Attorney III - Assistant General Counsel for Health Promotion and Services

Careers at DPH: Work that makes a difference!

Embracing Service, Inspiring Innovation, Promoting Teamwork, Pursuing Excellence, and Advancing Equity

At the newly established South Carolina Department of Public Health (“DPH”), you will do meaningful work contributing to our mission to protect, promote, and improve the health and well-being of everyone in South Carolina.
 
The applicant chosen to fill this position will join a dedicated team of regulatory attorneys that will have the unique opportunity to advise the state’s first stand-alone public health agency in 50 years. Consider joining the DPH Office of General Counsel (“OGC”), where you will have the opportunity to work in a collaborative and supportive environment where people come first and we encourage a healthy work-life balance.
 

This position offers great state benefits, including 15 days of annual and sick leave per year or more, depending on applicable state service, as well as the option of an alternate work schedule with every other Friday off following one full year of employment.

• Work under the supervision of the agency’s Chief Counsel for Health Promotion and Services, providing legal advice to the HPS programs.

• Work closely with program directors and staff engaged in specialized areas of health care delivery, health care policy, and public health services and initiatives

• Assist with the promulgation of regulations.

• Advise HPS staff on state and federal health privacy, statutory, and regulatory matters, including HIPAA and HITECH.

• Conduct complex legal research and draft legal opinions and memoranda.

• Engage in public-speaking opportunities, including creating and delivering educational and informational presentations in and outside the Department.

• Provide assistance in the development of Department policies and procedures, training and compliance.

• Draft and review contracts prior to Department release.

• Represent the agency and its HPS programs in meetings and negotiations and in responding to inquiries from the public, the community, and opposing legal counsel.

• On a limited basis, represent the agency and its HPS programs in litigation in the probate, family, state, and federal courts.

• Participate in the agency’s Incident Command Structure during emergencies as needed.

• Review and advise HPS programs on changes in statutory law, regulations, significant case law, or agency policy.

• Draft, review, revise, and ensure the accuracy and proper content, form, and grammar of legal documents related to HPS programs. Review and work with program staff on revisions of documents prepared by staff to ensure legal accuracy and sufficiency and proper content, form, and grammar.

• Any candidate hired for this position will be responsible for providing legal support for complex and highly sensitive public health investigations and interventions. 

State Minimum Requirements: 
A juris doctor degree or its equivalent from an accredited law school and experience as a practicing attorney.
 
Institutions of Higher Learning must be recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

Agency Additional Requirements:
 
To qualify as a candidate for this position, you must:

• Have at least two (2) years of experience as a practicing attorney (which may include judicial clerkships)
• Possess a Juris Doctor degree from an ABA-accredited law school
• Be a member in good standing of the South Carolina Bar
• Possess and maintain a valid driver’s license
• Have completed trial experiences as required by Rule 403, S.C. Appellate Court Rules. 

• Be trustworthy, self-motivated, and reliable
• Possess a strong work ethic and the ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• Possess strong organizational and interpersonal skills
• Possess the ability to work well with other lawyers and program staff in a team environment
• Possess the ability to manage and supervise other lawyers and legal staff
• Possess a commitment to professionalism, ethics and public service
• Possess excellent legal research and communication skills, including the ability to explain complex legal issues in simple, direct, and easily understandable terms to non-lawyers, lawyers, hearing officers and judges
• Demonstrate strong legal writing skills (A legal writing sample must be submitted with your application)
• Possess strong public-speaking skills.  

The following qualifications are preferred, but not required:

• Experience in public health law, education in public health-related curriculum, or training and experience in healthcare compliance or a health-related industry.

• Experience with the state process for regulation promulgation.

• Experience in litigation.