Senior Legal Officer Full Time NEW

Job Description
The Senior Legal Officer will be responsible for providing legal and corporate advice and services to the Board and Management of the South-West Regional Health Authority. He/she will manage the Authoritys litigation portfolio as well as take responsibility as the designated officer for issues under the Freedom of Information Act.

Provides leadership, guidance and direction to staff in the Legal Department, makes contributions as a member of the Executive Management team and advises the Board on legal and legislative matters.

The Senior Legal Officer will be required to draft/review contracts, prepare briefs for litigation matters, conduct litigation (Civil, Industrial and at other tribunals), advise and appear at mediation/arbitration hearings, sit on interview panels, research laws, regulations and legal opinions and provide advice on industrial relations and disciplinary matters.

Key and Critical Responsibilities
Manages the Legal Department of the South-West Regional Health Authority.

Provides legal advice and opinion with a view to protecting the Authority from legal liability and ensuring the compliance with statutory and common-law requirements.

Conducts both instructing and advocacy work and attends matters in Courts and Tribunals to illuminate litigation.

Drafts, prepares reviews, assesses and negotiates contracts, conveyances, leases and other legal documents associated with policy decisions of the Authority in a timely manner.

Assesses and reviews legal and contractual matters associated with policy decisions of the Authority.

Develops and maintains a legal information database to track and report monthly expenditure payments to Attorneys.

Ensures fiscal prudence in negotiations when outsourcing legal representation.

Establishes a delegated operating system for the Freedom of Information queries in keeping with the Freedom of Information Act.

Interprets laws, ordinances, regulations and agreements and advises on implementation.

Participates in consultations/negotiations and provides on the spot advice in matters related to the business of the Authority.

Represents the Authority at meetings, conferences, workshops and committees and provides guidance and support to the CEO and other Executive and Managerial members.

Advises/appears at Mediation/Arbitration hearing.

Submits throughput reports to the CEO on all matters before the Court on a monthly basis.

Liaises with the Human Resources Department (Industrial Relations Unit) with regards to HR/IR matters in the Court and produces a report on these matters.

Reviews all clinical base policies and agenda.

Participates in Executive Management team meetings, Board Committee meetings and serves as Secretary to the Legal/Risk Sub-Committee of the Board.

Ensures that there is compliance with the SOPs and Policies within the department.

Performs any other relevant tasks that may be assigned in keeping with the requirements for the job.

Key Competencies
A Bachelor of Law Degree.

Legal Education Certificate (LEC) or Legal Practice Certificate (LPC).

Admission to practice as an Attorney-at-Law with a minimum of eight (8) years’ experience with five (5) years’ experience managing a Legal Department in a medium or large enterprise.

Management training will be an asset.

Qualification, Training and Experience in Arbitration and Mediation will be an asset.