Associate Staff Counsel - Business Litigation & Hospital Operations

The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) is an academic private health system, focused on delivering compassionate, high quality care and putting discovery and innovation into practice at the bedside. Partnering with the University of Maryland School of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Nursing and University of Maryland, Baltimore who educate the state's future health care professionals, UMMS is an integrated network of care, delivering 25 percent of all hospital care in urban, suburban and rural communities across the state of Maryland. UMMS puts academic medicine within reach through primary and specialty care delivered at 11 hospitals, including the flagship University of Maryland Medical Center, the System's anchor institution in downtown Baltimore, as well as through a network of University of Maryland Urgent Care centers and more than 150 other locations in 13 counties. For more information, visit www.umms.org.

Reporting to the Chief Business Litigation & Hospital Operations Counsel, the Associate Staff Counsel will manage hospital operations matters, with a focus on patient care and guardianship issues, as well as disputes, pre-litigation, and litigation matters. This role involves case management, close collaboration with colleagues in Legal, Compliance, Risk Management, and Government Affairs, as well as with internal stakeholders, and direct accountability for matter management as part of a larger team within the Office of the General Counsel.

The following statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job responsibilities performed.

• Serve as a key point of contact for internal clients, providing accurate and timely legal counsel and support to hospital staff and management on patient care legal issues. Collaborate closely with hospital administration, risk management, and clinical teams to address legal concerns affecting patient care. Ensure effective communication and client engagement throughout the process.
• Manage a portfolio of disputes, pre-litigation and litigation matters, with a focus on patient care disputes, guardianship petitions, and other related matters.
• Assist with the selection, management, and direction of outside counsel in handling various legal proceedings, including court hearings, mediations, arbitrations, and administrative hearings, particularly those related to patient care and guardianship proceedings.  Direct all aspects of litigation, including reviewing and approving court filings, facilitating discovery, and driving resolution efforts, in coordination with internal stakeholders.
• Work closely with outside counsel engaged for litigation matters, to ensure effective strategy execution, to manage litigation costs, to develop and maintain consistency with the organization's legal standards. Provide strong advocacy and align case strategy with the broader objectives of the Medical System.
• Conduct thorough legal research to support litigation efforts and provide informed legal opinions and relevant updates to internal stakeholders consistent with the communication standards established by the department leadership.
• Assist in the development and delivery of training programs for internal stakeholders, particularly related to litigation processes, guardianship laws, and patient care legal issues.
• Provide support related to corporate compliance, litigation management, and coordination of guardianship filings as handled by the department legal staff. Ensure that records are maintained accurately and that all reporting obligations are met.

SCOPE OF POSITION:

• The responsibilities of this position require the individual to research, evaluate, interpret, and resolve problems. Further, the individual guides and advises corporate officers and managers to ensure they are fully aware of the legal ramifications of their actions and decisions and advises them as to the proper and controlling legal requirements or precedents.
• This position impacts corporate programs and established policy through participation as legal advisor on committees developing/implementing policies, programs, and projects.
• The individual in this position must remain current with legal issues affecting the Medical System and the health care industry. The individual must ensure that, in the event of litigation, the appropriate documents, contracts and agreements are properly prepared and executed and that competent and knowledgeable staff is involved in the process.
• The individual acts within corporate policies and guidelines and according to the tenets of behavior of the legal profession.

• Juris Doctor Degree from an Accredited U.S. Law School.
• Bar Membership in good standing.
• At least five years of progressively responsible experience as a practicing attorney representing clients in the healthcare industry. 

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.