Senior Legal Advisor

Discovery Limited; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,400,000; Full time

Job summary

Discovery Health seeks a Senior Legal Advisor to manage disputes, regulatory complaints, and litigation within the Clinical Benefit Advisory Team. The role involves advocacy before the Council for Medical Schemes and legal guidance on PMB legislation.

You will coordinate with medical review consultants, provide internal legal advice, and maintain stakeholder relationships while delivering monthly status reports.

Qualifications

• Matric; essential prerequisite.
• Admitted Attorney or Advocate status required.
• Minimum 1 year of medical scheme environment experience.
• Minimum 5 years of litigation experience.
• Knowledge of managed care environment.
• Good knowledge of applicable legislation.
• Excellent written and spoken English.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel.

Responsibilities

• Oversee drafting of Heads of Arguments for disputes.
• Draft Section 48 hearings and Section 50 hearings for CoMS.
• Argue cases before CoMS and Disputes Committee where possible.
• Provide internal legal advice on Scheme rules and PMB legislation.
• Respond to demand letters within deadlines.
• Manage mediation before appeals.
• Maintain relationships with DHMS and external panel.

Skills

Litigation experience

Med Scheme environment

Legislation knowledge

English communication

Drafting documents

Disputes/CoMS

Relationship management

Education

Matric

Admitted Attorney or Advocate

Tools

Microsoft Office

Excel

Job description

Senior Legal Advisor

Business Unit: Discovery Health

Function: Legal Affairs

Date: 22 Sept 2026

Clinical Benefit Advisory Team

Senior Legal Advisor | Talent Pool

About Discovery

Discovery’s core purpose is to make people healthier and to enhance and protect their lives. We seek out and invest in exceptional individuals who understand and support our core purpose, and whose own values align with those of Discovery. Our fast-paced and dynamic environment enables smart, self-driven people to be their best. As global thought leaders, Discovery is passionate about innovating in order to not only achieve financial success, but to ignite positive and meaningful change within our society.

About Clinical Benefit Advisory Team

The Clinical Benefit Advisory Team (CBAT), a subsidiary of Discovery Health, comprises Medical and Legal Advisors who offer clinical and legal expertise on complex cases. The Council Liaison Managers serve as the bridge between Discovery Health and the Council for Medical Schemes, providing support to the Legal Advisors. Additionally, the Medical Review Consultants ensure that clinical cases are thoroughly reviewed, and appropriate decisions are made. The team operates regionally in Sandton and Cape Town.

Key Purpose

This position requires the successful candidate to manage legal disputes, regulatory complaints, and litigation, as well as providing legal assistance to Discovery Health.

Job Functions

• Oversee legal advisor in drawing up the Heads of Arguments (HOA) for all Disputes.
• Drawing up of all Section 48 hearings and Section 50 hearings at Council of Medical Schemes (CoMS)
• Argue cases at CoMS for Section 48 Hearings as an admitted attorney and whenever possible for Section 50 Hearings.
• Oversee the legal advisor in arguing cases before the Disputes Committee on behalf of DHMS at weekly Dispute Hearings.
• Provide general legal advice internally for matters related to the Scheme rules and interpretation of the PMB legislation for which this position bears the legal responsibility.
• Respond to legal letters of demand from members within strict deadlines as main legal respondent on behalf of DHMS and other Discovery Health administered schemes.
• Manage the mediation process before a matter goes on appeal.
• Own legal relationship, in terms of Disputes and CoMS complaints, with the Discovery Health Senior Executive and Discovery Health Medical Scheme.
• Providing input and representation at relevant senior forums throughout the Discovery Health business.
• Own legal responses to CoMS and maintain positive relationship with all relevant stakeholders.
• Update the Benefit Compliance Review team and relevant business areas on CoMS and Dispute rulings as required.
• Provide monthly and quarterly trending and status reports.
• Track industry trends relating to the Appeal committee and to the Appeal Board decisions; assist with implementation of these decisions into Discovery Health.
• Accurate record keeping in line with company requirements and standards.
• Provide legal expertise for complex legal matters across multiple areas when necessary.
• Develop strategic and operational plans to minimize risk within the area.
• Assist in ensuring the company complies with legislation (Medical Schemes Act) to avoid statutory and/or regulatory consequences.
• Act as the liaison and provide the relevant level of instruction to the external legal panel comprising attorneys and advocates.

Competencies

Role Specific Behaviours

• Action oriented
• Attracts top talent.
• Business insight
• Manages complexity.
• Manages conflict.
• Courage
• Develops talent
• Directs work.
• Global perspective
• Cultivates innovation.
• Interpersonal savvy
• Nimble learning
• Organizational savvy
• Plans and aligns.
• Situational adaptability
• Strategic mindset
• Tech savvy
• Drives vision and purpose
• Optimizes work processes

Education and Experience

The following requirements are essential:

Matric

Admitted Attorney or Advocate

At least 1 year working experience in the medical scheme environment

At least 5 years Litigation experience

Knowledge of Managed Care Environment

Sound knowledge of relevant Legislation

Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English

Basic computer literacy in Microsoft Office applications (must be proficient in Excel)

Drafting of legal documents e.g. Heads of Argument, opinions, and legal letters

Advantageous Requirements

Knowledge of Discovery Health Medical Scheme and In-House products and protocols

At least two years’ experience in large law firm

Clinical /Medical knowledge

Personal Attributes or Competency Profile

The Discovery Person

• Values Driven
• Learns on the Fly
• Resilient
• Instils Trust
• People Savvy
• Drives Results

The Discovery Leader

• are inspirational leaders who live the values and believes in the core purpose
• are humble
• treat others with care, dignity and respect
• ensure that the business case prevails
• have a bias for action
• understand that people are Discovery's greatest asset
• build an environment for optimal performance
• set ambitious goals and implement the highest standards
• are students and masters of communication
• never stop learninghave and express strong beliefs and views, yet are open-minded and support the chosen path

EMPLOYMENT EQUITY

The Company’s approved Employment Equity Plan and Targets will be considered as part of the recruitment process. As an Equal Opportunities employer, we actively encourage and welcome people with various disabilities to apply.