Legal Counsel (Clinical Risk) - Legal Services - Regular Full-Time 2026-18450

Summary of Duties

As a member of the Legal Services team at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, the Legal Counsel (Clinical Risk) will provide strategic and practical legal advice on matters arising from patient care, patient safety, risk management, privacy, quality improvement, and complex patient situations across the organization. Reporting to the General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer, the successful candidate will serve as a trusted advisor to hospital leadership, clinical teams, Risk Management, the Office of Patient Experience, Privacy Office, Clinical Ethics, and other operational stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic legal advice to hospital leadership on patient care, patient safety, quality of care, policy development, and organizational risk.

• Serve as a primary legal partner to Risk Management, the Office of Patient Experience, and clinical leaders regarding patient complaints, safety events, critical incidents, quality reviews, and risk mitigation initiatives.

• Coordinate and support the hospital’s response to Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario applications, Consent and Capacity Board proceedings, and litigation matters, as needed.

• Advise on physician-related matters arising before and after involvement of the Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA).

• Develop and support implementation of legal frameworks for organizational initiatives, policies, and programs in collaboration with operational leaders, peer hospitals, external counsel, and sector partners.

• Collaborate with counterparts at the University of Toronto on matters involving shared academic and clinical interests.

• Partner with the Privacy Office on privacy breaches, investigations, disclosure matters, and proceedings before the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario.

• Review court documents, subpoenas, warrants, and other legal processes and provide advice to appropriate parties in relation to these legal documents, as well as communicate with opposing counsel or self-represented individuals, as necessary.

• Partner with Clinical Ethics leadership to navigate complex patient situations involving legal, ethical, and clinical considerations.

• Draft, review, negotiate, and interpret a broad range of agreements, memoranda of understanding, and partnership arrangements.

• Collaborate with the General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer on sensitive matters involving risk assessment, dispute resolution, and mitigation strategies.

Qualifications:

• LL.B. or J.D. and member in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario.

• Approximately 4 to 7 years of post-call legal experience.

• Experience in healthcare law, hospital law, privacy law, litigation, administrative law, professional liability, or a related practice area.

• Litigation experience gained in private practice, government, healthcare, or an in-house environment is considered a strong asset.

• Experience advising healthcare organizations, hospitals, academic health sciences centres, regulated health professionals, or public sector organizations is strongly preferred.
• Superior organizational and communication skills, tact, diplomacy and sound judgment.

• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision within a dynamic team, where problem-solving ability and enthusiasm will be highly valued.
• Experience working on special projects and flexibility with regard to types of tasks assigned, as well as initiative to develop new projects.
• Ability to work under pressure and deal with conflicting priorities and deadlines is critical to the role.
• Well-developed computer skills are essential, including high level of proficiency in the use and maintenance of computer database systems and data analysis, proficiency in the use of the Microsoft Office suite of applications, Adobe Acrobat Professional and related software combined with an ability to learn new applications quickly.

What You Bring

• Strong legal analysis and risk assessment skills.

• Excellent drafting, negotiation, and communication abilities.

• Sound judgment and ability to provide practical, solutions-focused advice.

• Ability to manage multiple complex files and competing priorities.

• Strong relationship-building skills and a collaborative approach.

• Commitment to patient-centred care and organizational excellence.

Why Join Sunnybrook

• Be part of one of Canada's leading academic health sciences centres.
• Advise on complex, high-impact matters at the intersection of law, patient care, ethics, privacy, and risk management.
• Work closely with senior leadership, clinicians, and healthcare professionals across the organization.
• Join a collegial and collaborative legal team committed to excellence, innovation, and continuous learning.
• Contribute directly to initiatives that support exceptional patient care and organizational excellence.