Legal Counsel (Hospital)

at  SickKids

ABOUT SICKKIDS

Dedicated exclusively to children and their families, The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) is one of the largest and most respected paediatric healthcare centres in the world. As innovators in child health, we lead and partner to improve the health of children through the integration of healthcare, leading-edge research and education. Our reputation would not have been built – nor could it be maintained – without the skills, knowledge and experience of the extraordinary people who come to work here every day. SickKids is committed to ongoing learning and development, and features a caring and supportive work environment that combines exceptionally high standards of practice.
When you join SickKids, you become part of our community. We share a commitment and determination to fulfill our vision of Healthier Children. A Better World.
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to work alongside the world’s best in paediatric healthcare.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

SickKids has a great opportunity for a senior dynamic lawyer to support critical areas of hospital operations at Canada’s most research-intensive hospital on a temporary basis, for a 1-year contract. The Legal Services Department provides centralized legal support for the entire enterprise at SickKids, including the Hospital, Learning Institute, and Research Institute. As Senior Legal Counsel (Hospital, Clinical) you would deploy your legal experience and knowledge to advise clinical leaders who are advancing our mission of improving the health of children in Ontario, Canada, and across the globe.

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor of Laws or Juris Doctorate and a lawyer in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario
• 8+ years of post-call experience in private practice, in-house, or a combination thereof, advising hospitals on matters related to clinical operations including: consent/capacity, end of life care, privacy/freedom of information, physician privileges and other risk management and medico-legal issues
• Demonstrated commitment and actions in advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion objectives.
• Strong conceptual thinking, communication, and decision-making skills.
• Service-oriented, with a propensity for practical problem-solving and solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to manage a high volume of competing priorities.
• Team player with excellent diplomacy and interpersonal skills.

• Identify, address and manage legal needs in support of the Hospital’s business and strategic objectives through effective fact-finding, research and the provision of high-quality legal advice and in a manner that reflects the organization’s risk tolerance.
• Support clients across the clinical enterprise on issues relating to consent/capacity, end of life care, privacy/freedom of information, physician privileges and other risk management and medico-legal issues.
• Identify potential areas of legal risk/opportunity and make recommendations on risk tolerance and mechanisms to manage risk/opportunity.
• Support management and leaders in implementing strategic and operational initiatives.
• Monitor changes to relevant laws and communicate developments/implications to management and staff, as appropriate.
• Develop strong professional relationships with internal and external stakeholders to facilitate ongoing communication throughout the organization, anticipate and proactively manage legal needs and risks, and keep current on best practices and emerging trends in legal practice within relevant sectors.