Legal Officer - Employment Law and Employment Pre-Litigation
Apply NowCompany: MD Anderson Center
Location: Houston, TX 77084
Description:
The mission of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center is to eliminate cancer in Texas, the nation, and the world through outstanding programs that integrate patient care, research and prevention, and through education for undergraduate and graduate students, trainees, professionals, employees and the public.
The Legal Officer- Employment Law & Employment Pre-Litigation will serve as in-house counsel with a predominant focus on providing employment law counsel. The Legal Officer will handle pre-litigation claims and complaints against the Institution and its staff and will coordinate, as necessary, with the Office of General Counsel at the University of Texas System. The Legal Officer will also provide professional legal counsel to MD Anderson attorneys, HR Professionals, and other members of leadership on employment law matters, including proposed policies, decisions, institutional activities, and other matters.
Job Specific Competencies
1. Serves as an employment law attorney within the Legal Services Department assigned to the People, Education, and Operations section by handling employment pre-litigation matters, claims, and complaints against the Institution and its staff.
2. Provides professional legal counsel to senior MD Anderson attorneys on pre-litigation employment law matters, including but not limited to Title VII; Title IX; Sections 1981 through 1988 of Title 42 of the United States Code; the Texas Commission on Human Rights Act, the Texas Labor Code, the Constitution of the United States (including all claims brought under 42 U.S.C. Section 1983), the Constitution of the State of Texas; the Employee Retirement Income Security Act; workers' compensation laws; wage and hour laws; any state or federal whistleblower laws; the Rehabilitation Act; the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act; the Immigration Reform and Control Act; the Americans with Disabilities Act; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, including the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act; the Fair Labor Standards Act; the Equal Pay Act; the Occupational Safety and Health Act; the Family and Medical Leave Act; the National Labor Relations Act; the Uniformed Services Employment or Reemployment Act, the Texas State Militia Act, or any other federal, state, or local civil rights, employment, or human rights law or any other federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance.
3. Receives and reviews legal documents, including charges, claims, and demands served on MD Anderson, its employees, and designated representatives and ensures transmission of documents to appropriate personnel in a timely manner. Implements strategy and responses to charges, claims, and demands.
4. Assists with guiding Institutional management, the Human Resources Division, the Academic Affairs Division, and the School of Health Professions on employment law and human resources issues.
5. Performs all functions of a legal professional employed as in-house counsel as directed by the Senior Legal Officer, Managing Legal Officer, and upper leadership, including communications with clients and preparation of legal opinions, memoranda, documents, and negotiation of agreements.
6. Provides timely guidance and legal expertise to leadership, managers, or other attorneys regarding employment law issues that may arise in connection with claims and potential claims and project initiatives.
7. Collaborates closely in a harmonious fashion with other attorneys in Legal Services and with the Human Resources Division on a wide range of assignments involving employee relations, health and safety, compensation and benefits, recruitment and development, organizational development, faculty tenure, medical staff, and related matters.
8.Coordinates prompt investigations of claims including witness interviews, document review, and consultation with other departments.
9. Researches legal issues as necessary and drafts legal memos, as needed.
10.Manages and assists the Office of General Counsel and outside counsel with the preparation of employment related matters including witness identification and preparation.
11.Assists in the evaluation of Institutional exposure and recommends settlement or defense of cases/claims where appropriate. Manages and conducts settlement conferences, where appropriate, to expedite closure of claims without the necessity of litigation.
12.Prepares briefings for the Senior Legal Officer, Managing Legal Officer, and upper leadership describing facts, potential liability, defenses and strategic recommendations.
Legal Resource
1. Receives questions from MD Anderson staff relating to employment matters and provides answers consistent with state/federal law and institutional policy in a timely manner, consulting when necessary, with senior colleagues.
2. Assists in the development, preparation, and provision of training programs for MD Anderson's workforce members regarding employment law matters.
3. Uses superior verbal and written communication skills and superior interpersonal skills and acts with an appropriate sense of urgency to respond to matters. Assumes responsibility for creating and maintaining a harmonious work environment and provides stellar customer service to all internal stakeholders.
4. Presents educational programs to staff on subjects relating to employment law, changes in Texas or Federal law, and other similar legal topics.
5. Establishes and maintains files that (a) permit access by authorized persons with a need to know, (b) are organized to facilitate efficient document retrieval, and (c) contain a summary of key information.
6. Establishes and maintains a database of claims, and regularly reviews this information with the Senior Legal Officer and Managing Legal Officer.
7. Prepares periodic reports on claims for departmental monthly and annual reports, senior management, governmental agencies, and other entities, as needed.
8. Establishes appropriate contacts with MD Anderson attorneys.
9. Assists with the review and development of Institutional policies and procedures as requested.
10.As requested, provides general Institutional support and serves on MD Anderson committees.
REQUIREMENTS
Required Education: Juris Doctorate
Required Licensure: Must currently be licensed by the State Bar of Texas or another state, with acquisition of Texas license within one year of date of employment.
Required Experience: Four (4) years as an attorney with significant experience in employment law and pre-litigation. Excellent management, organizational, communication, interpersonal, research, writing, and negotiation skills applicable to a fast-paced, customer-service-oriented, intellectually challenging environment. Proficient in MS Word, Adobe Professional, and Outlook Calendar. Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Preferred Experience: Four plus (4+) years' legal experience in employment law and pre-litigation employment matters at a law firm, governmental entity, or as in-house counsel, preferably at a large academic healthcare facility or hospital, or experience working for a component of The University of Texas System in a legal capacity.
It is the policy of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to provide equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by institutional policy or by federal, state or local laws unless such distinction is required by law. http://www.mdanderson.org/about-us/legal-and-policy/legal-statements/eeo-affirmative-action.html
The Legal Officer- Employment Law & Employment Pre-Litigation will serve as in-house counsel with a predominant focus on providing employment law counsel. The Legal Officer will handle pre-litigation claims and complaints against the Institution and its staff and will coordinate, as necessary, with the Office of General Counsel at the University of Texas System. The Legal Officer will also provide professional legal counsel to MD Anderson attorneys, HR Professionals, and other members of leadership on employment law matters, including proposed policies, decisions, institutional activities, and other matters.
Job Specific Competencies
1. Serves as an employment law attorney within the Legal Services Department assigned to the People, Education, and Operations section by handling employment pre-litigation matters, claims, and complaints against the Institution and its staff.
2. Provides professional legal counsel to senior MD Anderson attorneys on pre-litigation employment law matters, including but not limited to Title VII; Title IX; Sections 1981 through 1988 of Title 42 of the United States Code; the Texas Commission on Human Rights Act, the Texas Labor Code, the Constitution of the United States (including all claims brought under 42 U.S.C. Section 1983), the Constitution of the State of Texas; the Employee Retirement Income Security Act; workers' compensation laws; wage and hour laws; any state or federal whistleblower laws; the Rehabilitation Act; the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act; the Immigration Reform and Control Act; the Americans with Disabilities Act; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, including the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act; the Fair Labor Standards Act; the Equal Pay Act; the Occupational Safety and Health Act; the Family and Medical Leave Act; the National Labor Relations Act; the Uniformed Services Employment or Reemployment Act, the Texas State Militia Act, or any other federal, state, or local civil rights, employment, or human rights law or any other federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance.
3. Receives and reviews legal documents, including charges, claims, and demands served on MD Anderson, its employees, and designated representatives and ensures transmission of documents to appropriate personnel in a timely manner. Implements strategy and responses to charges, claims, and demands.
4. Assists with guiding Institutional management, the Human Resources Division, the Academic Affairs Division, and the School of Health Professions on employment law and human resources issues.
5. Performs all functions of a legal professional employed as in-house counsel as directed by the Senior Legal Officer, Managing Legal Officer, and upper leadership, including communications with clients and preparation of legal opinions, memoranda, documents, and negotiation of agreements.
6. Provides timely guidance and legal expertise to leadership, managers, or other attorneys regarding employment law issues that may arise in connection with claims and potential claims and project initiatives.
7. Collaborates closely in a harmonious fashion with other attorneys in Legal Services and with the Human Resources Division on a wide range of assignments involving employee relations, health and safety, compensation and benefits, recruitment and development, organizational development, faculty tenure, medical staff, and related matters.
8.Coordinates prompt investigations of claims including witness interviews, document review, and consultation with other departments.
9. Researches legal issues as necessary and drafts legal memos, as needed.
10.Manages and assists the Office of General Counsel and outside counsel with the preparation of employment related matters including witness identification and preparation.
11.Assists in the evaluation of Institutional exposure and recommends settlement or defense of cases/claims where appropriate. Manages and conducts settlement conferences, where appropriate, to expedite closure of claims without the necessity of litigation.
12.Prepares briefings for the Senior Legal Officer, Managing Legal Officer, and upper leadership describing facts, potential liability, defenses and strategic recommendations.
Legal Resource
1. Receives questions from MD Anderson staff relating to employment matters and provides answers consistent with state/federal law and institutional policy in a timely manner, consulting when necessary, with senior colleagues.
2. Assists in the development, preparation, and provision of training programs for MD Anderson's workforce members regarding employment law matters.
3. Uses superior verbal and written communication skills and superior interpersonal skills and acts with an appropriate sense of urgency to respond to matters. Assumes responsibility for creating and maintaining a harmonious work environment and provides stellar customer service to all internal stakeholders.
4. Presents educational programs to staff on subjects relating to employment law, changes in Texas or Federal law, and other similar legal topics.
5. Establishes and maintains files that (a) permit access by authorized persons with a need to know, (b) are organized to facilitate efficient document retrieval, and (c) contain a summary of key information.
6. Establishes and maintains a database of claims, and regularly reviews this information with the Senior Legal Officer and Managing Legal Officer.
7. Prepares periodic reports on claims for departmental monthly and annual reports, senior management, governmental agencies, and other entities, as needed.
8. Establishes appropriate contacts with MD Anderson attorneys.
9. Assists with the review and development of Institutional policies and procedures as requested.
10.As requested, provides general Institutional support and serves on MD Anderson committees.
REQUIREMENTS
Required Education: Juris Doctorate
Required Licensure: Must currently be licensed by the State Bar of Texas or another state, with acquisition of Texas license within one year of date of employment.
Required Experience: Four (4) years as an attorney with significant experience in employment law and pre-litigation. Excellent management, organizational, communication, interpersonal, research, writing, and negotiation skills applicable to a fast-paced, customer-service-oriented, intellectually challenging environment. Proficient in MS Word, Adobe Professional, and Outlook Calendar. Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Preferred Experience: Four plus (4+) years' legal experience in employment law and pre-litigation employment matters at a law firm, governmental entity, or as in-house counsel, preferably at a large academic healthcare facility or hospital, or experience working for a component of The University of Texas System in a legal capacity.
It is the policy of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to provide equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by institutional policy or by federal, state or local laws unless such distinction is required by law. http://www.mdanderson.org/about-us/legal-and-policy/legal-statements/eeo-affirmative-action.html