General Counsel

The general counsel is responsible for leading corporate strategic and tactical legal initiatives. The general counsel provides senior management with effective advice on company strategies and their implementation, manages the legal function, and obtains and oversees the work of outside counsel. The general counsel is directly involved in complex business transactions in negotiating critical contracts and offering counsel on a variety of legal issues.

Primary Responsibilities:
Participates in the definition and development of corporate policies, procedures and programs and provides continuing counsel and guidance on legal matters and on legal implications of all matters.
Serves as key lawyer/legal advisor on all major business transactions, including acquisitions, divestitures and joint ventures.
Judges the merits of major court cases filed against or on behalf of the company, works with the appropriate executive(s) to define a strategic defense and approves settlements of disputes where warranted.
Structures and manages the company’s internal legal function and staff.
Oversees the selection, retention, management and evaluation of all outside counsel.
Advises on legal aspects of the company’s financing, including assessing and advising on current and future business structures and legal entities.
Keeps abreast of legislative changes that may affect the company and its affiliates.
Qualifications Required
Proven general counseling experience in a business environment.
Experience working on matters of corporate governance and with a board of directors.
In-depth understanding of how legal issues affect organizations
High degree of professional ethics and integrity
Ability to anticipate legal issues or risks and to “see around the corner”
BSc degree in Law or J.D degree
Job Performance
Demonstrates initiative and skills in planning and organizing work.
Demonstrates desire to set and meet objectives and to find increasingly efficient ways to perform tasks.
Completes work, care and documentation with accuracy and within agency time frames.
Requires minimal supervision and is self-directed.
Mission/Agency Standards
Demonstrates organizational awareness and commitment

Understands and appropriately applies the chain of command in relation to job position and supervision.
Knows and understands the agency mission in relation to own job position.
 

Observes confidentiality policy at all times

Protects and honors customer and co-worker confidentiality.
Respects customers’ and co-workers right to privacy.
 

Observes attendance and attire policies

Meets attendance and punctuality expectations.
Demonstrates cooperation with scheduling requests to meet agency needs.
Consistently adheres to agency dress code.
 

Complies with all other related polices, procedures and requests

Recommends and/or supports changes to policies and procedures.
Demonstrates knowledge of policies and procedures applicable to own job position.
Adheres to policies and procedures.  Honors requests of management for interim rules.
 

Conserves agency resources

Maintains agency property, supplies and equipment in a manner that demonstrates ownership and accountability.
Maintains the work area to reduce the likelihood of safety hazards and to enhance its general appearance.
Communication Skills
Demonstrates interpersonal understanding and utilizes effective communication skills

Considers effects of words and actions on others.
Utilizes listening skills that indicate understanding and promotes accurate interpretation of others’ concerns, motivations and feelings.
Recognizes the influence of beliefs and cultures on behaviors and accepts strengths and limitations in others.
Works toward resolution of interpersonal conflicts as they arise.
Recognizes when others are in need of information, assistance or direction and consistently offers and provides help.
Attends and participates positively in meetings.
Regularly reads and appropriately applies information to practice.
Uses words that express respect, patience and understanding in interactions with others.
Acknowledges others verbally and nonverbally (eye contact, expression, tone of voice) promptly and courteously.
Follows appropriate phone etiquette.
Provides excellent customer service to our customers (employees, patients, and referral sources).
 

Exhibits behaviors of cooperation

Develops cooperation and collaborative work efforts that generally benefit all involved parties.
Demonstrates the initiative to meet the needs of the agency by assisting co-workers when work load permits.
Personal/Professional Development
Continuing education and personal/professional development responsibilities

Maintains personal health status requirements in relation to job position.
Maintains current personnel file information and provides information to agency in timely manner.
Sets own development challenges and volunteers to learn.
Adheres to agency infection control and safety policies, including education, reporting, and practice implementation specific to job position.
Attends agency provided in-service programs to fulfill requirements of position and agency policies.
Exhibits adaptability, flexibility, self-control and maturity in work and behavior

Maintains stable performance and emotions when faced with opposition, pressure and/or stressful conditions.
Recognizes codependency issues in caregiving roles and exercises caution in relationships to maintain objectivity.
Develops work relationships that honor and respect others’ strengths and abilities.
Problem Solving
Exhibits critical thinking abilities and applies them for continuous improvement of services and the agency.

Uses own knowledge and experience base and other resources as necessary to make logical decisions and solve problems.
Continuously analyzes work processes and makes suggestions for improvement.
Degree of Disruption to Routine, Overtime
Minimal.  Occasional after hour’s administrative meeting.

Safety Hazards in Job
Eyestrain and repetitive motion strain from computer use.

Travel
Required

The intent of this position description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this position.  It should be noted, therefore, that incumbents may be requested to perform position related tasks other than those specifically presented in this position description.