Assistant Counsel - Litigation

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Inc.; Baton Rouge (LA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana seeks a corporate counsel to provide legal services across the organization, handling governance, regulatory filings, contracts, employment, privacy, and litigation. Residency in Louisiana preferred.

You will support senior management, draft and review documents, advise on corporate strategy, participate in regulatory processes, and coordinate with outside counsel as needed.

Qualifications

• J.D. required.
• Admission to Louisiana Bar or limited admission within twelve months of hire date.
• Minimum of two years’ experience in the practice of law.
• In-house or corporate law experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal services across governance, regulatory filings, contracts, employment, privacy, litigation, etc.
• Draft, review and negotiate contracts and other legal documents.
• Advise senior management on legal implications of proposed corporate strategies.
• Coordinate with outside counsel and participate in regulatory processes.

Skills

Legal knowledge

Governance

Regulatory filings

Contract negotiation

Communication

Education

J.D. degree

Louisiana Bar admission

In-house counsel experience

Job description

Position Purpose

This position is responsible for providing legal services to all areas of the organization (which includes Louisiana Health Service & Indemnity Company d/b/a Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, and all of its subsidiaries), with responsibilities as assigned by legal department management. This position will have a general focus and handle any potential corporate law matters, including, but not limited to, governance, regulatory filings, contracts, employment, privacy, litigation, etc.

Residency in or relocation to Louisiana is preferred for all positions.

Nature and Scope

This role does not manage people.

Reports To

Chief Legal Officer or their designee.

Necessary Contacts

In order to effectively fulfill this position, the incumbent will be in contact with: Senior management, officers of the organization, fellow employees, outside counsel, professional associations, governmental entities, regulatory agencies, and consultants.

How You Contribute to the Organization’s Mission in this Role

Performs legal research and analysis in numerous areas of law and policy, often involving novel and complex issues, to provide a thorough legal analysis with regard to pending legal issues. May prepare, negotiate and evaluate contracts and other legal documents associated with transactions for the organization, including health care provider services, outsourcing, professional services agreements, delegated entity contracting, administrative services only agreements, reinsurance and stop-loss contracting, risk management and risk sharing agreements, and vendor agreements to contractually mitigate risks and protect the competitive interests of the organization. Assists with advising senior management of the legal ramifications of proposed corporate strategies, resolution of corporate legal issues, and legislative and regulatory developments, to position the organization as the preeminent health care organization. May participate in dispute resolution and administrative and medical necessity appeals. Drafts, edits and analyzes a wide variety of documents, such as legal memoranda, and actively participates in the state and federal regulatory processes to maximize the organization’s strategic position in the marketplace. Promotes the ethical and professional practice of law while interacting with other company attorneys, customers, litigants, members of the bar, members of the judiciary and their staff and others while engaged in the practice of law on behalf of company.

For Litigation specific role only

May participate in litigation, arbitration, administrative proceedings, and dispute resolution, including, but not limited to, preparation of pleadings, trial and appellate briefs, negotiations between the parties, the conduct of trials and hearings, and all other court, arbitration, or dispute resolution appearances, and high level legal research and analysis in numerous areas of law and policy, often involving novel and complex issues, and coordinates the efforts of outside counsel in order to most effectively represent the interests of the company. May perform routine motions, arbitrations, bench trials, and basic jury trials.

Skills and Abilities

• Must have legal knowledge, extending beyond the insurance legal and regulatory fields.
• Must have excellent organizational skills.
• Must have excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Must be self-motivated and have the ability to motivate others.
• Must have the ability to work with others.
• Ability and willingness to take actions necessary to improve departmental performance is necessary.
• Must be willing to promote and support department and organization projects and strategies.

Qualifications

• Education J.D. required
• Admission to Louisiana Bar or limited admission to Louisiana Bar as in house counsel within twelve months of hire date required
• Work Experience Minimum of two years’ experience in the practice of law.
• Insurance or healthcare industry experience strongly preferred.
• Experience in corporate law, including, but not limited to, governance, regulatory filings, contracts, employment, privacy, litigation, etc. is preferred.
• Eligible to practice law in Louisiana.
• Admission to Louisiana Bar or limited admission to Louisiana Bar as in house counsel required within twelve months of hire date.
• Must be in good standing with the Louisiana Bar.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the accountabilities and essential functions of the job.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable an individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions Perform other job-related duties as assigned, within your scope of responsibilities. Job duties are performed in a normal and clean office environment with normal noise levels. Work is predominately done while standing or sitting. The ability to comprehend, document, calculate, visualize, and analyze are required.

An Equal Opportunity Employer

Due to the high volume of applications we receive, only those most qualified will be contacted.

Company Mission

To improve the health and lives of Louisianians.

Company Vision

A better state of health through preventative, easier and more affordable healthcare.

Company Overview

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana (Louisiana Blue) is incorporated as Louisiana Health Service & Indemnity company and is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana is licensed to sell products only in the state of Louisiana.

Company Culture

In support of our mission to improve the health and lives of Louisianians, we encourage the good health of its employees and visitors. We want to ensure that our employees have a work environment that will optimize personal health and well-being. Due to the acknowledged hazards from exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, and in order to promote good health, our company properties are smoke and tobacco free.

We perform background and pre-employment drug screening after an offer has been extended and prior to hire for all positions. As part of this process records may be verified and information checked with agencies including but not limited to the Social Security Administration, criminal courts, federal, state, and county repositories of criminal records, Department of Motor Vehicles and credit bureaus. Pursuant with sec 1033 of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, individuals who have been convicted of a felony crime involving dishonesty or breach of trust are prohibited from working in the insurance industry unless they obtain written consent from their state insurance commissioner. Additionally, we are a Drug Free Workplace. A pre-employment drug screen will be required and any offer is contingent upon satisfactory drug testing results.