Assistant General Counsel - Legal Office

Job Description

Description

Become part of an inclusive organization with over 40,000 diverse employees, whose mission is to improve the health and well-being of the unique communities we serve.

Job Summary:

The UNC Health Care System (UNC Health) seeks an attorney to join its dedicated team of professionals in the challenging and rewarding role of Assistant General Counsel in the UNC Health Legal Department. As North Carolina’s public academic health system, UNC Health’s statutory mission is to improve the health and well-being of North Carolinians through leadership and excellence in patient care, education, and research.

Acting in partnership with and under the direction of senior attorneys and leaders, the Assistant General Counsel will support UNC Health’s mission by providing legal guidance and assistance to UNC Health and its affiliated entities in furtherance of UNC Health’s clinical and business strategies, goals, and operations. This role offers the opportunity to join a group of skilled attorneys, healthcare providers, and business professionals from a variety of backgrounds, all united by their dedication to working for the benefit of all of North Carolina and its diverse people and communities.

The ideal candidate for this position will be an individual who is motivated by UNC Health’s public mission and will have three to five years of experience in the full-time practice of law, with at least some of that experience in health law or in areas of practice that are critical to major hospitals, physician practices, and health systems. This position does not involve legal services associated with medical malpractice claims. Qualified candidates must be members of the North Carolina bar, or able to become a member within the first year of employment.

Description of Job Responsibilities:

1. Serves as a resource to the Chief Legal Officer, Deputy General Counsels, and Associate General Counsels in the UNC Health Legal Department on all legal matters affecting UNC Health and its affiliates, including the scope of operations described in N.C.G.S. 116-37 and the affiliation with UNC-Chapel Hill and the UNC School of Medicine.

2. Acting under the general supervision of senior attorneys, provides legal guidance and assistance in general health law matters, which may include but are not limited to the following:

• Support for acquisitions, joint ventures, and other transactions.
• Counsel on health care laws including Medicare, Medicaid and other government programs, fraud and abuse, physician self-referral and anti-kickback laws, and EMTALA.
• Guidance on revenue cycle matters, including collection and third-party liability issues.
• Guidance on reimbursement matters for compliance with government and commercial health plan requirements.
• Legal advice and support on patient care matters as directed and assigned, including medical records, informed consent, and patients’ rights issues. • Support and guidance on medical staff matter, peer review, and disciplinary actions.
• Legal advice and guidance on employment matters, including occupational safety and health.
• Review and negotiation of contracts for services, real property, supplies, equipment, information services, and software.
• Preparation of documents to assist the business and clinical functions of Health Care System. Works on systems that facilitate contract initiation, renewal and alteration to support ongoing needs.
• Development and review of policies and procedures for business and clinical functions.
• Participation in managerial conferences to determine the proper course of action in administrative and policy matters.
• Serve on committees and assists in the formulation and implementation of policies and practices.
• Other matters as assigned.

3. Expresses ideas effectively in individual and group situations, presents ideas in clear, concise and organized manner, and knows when to use written rather than oral communications. Keeps abreast of legal developments in areas of law as assigned, understands operational needs and practicalities, and places problems in context. Identifies and focuses on appropriate issues, seeks available information and facts and makes good logical decisions, thinks independently and consults with others as appropriate. Anticipates potential impacts of a decision or deals with problems arising from a decision.

4. Assists the Chief Legal Officer and the Deputy General Counsels in promoting efficiency of the legal department by preparing templates, forms, outlines, instructional materials, and other tools and resources. As directed, assists in identifying technology solutions that improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Legal Department. Serves on boards, committees, and work groups as assigned.

Other Information

Education Requirements:
● Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited school of law.
Licensure/Certification Requirements:
● License to practice law in the state of North Carolina or be able to obtain a valid NC license to practice law within a year of hire.
Professional Experience Requirements:
● No prior experience required, 2-5 years experience preferred.

Job Details

Legal Employer: NCHEALTH

Entity: Shared Services

Organization Unit: Legal Office

Work Type: Full Time

Standard Hours Per Week: 40.00

Work Schedule: Day Job

Location of Job: US:NC:Chapel Hill

Exempt From Overtime: Exempt: Yes

This position is employed by NC Health (Rex Healthcare, Inc., d/b/a NC Health), a private, fully-owned subsidiary of UNC Health Care System, in a department that provides shared services to operations across UNC Health Care; except that, if you are currently a UNCHCS State employee already working in a designated shared services department, you may remain a UNCHCS State employee if selected for this job.

Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

UNC Health makes reasonable accommodations for applicants' and employees' religious practices and beliefs, as well as applicants and employees with disabilities. All interested applicants are invited to apply for career opportunities. Please email [email protected] if you need a reasonable accommodation to search and/or to apply for a career opportunity.