Description

DEPARTMENT       Office of General Counsel

SUPERVISOR          General Counsel

BASIC FUNCTION

Provide competent legal advice and representation to the corporate entity known as Texas Medical Association (TMA), its controlled corporate affiliates, as well as certain of its elected leadership and executive staff.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES/TASKS

1. Advise TMA and its controlled corporate affiliates on a wide range of matters, including legislative, regulatory, transactional, governance, and business matters.
2. Draft, review, interpret and negotiate contracts and other legal documents.
3. Assist the General Counsel in prosecution and defense of lawsuits.
4. Review and analyze legislation and regulations to assess impact on TMA, physicians, etc.
5. Draft and prepare legislation, riders, and amendments.
6. Support TMA Public Affairs division and other TMA divisions regarding legislation and regulatory proposals and initiatives.
7. Draft comments on regulatory proposals on behalf of TMA.
8. Monitor, attend, and testify at state and federal agencies on health care issues.
9. Review, draft, and submit amicus curiae briefs, as needed.
10. Draft and update TMA Office of the General Counsel whitepapers on various health law and/or corporate law topics.
11. Provide legal reviews of TMA articles and other communications.
12. Give speeches at TMA related meetings and functions.
13. Serve as staff representation to TMA boards, councils and committees as necessary.
14. Monitor the department budget. Make recommendations for annual budget to the General Counsel.
15. Maintain a self-development program to increase personal effectiveness and broaden knowledge and skill.
16. Participate in various TMA educational programs.
17. Provide general legal information to physicians, county medical societies, other attorneys, etc.
18. Maintain knowledge of the organization’s legal documents and operations.
19. Develop, update, and perform legal reviews of organization policies on a variety of issues (e.g., employment, corporate governance, and privacy).
20. Perform other duties as required or directed.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

No full supervisory responsibilities.  May have responsibility for work guidance of other full-time employees within department (e.g., functions as a lead person). 

INDEPENDENCE/SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Assignments are complex and may vary greatly.  They require the exercise of independent judgment regarding the definition of basic problems and determination of courses of action to be taken. 

GENERAL QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Knowledge and Experience:

Requires concentrated understanding of a unique or difficult comprehensive field of knowledge (e.g., law).  Also requires a juris doctorate, a Texas license to practice law (must be a member in good standing of the Texas bar), and several years (e.g., 3 to 7) legal experience, preferably serving in-house or advising physicians or other health care professionals.  Prior health law experience or an LL.M. in health law preferred. Prior experience in legislative advocacy and/or drafting also preferred.

Skills and Abilities:

Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions and to deal effectively with other TMA employees and members.  Ability to communicate effectively both orally and with the written word.  Must have excellent organizational skills.  Ability to plan work which requires innovative, creative, and original thinking in order to develop solutions to unusual or major problems where decisions greatly affect TMA-wide program or operational considerations.