A of the General Laws. The purpose of section 37 is to safeguard unemployed individuals from being charged unreasonable fees.

The Board of Review does not pay attorney fees. Neither does the Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) or the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Understanding the attorney fee approval process

In deciding whether to approve a fee amount, the BOR decides whether a reasonable amount of time is charged at a reasonable billing rate for the appeal.  It will also consider the complexity of the case.

Examples of approvable charges include:

  • Time spent reviewing the hearing record
  • Legal research and writing
  • Attending any Board-ordered hearing

The BOR does not generally approve charges for:

  • Clerical tasks
  • Time spent becoming familiar with the unemployment statute or appeal process
  • Calls to the BOR for a status update
  • Travel time

Attorneys must submit separate fee approval requests for legal services performed at the DUA Hearings Department level and at the BOR level. Representation at remand hearings ordered by the BOR is considered part of the BOR level.

Contact   for Request attorney fee approval from the Board of Review

Address
Board of Review, 100 Cambridge Street, Suite 400, Boston, MA 02114

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