Associate General Counsel

PRIMARY PURPOSE

Serves as an experienced attorney, contributing to the Legal Affairs Department’s execution of core legal services and capable of health law practice with leader coordination and support rather than supervision. The primary focus of this AGC position is providing operations and regulatory legal advice for the hospital and health system at an independent practitioner level of experience and expertise. Provides strategic advice, guidance, and handles legal and regulatory matters which could include (in random order) healthcare business transactions and contracts, hospital system operations and governance, healthcare related regulatory investigations and litigation, employment, medical malpractice, general vendor/commercial claims and litigation, managed care, advice to affiliated organizations including health plan and/or intellectual property matters, nonprofit governance and tax matters, public law issues, and all related functions and activities. This position will also be responsible for managing departmental relationships with one or more internal clients and assisting with department leadership as requested.

MINIMUM SPECIFICATIONS

Education

• Must be a graduate of an accredited law school.

Experience

• Must have a minimum of eight (8) years of law practice experience with a preference towards healthcare industry transactions, regulatory investigations, labor/employment law, litigation, medical malpractice, healthcare industry and/or governmental entity vendor/commercial contracts, health plan operations, provider/payor issues, hospital operations and/or risk management functions.

Equivalent Education and/or Experience

• May have an equivalent combination of education and experience to substitute for the experience requirements.

Certification/Registration/Licensure

• Must have a current Texas license to practice law in good standing; OR, must pursue 'Admission without Examination' as outlined based on reciprocity as outlined by the most recent standards established by the State Bar of Texas resulting in receipt of a Texas law license within 9 months of hire date.
• Must maintain good standing as a licensed attorney with the State Bar of Texas or an equivalent state bar association after admission.

Skills or Special Abilities

• Must be able to effectively communicate with all levels of Parkland system personnel.
• Must be a good team player, able to work well with colleagues and other departments, and to coordinate effectively with internal and outside legal counsel in appropriate circumstances.
• Must have good investigative skills.
• Must be organized, detail oriented and have excellent oral and written communication and negotiation skills.
• Must have critical thinking and practical strategy skills as applied to hospital/ healthcare business.
• Must be able to quickly analyze operational information and provide first-line legal advice.
• Must be willing to participate in 24/7 attorney on-call schedule (currently, one week every 8-9 weeks).
• Must be willing to learn new areas of healthcare operations and law sufficient to support an innovative, dynamic academic medical center.
• Must be willing to effectively manage outside counsel and Legal Affairs paralegals and other staff.
• Must be willing and able to adopt available technology resources.

Responsibilities

• Oversees and manages legal services for assigned functional area within the Parkland system, including contractual, business, employment, healthcare, regulatory, and operational matters.
• Reviews and drafts governance documents, including various committee and policy documents in accordance with state and federal laws, regulations, and accreditation standards.
• May manage litigation against Parkland, including pre-litigation investigation, document preservation and discovery practice, preparing for and attending key meetings, mediations, depositions, and trial and appellate proceedings.
• May advise on medical staff, real estate, employment, regulatory, compliance, construction, public law, and procurement matters.
• Advises on and oversees internal investigations, grievances, and appeals related to compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and policies.
• Advises Parkland’s Board of Managers within assigned areas of responsibility.
• Analyzes and reviews contracts, including agreements for clinical services, managed care and commercial payor relationships, complex transactions including key business arrangements, purchasing, employment, real estate transactions, business associate agreements, construction services, professional services, research affiliation, and other documents related to the operations of a large public, safety net, academic health system.
• Analyzes system entities’ operational arrangements to ensure compliance with applicable laws.
• Manages and coordinates with outside counsel as needed, ensures timely review of their invoices and expenses in accord with Parkland’s Outside Counsel Engagement Guidelines.
• May advise on responses to public information requests and related proceedings.
• Maintains knowledge of relevant legal developments in state and federal laws and regulations, and healthcare industry trends relevant to assigned functional areas.
• Supports Parkland’s government relations functions as needed.
• Using analytical, problem-solving, and communications skills and good judgment, identifies potential solutions to legal and other problems. Implements timely decisions independently, or after appropriate consultation with Legal Affairs or Parkland system leadership.
• Responds to requests for information and legal guidance.
• Provides counsel and case/matter coordination for Parkland to ensure timely and effective legal intervention/representation. Works closely with Parkland personnel, physicians, and outside counsel, as appropriate, regarding matter/case due diligence, preparation and/or handling. With regard to disputes or claims, as applicable, works closely with Parkland personnel, physicians, and outside counsel, as appropriate, regarding case investigation, discovery, strategy, and trial developments. Answers inquiries, schedules conferences, and maintains files and related communications to advance matters/cases appropriately while providing overall matter/case coordination.
• Reviews legal documents and advises Parkland on policies, internal and external correspondence and other business activities as needed to ensure efficient, organized Parkland operations and legal/regulatory compliance.
• Provides strategic advice and guidance, and assists in implementing necessary practices, procedures, and/or policies to promote effective, efficient, and compliant activities that minimize legal and regulatory risk to Parkland.
• Keeps supervisor informed of strategic and important activities and matters and proactively aligns with supervisor, as appropriate, on matters of strategy and importance to areas of responsibility.
• Serves on and/or staff Parkland system committees as selected or assigned.
• Maintains a positive working relationship with Parkland employees and management, vendors, representatives of other hospitals, outside counsel, government representatives and other professionals to ensure optimal communication and cooperation among all Parkland service providers.
• Seeks advice and guidance as needed to ensure proper understanding regarding duties and areas of responsibility.
• Maintains regular, in-person communications with clients and stakeholders as they may desire to ensure operational awareness and dedicated legal support.
• Works with Legal Affairs staff to ensure timely entry of relevant information in matter management system with corresponding audit responses and legal holds when appropriate.