The purpose of this position is to provide legal services, including advice in a wide variety of legal areas and representation in litigation, to UNC Health an agency of the State of North Carolina pursuant to N.C. Gen Stat. §§ 114-2 and 114-4.2B. This attorney represents UNC Hospitals, UNC Faculty Physicians, and the State of North Carolina in significant, complex and protracted litigation in the areas of health care, mental health care, labor and employment, criminal law and procedure, and constitutional law in district, superior, and appellate courts, before the clerks of court, in bankruptcy courts, and in various administrative forums. UNC Hospitals is the only full service tertiary care hospital owned and operated by the State of North Carolina.
Responsibilities
Litigation
- Responsible for litigation in areas not including medical malpractice, such as debt collection and mental health/substance abuse commitments including appeals to the North Carolina appellate courts.
- Responsible for administrative employment matters, and payment denial appeals.
- Responds to inquiries regarding federal and state subpoenas for the appearance of witnesses, and for production of documents, including medical records and employment records, in both civil and criminal matters, preparing responses including objections, filing motions to quash, and filing responses to motions to compel as well as appearing in court to argue the motions. Reviews and responds to out of state orders and subpoenas for records and orders for garnishments.
- The issues involved are often novel with little or no existing precedent. In assigned cases, this attorney has sole responsibility for all aspects of a case.
This attorney analyzes information provided so as to render legal advice (virtually, in person, or in writing) to UNC Health and UNC Hospitals administrators and supervisors concerning the legal aspects of operational and policy questions and to physicians, nurses and other health care providers of the UNC Hospitals at Chapel Hill, Hillsborough and UNC Hospitals Youth Behavioral Health, and the School of Medicine of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on health care matters.
This attorney provides legal advice to medical providers and administrative staff at UNC Hospitals at Chapel Hill, Hillsborough and UNC Hospitals Youth Behavioral Health, and the School of Medicine of the University of North Carolina, including the legal implication of changes to operational structures including a complete restructure of mental health processes at UNC Hospitals Chapel Hill Emergency Department, the opening of UNC Hospitals in Hillsborough and the opening of additional inpatient beds at UNC Hospitals Youth Behavioral Health. This attorney responds to ever increasing demands for legal advice in the development and implementation of legally defensible hospital processes and policies.
At the direction of the Appellate Section of DOJ, this attorney represents the State in criminal appeals to the North Carolina Court of Appeals and North Carolina Supreme Court and appears before those courts.
Qualifications
Licensed to practice law by the North Carolina State Bar and three years of progressively responsible professional legal experience. NOTE: GS 114-2 and 114-6 make it the duty of the Attorney General of NC to represent the State of North Carolina in all litigation unless another statute specifically states otherwise.
Management prefers a minimum of 1-2 years of litigation experience and health law practice in a hospital setting
