Associate General Counsel

Job Summary

Working at the direction of the Health, Regulatory and Operations (HRO) practice group leader, assists in protecting the organization's legal interests and maintaining and expanding enterprise operations within the scope established by law through hands-on counsel to all levels of executive, administrative and management staff. Supports the execution of the work of the practice group within the Legal Department, assists in the assessment of legal needs and management of the legal risks of the enterprise, and provides legal services in a comprehensive and cost-conscious manner.

Major Responsibilities:

• Execute legal or business projects requiring legal involvement with a moderate level of independence and oversight from more senior attorneys as needed.
• Support and mentor peers, less senior attorneys, paralegals, and/or other Department staff members.
• Analyzes legal and regulatory risks of the enterprise and offers practical, effective legal solutions that further the mission and business interests of the enterprise.
• Delivers effective legal advice while protecting enterprise interests and mitigating legal and reputational risk, instilling a culture of responsibility and ethical behavior. Contributes to material strategic imperatives of the practice group and the Department at the direction of the practice group leader and other senior Legal Department leadership.
• Provides input and advice regarding the assessment and management of outside legal relationships related to the practice group and retains and oversees the performance of outside counsel as required at the direction of the practice group leader.
• Assists the practice group leader in the management of the legal budget, including internal staff, outside counsel, and other expenditures related to the practice group.
• Responsible for understanding and adhering to the enterprise Code of Conduct and ensuring that personal actions, and the actions of employees supervised, comply with the policies, regulations, and laws applicable to the enterprise's business.

Licensure, Registration, and/or Certification Required:

• Attorney applicants should be licensed in Illinois. 

Education Required:

• ​​ Juris Doctor Degree in Law from an accredited law school.

Experience Required:

• ​​ Typically requires 2-6 years of experience providing legal services as in-house legal counsel (preferred) or at a law firm.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required:

• Experience in medical staff governance, patient privacy and rights issues, and drafting professional services agreement contracts is preferred.
• Ability to support Legal Department leadership and business clients on business and legal strategy, while assessing, communicating, managing, and mitigating legal risk to the enterprise.
• Ability to analyze, develop, review, negotiate, and present corporate contracts and other legal documents to executive, administrative, and management staff and third parties.
• Ability to develop, approve, and interpret policies within various sub-functions and departments.
• Ability to effectively leverage the use of outside counsel while controlling outside counsel costs.
• Ability to work effectively with governmental and other regulatory agencies to protect the best interests of the enterprise.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to communicate effectively with all levels of employees, which is necessary to collaborate with staff, management, executives and other organizations.
• Excellent leadership and motivational skills.
• Adaptable to change, supports transformation, and helps drive strategic objectives.
• Self-directed with strong time management and organizational skills.
• Manages time-sensitive/deadline-driven projects.
• Flexible and committed to the team concept.
• Intellectual curiosity and willingness to learn.
• Readily contribute to diversity goals and initiatives.
• Driven by organizational mission, vision, and core values.
• Will limit access to protected health information (PHI) to the information reasonably necessary to do the job.
• Will share information only on a need-to-know basis for work purposes.
• Access to verbal, written, and electronic PHI for this job has been determined based on job level and job responsibility within the organization.  Computerized access to PHI for this job has been determined as described above and is controlled via user ID and password.

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.