Description:

Duties & Responsibilities:
Purpose of Position:
Under the direction of the General Counsel, provides counsel, recommendations, and approaches on a wide-range of legal matters, with or without precedence, relating to legal rights and obligations of the Corporation, business objectives, and maintenance of operations within the boundaries of the law. Handles legal issues and disputes that arise within the Corporation, including issues involving employees, business units, patients, suppliers and various external agencies. Identifies potential legal risks associated with organizational actions and decisions.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Performs the duties of Assignment Levels A and B:

Advises on legal aspects of organizational procedures, policies, regulations, business relationships, communications and related matters, which may have legal implications and impact on the Corporation. Identifies and assesses current and potential legal risks affecting Corporation operations, and advises on the best course of action to mitigate those risks.
Prepares documents and notices required by law, Corporate by-laws, or instructions of the Counsel and corporate officers.
Reviews proposed, existing and pending legislation, including court, administrative decisions and regulations. Communicates findings; prepares comments and recommendations regarding proposed legislation and rulings.
Reviews patents, licensing agreements, and copyrights. Prepares recommendations to protect the legal rights of the Corporation. Supervises preparation and legal review of contracts and licenses and participates in negotiation.
Develops and recommends policies, practices and procedures involving transactions, acquisition or disposal of interest in real property, new legal processes and services, pricing and costing policies, collective bargaining and labor relations and federal, state and local taxes.
Represents Counsel in litigation, including the prosecution and defense of all legal actions brought by or against the Corporation. Monitors the participation of the Corporation in all quasi-judicial proceedings, including administrative, arbitrative, legislative and other similar proceedings calling for the attendance of witnesses or the presentation of written or documentary testimony or evidence.
Supervises and reviews the work of legal staff in pre-trial preparation, legal research, preparation of briefs, opinions, and other related activities.
In the Office of Labor Relations, advises on matters of law, statutes, administrative codes, rules and regulations affecting the operation of the Corporation on legal matters pertaining to labor and employee relations; personnel administration; labor contracts and legislation; and Civil Service Law. Acts as an Assistant to Counsel.
Participates in conferences and meetings regarding legal interpretation of the general body of law that may affect the proposals and intent of parties. Ensures that agreements negotiated are consistent with labor legislation, statutes, administration codes, rules and regulations.
Participates in review of implementation of programs, practices and procedures on personnel, employee and labor relations practices to ensure compliance with the general body of labor and labor relations law, statutes, administrative codes and regulations.
Performs other related duties, as required.

In addition to performing the duties of Assignment Levels A and B, as described above, performs the following:

Performs assignments involving highly-sensitive and complex legal and related issues critical in carrying out required operations of the health care settings.
Directs, coordinates and reviews the work and activities of Associate Counsels assigned to specific studies involving sensitive and complex legal matters.
Develops, prepares and directs research and investigations of unprecedented legal issues. Drafts memoranda, opinions, contracts and other legal documents.
Represents the General Counsel or Labor Relations Counsel in negotiations with Corporate officers, executive leadership, and various external agencies.
Prepares special studies and projects concerning specialized, complex, legal and related matters, such as relationships with other governmental agencies, financial operations, contracts, real estate, taxes, medical-legal matters, legislation, rules, regulations, third party insurance, reimbursement programs, affiliation contracts, affiliation hospitals, medical schools, labor relations, personnel management, employee relations, general collection problems, Civil Service matters, litigation, equal opportunity matters, human rights matters and other related matters.

Minimum Qualifications:

Admission and active membership to New York State Bar; and
Three (3) years of experience and background in the practice of law subsequent to admission to the Bar in matters of litigation, negligence, corporate law, contracts, real estate, labor relations, labor law and employee relations; or
Two (2) years of experience and background in the practice of law subsequent to admission to the Bar in matters of litigation, negligence, corporate law, contracts, real estate, labor relations, employment law and employee relations; and two (2) years of progressively responsible experience in a professional or managerial capacity in respective areas applicable to the general body of law, specialties or practice.