FLSA Status

Exempt

Earliest Start Date

Immediately

Salary

Salary commensurate with experience

Hours per Week

40.00 Standard from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Hiring Department

Office of General Counsel

Required Application Materials

A resume and letter of interest is required to apply. Candidates under final consideration will also be required to submit professional references, college degree information, and employment history to an online third-party vendor.

About Us

For more than 140 years, The University of Texas System has improved the lives of Texans — and people all over the world — through education, health care, and research. The System consists of nine academic institutions, five health institutions, and The University of Texas System Administration. The institutions of the UT System employ more than 116,000 faculty, health care professionals, researchers, support staff, and student workers.

The UT System Administration is primarily based in Austin, Texas. It supports the missions of the System’s fourteen institutions by providing financial, legal, planning, purchasing, government relations, communications, development, and other central services. Serving a growing state, the UT System Administration strives to provide a welcoming, supportive work environment that embraces different perspectives - not only because it enables the organization to be stronger, creative, and thoughtful, but because it is the right thing to do. To that end, UT System Administration embraces state laws on military and former foster children employment preferences.

Purpose of Position

In the Office of General Counsel, we help our clients solve problems that affect their diverse educational, healthcare, research, and business missions. Formally, we are a full-service legal department composed of 30+ attorneys in three practice groups: Health Law, Business Law, and General Law. In partnership with other campus-based attorneys, we serve all 14 UT System institutions.

This position provides highly advanced and specialized legal advice, counsel, and representation on legal matters to UT System and institutions. Additionally, this role manages a large section supervising supervisory and non-supervisory attorneys and support staff. OGC’s Health Law Section is a group of attorneys and administrative staff with diverse specialties that are critical to the mission of UT System. For example, Health Law is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the University of Texas Professional Medical Liability Benefit Plan, a statutorily authorized, self-funded medical malpractice plan providing coverage to more than13,000 UT physicians, dentists, and residents, and 25,000 other health care professionals, and medical and dental students. Health Law also provides legal advice and representation on operational, regulatory, and transactional matters.

No single day is typical for any of our universities, health care facilities or health care providers, so our commitment is to provide or, when necessary, develop all the substantive expertise our clients need. For that reason, the ideal candidate will be an agile individual who thrives in, and can promote, an atmosphere of constant communication with, and problem-solving for, our diverse clients, including UT System officials; academic, business and health leaders at our institutions; and campus-based attorneys.

Essential Functions

Direct, plan, provide legal advice, counsel and assistance.
Approves and appoints Plan counsel and works with Office of Attorney General in representation of institutions in litigation.
Oversees preparation of proposals, interpretations and legal policies and documents for review.
Distributes legal assignments to appropriate attorneys and reviews final legal documents and opinions prepared for administrative officials.
Conducts legal research and prepares written legal opinions to administrative officials regarding compliance with state and federal laws, as needed.
Represents System and components in contested hearings, mediates and negotiates settlements.
Communicates to clients concerning cases and provides appropriate responses.
Acts as expert in particular area of law both internal and external.
Manages section business functions (budget, billing, reconciling, contract management), and supervises attorneys and staff.
Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Advanced leadership & analytical skills; review fact situations and law to determine appropriate actions; interpret statutes, regulations, caselaw, and policies.
Advanced written and oral communication skills.
Advanced knowledge of civil procedure, Federal and Texas laws.
Advanced ability to elicit information, analyze facts and assess legal options.
Ability to communicate effectively with clients and influence team culture.
Work independently and collaboratively, in person and remotely.
Embody and support OGC’s Service Principles.

Required Qualifications

Graduation from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association, Admission to Texas Bar is required.
15 years of experience in the practice of law.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in litigation and evaluation of health care claims.
Experience in health law operations and regulations, particularly in an academic health setting.
Experience in insurance operations including working with actuarial analysis, underwriting and self-funded plan management.

Working Conditions

May work around standard office conditions.
Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation.
Uses standard office equipment
10% Travel
Requires occasional evening or weekend hours

Additional Information

The standard retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length. However, the incumbent of this position may elect the Optional Retirement Program (ORP) subject to the position being 40 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

A background check will be conducted on applicants under final consideration. The background check may include any or all of the following: criminal history check, prior employment verification, education verification, professional references check, and motor vehicle records check. Background checks are conducted by third-party vendors. Upon request from the third-party vendor, candidates under final consideration must provide the required information for the background checks to be completed.

EO/AA Statement

The University of Texas System is an Equal Opportunity/ Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or sexual orientation. Reasonable disability accommodation may be requested by contacting the Office of Talent and Innovation.