Chief Legal Officer

Title: Chief Legal OfficerReports to: Chief Executive Officer of the health systemSupervises: Legal Services Department staff and other personnel as assigned, including the health system’s Risk Manager, Privacy Officer, and Public Records Officer. Education · A Juris Doctorate degree from a law school approved for accreditation by the American Bar Association is required. must be a member in good standing of the Bar of the Supreme Court of the state in which he or she practices law; and must have the prompt eligibility and complete the process for such license and standing in Mississippi. License: · Mississippi Bar Association license required or immediate application and acceptance with the Bar Association. Experience · A minimum of eight (8) years’ experience preferred practicing law that includes a background in healthcare, health insurance or managed care law. · Experience with some or all of the following: copyright and trademark law, employment and contract law, privacy; experience working on matters of corporate governance and with a board of directors is preferred.· A minimum of five (5) years’ experience in supervising or managing other attorneys and supervising support staff in a corporation is required. Must have experience with cost effective management of outside legal resources. · Must have a track record of strategically outsourcing work to other individuals and firms and managing the results; and a track record of progressively responsible positions.· Must have experience triaging legal threats; must have a verifiable record of exercising excellent judgment on behalf of clients including large and complex organizations and issues. Certification

• N/A Position Overview:The Chief Legal Officer oversees and directs the entirety of the health system’s legal function. The Chief Legal Officer provides legal advice and guidance to senior leadership and the Board of Trustees on strategic initiatives, business transactions and compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. The Chief Legal Officer also oversees outside counsel engaged by the health system and risk management activities. The Chief Legal Officer leads the Legal and Compliance Services Department, which oversees a variety of legal and compliance functions, including but not limited to policies, contract/leases, public records requests, compliance, risk management, and medical records. The Chief Legal Officer also serves as the Compliance Officer for regulatory purposes. The Compliance Service Department also oversees the operation of the Compliance and Quality Oversight and Physical Environment Committees. The Chief Legal Officer coordinates all legal issues and responsibilities for ensuring that the health system demonstrates compliance with Federal, State and County laws, rules and regulations, including but not limited to HIPAA, Stark Law, Anti-Kickback Statute, and other federal and state healthcare laws and regulations. He/She advises on a range of legal issues, including corporate, tax, real estate, subsidiaries, pension, employment, insurance, and reinsurance. The Chief Legal Officer provides oversight of the drafting and review of contracts and related documents for the procurement of goods and services; confidentiality of proprietary information; leases of space and equipment; software licenses; and analysis of a broad range of complex laws and regulations affecting the operations of the health system including those arising from corporate structures and business models. The Chief Legal Officer reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer, with a dotted line to the Audit and Compliance Committee of the Board of Trustees. He/She represents the health system in all matters and negotiations, including on-going management and maintenance of contractual relationships with employed and contracted physicians. The Chief Legal Officer provides training and guidance to other employees of the health system on legal issues and best business practices; coordinates and supervises the legal functions of the health system; manages workloads, provides advice and guidance for projects; assigns, supervises, trains and critiques legal services provided by in-house attorneys. He/She works closely with finance, human resources, and compliance in relation to reviewing business practices, corporate structures, training and investigations. He/She also oversees the internal audit function of the health system. Essential Functions / Job Responsibilities: 1. Serves as the chief legal officer and a member of the senior management team. Represents and directs the representation of the organization in all legal matters; serves as legal advisor to the CEO, Board of Trustees, and senior administrators; and serves as a resource on legal matters and issues of institutional procedure and governance. 2. Reports to the CEO and oversees or handles all legal aspects of transactional and regulatory matters related to the System, including directing other attorneys employed by the System and outside counsel retained to represent the organization.3. Leads and manages the legal function of the organization and its affiliates and wholly-owned companies, participates in corporate strategic and tactical legal initiatives. Provides senior management with effective guidance on company strategies and their implementation, manages the legal function, participates as primary counsel in appropriate matters, and retains and oversees the work of outside counsel. Maintains direct involvement in complex business transactions and in negotiating and overseeing the critical contracts of the System and its affiliates and wholly-owned companies. 4. Provides legal opinions and counsel, and serves as a trusted advisor to the Board of Trustees, Chief Executive Officer and Senior Leadership. Conducts and commissions research and analysis of specific legal questions and prepares memoranda, opinions and position papers upon request.5. Builds a department that can appropriately serve the organization and its growing needs, utilizing a mix of paid staff, interns, and paid external counsel. Orchestrates and supervises the department, including its organizational design, preparation and management of budgets, supervision of work, etc.6. Keeps abreast of the System’s legal context and advises and educates the Board, management team, employees and physicians with regard to changes and trends that could affect the organization’s ability to advance its mission. 7. Acts as a spokesperson and advocate for the System’s legal positions as requested by the CEO or the Communications team.8. Triages incoming legal threats and coordinates legal defense enabling the System to fulfill its mission; this may involve defending against legal challenges, as well as providing advice and support to employees, physicians, and volunteers; much of this work will be done through and with external counsel.9. Ensures the System has a robust, appropriate set of legal policies and practices related to its operations, including policies and practices related to health care operations and business development; advises and educates the organization’s leaders and employees on these issues.10. Drafts policies and amendments to the System’s Governing Body by-laws and other corporate documents, at the request of the Board of Trustees, its committees, and the CEO.11. Advises and educates the management team on legal issues related to the implementation of the organization’s strategic initiatives and business expansion.12. Ensures compliance with applicable laws and regulations governing the operation of community hospitals.13. Working closely with the Senior Leaders and others, develops and designs appropriate legal frameworks governing the System’s relationship with physicians and other referral sources. This will include assessing the current state of play, and developing agreements governing basic.14. Drafts, reviews and negotiates a wide range of grant, consulting, business and administrative agreements in connection with the System’s work. Much of this work is done through supervision of staff.15. Participates in the definition and development of corporate policies, procedures and programs and provide continuing counsel and guidance on legal matters and on legal implications of all matters regarding the System and its affiliates and wholly-owned companies.16. Manages the organization and its affiliates and wholly-owned companies legal matters, including, but not limited to: contracts, non-disclosure/confidentiality agreements, incorporation and business licensing issues; trade mark, trade name and other intellectual property issues; employment issues; acquisition due diligence; reduce legal expenses by reducing the number of outside counsel used and fees charged; develop templates for commercial, customer and employee agreements; oversee preparation and legal negotiation of leases of property.17. Handles patient complaints, arbitrations and litigation that are not assigned to outside counsel. 18. Provides guidance to help assure that the Compliance Department conducts its business in compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements; help assure that vendor management is conducted in compliance with applicable regulatory requirements; respond to regulatory inquiries and serve as a key contact with regulatory authorities; provide guidance to executive management regarding industry and health care related regulatory matters.19. Participates in corporate governance matters to assure compliance with applicable state and federal regulatory requirements.20. Structures and manages the internal legal function for the System and its affiliates and wholly-owned companies21. Maintains the effective selection, retention, management and evaluation of all outside counsel.