Come work as a Legal Counsel 1 with Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH)!

Reporting to the Senior Legal Counsel, Health Law & Dispute Resolution, the Legal Counsel 1 possesses strong oral advocacy, legal analysis, and client relations skills. This role is specifically dedicated to supporting VCH psychiatrists during Mental Health Act Review Panel hearings at the BC Mental Health Review Board. The Legal Counsel 1 will work together with a Review Panel Liaison to identify eligible cases and will prepare and present VCH’s case by calling and preparing witnesses, leading evidence, cross-examining the witnesses, and providing submissions to the Review Panel. As this is a new role, the Legal Counsel 1 will also engage in organization-wide engagement to support effective implementation and change management.

As a Legal Counsel 1 with Vancouver Coastal Health you will:

• Conduct intake of Review Panel requests, with the Review Panel Liaison, to identify eligible cases based on established criteria.
• Represent the designated facility’s case by working together with the VCH treating psychiatrist and other witnesses to prepare and present at the Review Panel Hearing.
• Support the Review Panel Liaison and regional Mental Health and Substance Use team to prepare standard operating procedures, workflows, and policies to support implementation and change management relating to this project.
• Participate in providing educational workshops and programs on the Mental Health Act, the Mental Health Review Board, and legislative compliance to staff and medical staff.
• Conduct issues identification, legal research, and upfront legal analysis in order to support the Senior Legal Counsel in providing strategic legal advice and opinions to VCH leadership, primarily in the area of mental health law.
• Maintain professional growth and development through seminars, workshops, and professional affiliations to keep up-to-date with health sector trends, new/revised legislation and developing case law.

Education & Experience

• Law Degree from a recognized University supplemented by one (1) to four (4) years of recent, related experience practicing law (not including articling). Preference will be given to demonstrated experience with oral advocacy and strong knowledge of administrative law practices.
• Health care experience or health law advising experience is an asset.
• A member in good standing with the Law Society of British Columbia (or eligible for membership within a specified period).

Knowledge & Abilities

• Strong oral advocacy skills
• Strong legal research and legal analysis skills.
• Ability to multitask effectively.
• Familiarity with and/or ability to understand complex healthcare system
• Demonstrated familiarity with the Mental Health Act, the BC Mental Health Review Board practice directives, and related health care consent legislation and principles.
• Ability to develop and bring forward solutions and communicate effectively (both verbally and in writing) with a variety of audiences.
• Ability to foster and maintain positive relationships with internal clients.
• Exemplary interpersonal, communication and problem-solving skills.
• Models personal integrity and accountability, and is a committed team player.

As per Ministry of Health policy, all health care workers working in publicly-funded health care facilities are required to report their past receipt of certain vaccines or history of certain infections. Collecting these records will allow for offering of any missing vaccines, and for appropriate actions to be taken in the event of any future exposure to a communicable disease or during outbreaks. For all new hires and appointments to Vancouver Coastal Health, you will be asked to provide this information as part of the onboarding process.

Why Join Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH):

VCH is a world class innovator in medical care, research and teaching, delivering service to more than one million BC residents. At VCH, we embrace thinking boldly, taking smart risks, and 'going first' when we believe it will lead to the best possible outcomes for patients and their families. We invite you to join us in creating healthy lives in healthy communities by showcasing our passion for care, connection to the communities we serve and our culture of teamwork that makes VCH a great place to work.

• Comprehensive health benefits package, including MSP, extended health and dental and municipal pension plan
• Grow your career with employer-paid training and leadership development opportunities
• Wellness supports, including counselling, critical incident and innovative wellness services are available to employees and their immediate families
• Award-winning recognition programs to honour staff, medical staff and volunteers
• Access to exclusive discount offers and deals for VCH staff

At Vancouver Coastal Health, our vision of healthy lives in healthy communities inspires us and our values and pillars guide us. We support equitable practices, diverse teams and inclusive environments, which are vital to creating welcoming spaces where everyone can bring their whole selves to work and feel supported. We encourage applications from equity-deserving communities, including Indigenous Peoples and members of racialized groups, people with disabilities and people of all gender identities and expressions and sexual orientation.

Vancouver Coastal Health is proud to be recognized as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers in 2024.

Only short-listed applicants will be contacted for this posting.


***Employees of VCH must apply online via the Internal Career Portal on CareerHub, you are currently viewing the External Career Portal. Refer to the https://my.vch.ca/working-here/job-postings site for instructions on how to view internal job postings and how to apply as an employee. Current VCH employees who apply to this posting using this external site will be considered as an external candidate. Seniority will not apply.***

Thank you for your interest in Vancouver Coastal Health.