Senior Counsel

Company: New Directions Behavioral Health
Location: Washington
Posted on: December 2, 2025

Job Description:

At Lucet, we are industry leaders in behavioral health, dedicated to helping people live healthy, balanced lives. Our purpose is to advocate for and improve the overall well-being of those we serve, through balanced treatment of the mind and body. When you join Lucet, you become a valued member of our team, serving more than 15 million people across the U.S. Our employees have a passion for helping others - and it shows. From entry-level employees to senior leaders, we are inspired by our members, putting them first in everything we do. From day one, youll see firsthand the impact you have on our members, knowing you can make a true difference in their lives. Why join our team at Lucet? We are a team of collaborative and hard-working professionals working to improve behavioral health outcomes working in a fast-paced and changing environment. At Lucet, no two days are the same. If you find joy in meaningful work and delivering excellent results, we encourage you to apply! We are looking for top-tier skills and experience in our remote-work environment and that’s because we offer top-tier compensation and benefits, which include: Annual compensation between $120,000 - $150,000, PLUS an annual performance-based, discretionary incentive. Compensation is dependent on non-discriminatory factors including but not limited to an applicants skills, education/degrees, certifications, prior experience, market data, and other relevant factors. Health Insurance – $0 premium for employee-only coverage in our core program for those participating in our Wellbeing Incentive Program. 401(k) with competitive employer match Company paid life and disability insurance, wellbeing incentives, and parental leave Professional development opportunities and tuition reimbursement Paid time off including paid time off for volunteering Opportunity for meaningful growth, both personally and professionally, where your unique background and experience is welcomed and valued. What You Will Do - Essential Functions The Senior Counsel provides strategic legal guidance and support for a multi-state health care organization. This role will focus on healthcare regulatory compliance, complex contracting, fraud, waste and abuse (FWA) risk mitigation, and privacy-related legal matters. The ideal candidate will have a strong command of federal and state healthcare laws, including the Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS), Stark Law, and Civil Monetary Penalties (CMP) Law, and bring experience structuring legally compliant healthcare arrangements. This position plays a critical role in managing legal risk across commercial, provider, and vendor contracting and ensuring compliance with federal healthcare program requirements and applicable privacy regulations, including HIPAA. This role will also serve as a key legal advisor to the Commercial teams, with a focus on supporting strategic partnerships, value-based arrangements, and vendor integration. The ideal candidate brings business-oriented judgment, transaction experience, and comfort supporting initiatives in early-stage development. Regulatory and Legal Compliance: Provide legal counsel on multi-state healthcare regulations, including HIPAA, fraud and abuse laws (AKS, Stark, CMP), and licensing standards. Advise on regulatory risks, support compliance programs, and guide early-stage product and care model development with regulatory analysis. Healthcare Contracting: Lead the drafting, negotiation, and review of diverse healthcare agreements while advising on compliant care models and supporting regulatory alignment in proposals and sales materials. Privacy and Data Protection: Provide strategic counsel on HIPAA, HITECH, and state privacy laws, partnering with compliance teams to manage risk, audits, and regulatory inquiries. Cross-Functional Collaboration and Strategic Support: Work cross-functionally with quality, network, compliance, finance, clinical, and commercial teams to ensure contractual and operational models are legally compliant and aligned with business objectives. Who You Are Required Qualifications Juris Doctor degree from a nationally accredited law school and active bar membership in good standing 8 years’ experience practicing law in an in-house or law firm environment Deep understanding of healthcare fraud and abuse laws (AKS, Stark, CMP, etc.) and how they apply to clinical integration, downstream provider contracting, and risk-based models. Familiarity with behavioral health care systems, Medicare Advantage, and risk adjustment methodologies Proven ability to translate complex legal requirements into practical, business-oriented solutions. Strong analytical, negotiation, and communication skills. Ability to align legal strategy with business goals and understand the operational impact of legal decisions. Ability to pass background check upon hire and throughout employment to include criminal felony & misdemeanor search, SSN validation/trace search (LEIE), education report (highest degree obtained), civil upper and lower search, 7-year employment report, federal criminal search, statewide criminal search, widescreen plus national criminal search, health care sanctions-state med (SAM), national sex offender registry, prohibited parties (OFAC) (terrorist watchlist), and a 10-Panel Drug Screen. Someone who embodies our values by: Serving everyone with compassion and leading with empathy. Stepping up and creating value by taking charge and acting when there is an opportunity. Adapting in a changing world by recognizing our responsibility to be agile and respond quickly. Nurturing growth and belonging by respecting and celebrating everyone for who they are. Competencies Responsible with a high level of integrity and ethical standards Intuitive nature to identify compliance irregularities Ability to handle several projects at once and meet business deadlines Ability to manage cross-departmental projects with business professionals Self-motivated and autonomous Excellent ability to build relationships and communicate effectively at all levels of the organization with meeting business goals Curious and interested in personal growth to develop skills in a fast-paced and evolving industry Strong skills in reviewing, drafting, and negotiating complex contracts and legal documents. Capacity to anticipate and interpret regulatory changes and advise on proactive compliance strategies. Working Conditions: Work is performed from home with company-provided equipment. Sitting for long periods of time is expected and use of fingers and hands for typing is necessary. A quiet workspace with minimal background noise for calls. High-speed internet service (cable or fiber optic) with minimum download Speed of 20 Mbps, Upload Speed of 5 Mbps, and Maximum Latency of 100 milliseconds (must be installed before starting). We encourage applicants with a range of experiences who can demonstrate how their qualifications and skills align with the requirements of this role. This position will accept and review new applications and resumes no less than 5 business days after the original posting date and may remain open an extended period of time with no set end date based on the level of interest. Qualifications Licenses & Certifications Preferred Attorney Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.

Keywords: New Directions Behavioral Health, Washington DC , Senior Counsel, Legal , Washington, DC