Senior Legal Officer

About the role

The Senior Legal Officer provides legal and corporate advice to the Board and Management of the South-West Regional Health Authority and manages its litigation portfolio. As the designated officer for Freedom of Information Act matters, the role also leads the Legal Department, guides its staff and contributes to the Executive Management team.

Key responsibilities

• Provide legal advice and opinions to protect the Authority from liability and ensure compliance with statutory and common-law requirements.
• Draft, review and negotiate contracts, conveyances, leases and other legal documents, and assess legal and contractual matters linked to policy decisions.
• Prepare briefs, conduct civil, industrial and other tribunal litigation, and advise and appear at mediation and arbitration hearings.
• Advise on industrial relations and disciplinary matters and liaise with the Human Resources Department's Industrial Relations Unit.
• Manage the Legal Department, including maintaining a legal information database tracking monthly attorney fees and ensuring fiscal prudence in outsourcing legal representation.
• Set up a delegated operating system for Freedom of Information queries and interpret laws, ordinances and regulations.
• Represent the Authority at meetings, conferences and committees, and act as Secretary to the Legal and Risk Sub-Committee of the Board.
• Submit monthly court throughput reports to the CEO and review clinical base policies and agendas.
• Ensure compliance with departmental SOPs and policies.

Required profile

• Bachelor of Law degree.
• Legal Education Certificate (LEC) or Legal Practice Certificate (LPC).
• Admission to practice as an Attorney-at-Law with at least 8 years' experience, including 5 years managing a Legal Department in a medium or large enterprise.
• Management training is an asset; qualification and experience in arbitration and mediation are also an asset.