In-House Counsel

Homestead Healthcare; Farmington Hills (MI); On-site; USD 145,000 - 185,000; Full time

Job summary

Homestead Healthcare in Farmington Hills, Michigan is seeking an experienced In-House Counsel to lead healthcare regulatory and commercial matters. You will work with the executive team to align legal strategy with patient care goals.

Responsibilities include supervising outside counsel for litigation, managing HIPAA/privacy programs, and negotiating complex physician contracts and joint ventures, with potential leadership growth toward GC/ CLO roles.

Qualifications

• JD degree and active Michigan bar license.
• 3–5+ years healthcare, corporate, or regulatory experience.
• Experience with Stark Law, AKS, HIPAA/HITECH, Medicare/Medicaid rules.

Responsibilities

• Oversee outside counsel for malpractice defense, employment disputes, and government investigations.
• Lead regulatory compliance programs (HIPAA, Stark/AKS, etc).
• Negotiate and draft healthcare contracts, joint ventures, and vendor agreements.
• Manage privacy, security, and vendor risk (BAA negotiation).

Skills

Regulatory fluency

Transaction experience

Privacy & security leadership

Litigation management

Education

JD degree

Tools

Ironclad

LinkSquares

LogicGate

MetricStream

LegalTracker

Job description

This opportunity was posted more than 30 days ago and no application deadline was provided. You can explore active listings below.

In-House Counsel

H

Organising Institution / Firm

Not Specified by Organiser

Farmington Hills, Michigan, USA

Not Specified

Not specified in source; typically requires JD degree, active bar license (Michigan preferred), and 3-5+ years of relevant healthcare, corporate, or regulatory experience.

Full-time Job

Full Opportunity Brief

Navigating the In-House Counsel Landscape at Homestead Healthcare

The legal profession is witnessing a decisive shift. For years, the default trajectory for top law school graduates led straight to the high-pressure, billable-hour grind of Big Law. Today, however, the most coveted destination for seasoned attorneys is the in-house counsel role. The recent posting for an In-House Counsel position at Homestead Healthcare in Farmington Hills, Michigan represents more than just a vacancy; it is a gateway into the complex, high-stakes world of healthcare law—a sector defined by relentless regulatory scrutiny, rapid technological integration, and an unwavering focus on patient data privacy.

"Moving in-house isn't an exit from legal practice; it's an evolution into business strategy. At a healthcare entity like Homestead, you aren't just drafting contracts—you are architecting the legal framework that allows clinical innovation to reach patients safely."

Why Healthcare In-House Roles Are the Crown Jewels of 2024

Securing a role at an organization like Homestead Healthcare requires understanding the unique ecosystem of the healthcare legal market. Unlike general corporate counsel roles, healthcare attorneys operate at the intersection of Stark Law, Anti-Kickback Statute, HIPAA/HITECH, Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement rules, and evolving telehealth regulations. The Farmington Hills location places this role squarely in the heart of Michigan's robust medical corridor, offering proximity to major health systems, insurance carriers, and a thriving life-sciences startup scene.

For the ambitious lawyer, this position offers a distinct career trajectory advantage. You gain immediate exposure to C-suite decision-making, board-level reporting, and the operational realities of running a healthcare business. This experience is portable, highly valued, and often leads to General Counsel or Chief Legal Officer tracks significantly faster than the traditional partnership track.

Deconstructing the Ideal Candidate Profile

While the LinkedIn snapshot is concise, the market standards for a Healthcare In-House Counsel role in the Detroit metro area are rigorous. Hiring managers at organizations like Homestead typically look for a specific blend of technical mastery and commercial pragmatism.

Core Technical Competencies

• Regulatory Fluency: Deep working knowledge of CMS conditions of participation, fraud and abuse laws (Stark/AKS), and Michigan-specific healthcare statutes.
• Transaction Expertise: Experience with physician employment agreements, medical directorships, joint ventures, and managed care contracting.
• Privacy & Security Leadership: Proven ability to manage HIPAA compliance programs, breach response protocols, and vendor risk management (BAA negotiation).
• Litigation Management: Overseeing outside counsel for malpractice defense, employment disputes, and government investigations.

The "Soft" Skills That Seal the Offer

Technical competence gets you the interview; business acumen gets you the job. Homestead Healthcare needs a lawyer who speaks the language of EBITDA, RVUs, and value-based care. Can you explain a complex Stark Law implication to a non-legal VP of Operations in 60 seconds? Can you negotiate a payer contract while preserving the clinical relationship? These are the daily realities.

Strategic Application Blueprint: Standing Out in the Farmington Hills Market

Since applications are managed off LinkedIn, the process likely redirects to Homestead's proprietary Applicant Tracking System (ATS) or a specific portal. This is your first test of attention to detail. Do not simply click "Easy Apply" on LinkedIn and wait. Execute this four-step strategy:

1. The Tailored Narrative (Resume & Cover Letter)

Generic legal resumes fail ATS filters and human reviewers alike. Mirror the language of the job description (even the implied one). If the posting emphasizes "compliance," lead with your compliance program build-out. If it hints at "transactions," quantify your deal volume (e.g., "Negotiated 50+ physician contracts annually valued at $20M+").

Pro Tip: Include a "Key Projects" or "Representative Matters" section. Anonymize client names but keep the complexity metrics: "Led HIPAA risk assessment for 200-provider network, remediating 15 high-risk gaps in 90 days."

2. The Michigan Connection

If you are not currently barred in Michigan, address the timeline for waiver/reciprocity admission explicitly in your cover letter. Michigan offers admission on motion for attorneys with 3+ years of active practice. Signal that you are "license-ready" or "license-pending" to remove a major hiring friction point.

3. Network Intelligence Gathering

Before submitting, spend 30 minutes on LinkedIn mapping the Homestead Healthcare legal department. Who is the General Counsel? Who are the current Associate Counsels? What firms do they use for outside counsel? (Check the "People" tab and filter by "Legal"). A warm introduction or a reference to a shared connection in your cover letter increases response rates by 40%.

4. The Portfolio Approach

Healthcare law is document-heavy. Prepare a sanitized writing sample portfolio: a redacted compliance policy, a summary of a complex regulatory advisory memo, or a negotiated contract markup (with confidential terms blacked out). Have this ready to send immediately upon request—speed signals professionalism.

Interview Preparation: The Healthcare Specifics

The interview loop for an in-house role typically involves three distinct stakeholders: the GC (Legal Competence), the CFO/COO (Business Alignment), and HR (Cultural Fit). Prepare distinct narratives for each.

For the General Counsel: Technical Depth

• Walk through a recent OIG Advisory Opinion request you managed.
• Discuss your approach to AKS safe harbor compliance for new service lines.
• Explain your vendor management framework for Business Associate Agreements.

For the Business Leaders: Value Creation

• "How did legal accelerate a revenue cycle initiative?"
• "Describe a time you said 'no' to the business, and how you found the 'yes' alternative."
• "How do you budget and manage outside counsel spend?" (Mention alternative fee arrangements, matter budgeting, and convergence programs).

For the Farmington Hills/Detroit Metro market, a mid-level In-House Counsel (4-7 years PQE) in healthcare typically commands a base salary range of $145,000 - $185,000, with total cash compensation (bonus) pushing $200k+. Senior roles (8+ years) breach $200k base easily.

• Portable Book of Business: If you bring existing relationships with healthcare regulators or key outside counsel firms.
• Certifications: CHC (Certified in Healthcare Compliance), CHPC (Healthcare Privacy), or CIPP/US.
• Tech Stack Proficiency: Experience with Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) tools (Ironclad, LinkSquares), GRC platforms (LogicGate, MetricStream), or e-billing (LegalTracker).

Long-Term Career Trajectory: The 5-Year View

Accepting this role at Homestead Healthcare isn't just about the next paycheck; it's about the next decade of optionality. The healthcare sector is recession-resistant and regulation-heavy—two