Description:

Job Summary:
The Legal Officer provides professional legal and risk management guidance, service, and assistance to UTMB departments and administration.

Scope: Institution-wide

Responsibilities:

Prioritizes work effectively and completes work within designated time frames and provides biweekly status reports of current projects and activities to the Associate Vice President and Chief Legal Officer.
Provides accurate, knowledgeable, and timely legal advice based on research and analysis of issues involved in the situation.
Oversees and manages incidents and claims from inception to resolution.
Assures that Legal Affairs leadership is appropriately apprised of matters affecting file assignments and keeps departmental leadership informed of developments relevant to all projects and activities as merited or directly requested.
Establishes and maintains positive and effective working relationships within the department, the institution, the University of Texas System, and the local community.
Maintains awareness of developments in areas of law affecting the institution, by keeping current on legal literature, networking with other attorneys, and attending conferences and seminars.
Maintains privacy and confidentiality of information and records at all times consistent with institutional and legal standards.
Adheres to internal controls and reporting structure.
Performs related duties as assigned to enhance and expand knowledge, skills and scope of legal abilities.

Minimum Qualifications:
Juris Doctor degree from an American Bar Association accredited law school, active and unconditional license to practice law under the State Bar of Texas plus four (4) years of experience as a practicing attorney.

Preferred Qualifications:

Eight years of experience as a practicing attorney.
Internal appreciation and knowledge of a State of Texas institution, preferably one involving a state teaching hospital, and the various inter-workings and cross-functionalities of academic and clinical departments and divisions.
Experience in health law, risk management, family law, transactional law and/or with a private law firm.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with a high degree of professionalism and competence in dealing with individuals at all levels of the institution.
Strong organization and management skills.
Effective problem solving skills.
Ability to develop, organize and accomplish goals.
Ability to analyze/evaluate information and make appropriate decisions/ recommendations.

Equal Employment Opportunity:
UTMB Health strives to provide equal opportunity employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or any other basis protected by institutional policy or by federal, state or local laws unless such distinction is required by law. As a Federal Contractor, UTMB Health takes affirmative action to hire and advance protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.