Kick off the New Year with a bonus episode of The Legal Department! This episode features a lively discussion with Allison Freedman and Hallie Ritzu, the hosts of the popular legal podcast, Personal Jurisdiction. They interview Stacy Bratcher, Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer for Cottage Health, to get her insights on succeeding as in-house counsel.Stacy shares her unique career journey, from her early days in government to her current leadership role. She offers advice on cultivating curiosity, the importance of building strong relationships in the legal field, and why your first job doesn't have to define your career path. Tune in for valuable perspectives and inspiration for lawyers at all stages of their careers.
Defending litigation is a core function of The Legal Department, but class action cases are different. The stakes are higher, the risks are greater, and all eyes are on the General Counsel to steer the ship through what can be the highest litigation exposure a company can face. Not to worry, Chris Chorba, an expert class action defense lawyer at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, is here to help steady your nerves. Intelligent, creative, and passionate, Chris shares his insights on how to best position your company to defend class action lawsuits and how an arbitration agreement can be your best shakedown repellent. From choosing defense counsel to selecting a claims administrator, Chris shares what you need to know to steady the ship.
Overwhelmed by an unexpected vacancy on your team? Struggling with how to get the work done now that you're leading your own team? Too many of us fall into a trap thinking we have to "do it ourselves" and don't ask for help. But research shows that effective leaders delegate. In this episode, Elizabeth Smith and Michael Albino of Major, Lindsey & Africa share why delegating is critical in The Legal Department and how interim talent can help you keep your head above water. Elizabeth and Michael lead interim placements for MLA and have seen hundreds of legal teams. They share best practices for onboarding, how temporary help refreshes a legal team and brings a consultant's mindset to the department, and how interim work can be an on-ramp to an in-house career. If you're feeling overwhelmed and need an extra set of hands, this episode is for you.
“What do you think we should do?" Many in-house lawyers dread this question from business colleagues. What's the best response? Spoiler alert, it's not, "It's a business decision!"Tracey Lester-Smith, former General Counsel of NASCAR and Bellator MMA, joins The Legal Department to help lawyers confidently give opinions. Tracey argues that providing thoughtful opinions is a key differentiator between good lawyers and truly great ones.In this episode, Tracey shares how working with civil rights icon Elijah Cummings and her MMA training empowered her to give opinions as the first lawyer in a male-dominated combat sports company. She also discusses her transition from the racetrack to a year-long family journey around the world, and how she learned to take her hands "off the wheel."If you're ready to elevate your legal advice and become an indispensable advisor, this episode is a must-listen.
Worried that the AI bots are going to make lawyers obsolete? In-house tech lawyer and AI-thought leader Laura Jeffords Greenberg is in The Legal Department this week to help alleviate those big feelings. She shares practical AI use cases for in-house legal departments, offers advice for how to approach this new (and sometimes scary technology) and shares tips for scoping AI solutions. If you've been sitting on the sidelines waiting for an invite to an AI in-house party, this episode is for you.
Starting a new job or joining a new company is exciting—but too often, leaders fail to plan. In this episode, Michael D. Watkins, author of the international bestselling book "The First 90 Days: Proven Strategies for Getting up to Speed Faster and Smarter," shares his advice on how lawyers can successfully navigate job transitions. We talk about how to "negotiate success" with your boss, why it's most important to learn and connect in the initial months in a role and how to build a relationship with a new CEO. As an added bonus, Michael also shares his thoughts about artificial intelligence (AI) and its potential and perils for our culture and how lawyers can help companies navigate ethical use of this transformational technology.
Feeling overwhelmed by the endless legal tech solutions? Bombarded by vendors offering the latest shiny tools? In this episode, Legal tech analyst and writer Ari Kaplan, with over 18 years of expertise, shares practical advice on evaluating legal tech solutions for your department. Ari discusses how to work effectively with vendors, streamline legal operations, and assess your department’s needs to ensure successful tech implementation. Plus, hear his thoughts on AI in legal and why embracing this game-changing technology is crucial for staying ahead in the industry.
Sterling Miller, a seasoned expert in in-house counsel, shares actionable tips, hacks, and systems to boost legal productivity. From taming the email monster to avoiding time-wasting meetings and mastering your calendar, Sterling offers practical strategies that will help you get more done every day. By implementing a "not-to-do list" and focusing on the "little things," you’ll elevate your productivity and create a more efficient workflow in the legal department. Tune in for advice you can apply immediately to transform your daily routine.
In this episode, Anne Jacoby, CEO of Spring Street and author of Born to Create, dives into the importance of Creativity Legal. Together with host Stacy, they explore how creativity can help lawyers rethink traditional practices, overcome common creativity blockers, and handle crises with fresh perspectives. Anne also shares her journey in the legal field, from starting at Axiom to now guiding legal teams to embrace creativity and thrive. Tune in for insights on transforming your legal department’s culture and approach.
Are you stuck on the “broken rung” of the in-house career ladder, unsure how to make the jump from deputy GC to the GC role? In this behind-the-scenes episode, executive legal recruiter Brittney McDonough shares how to position yourself for GC opportunities. She shares resume tips–how to highlight executive presence and other soft skills, how to present yourself in interviews, including how to answer the tough questions like “tell me about yourself,” without talking too much, and what the C-suite is looking for in their next general counsel. Don’t miss this great nuts and bolts episode!
Struggling with managing or developing a legal team? Unsure how to set effective goals and keep your team motivated? Feeling drained? Fear not! Kate Dugan, General Counsel of Energizer, joins The Legal Department to energize your approach to legal team management. In this episode, Kate shares her strategies for creating impactful Individual Development Plans (IDPs), coaching soft skills, and fostering a collaborative team environment. Learn how to effectively delegate stretch projects, provide growth opportunities, and become a supportive leader your team can rely on. Her mantra, “Don’t say no, ask how,” is bound to become your go-to in-house tagline for leading a successful and motivated legal team. Don’t miss out on these game-changing insights for building a thriving in-house legal department!
Attorney wellness seems like a trend, but until recently, lawyers had few obvious resources to deal with stress and burnout from this challenging career. Law professor and wellness coach Janet Thompson Jackson is working to change that. A pivotal experience with a struggling law student opened her eyes to the urgent need for better wellness support. In this episode of The Legal Department, Janet explores the 5 domains of wellness, how to manage expectations, the importance of regular check-ins to balance your well-being, and why lawyer assistance programs go beyond substance abuse. She also introduces a powerful tool designed to provide essential legal wellness resources. Janet’s warmth and expertise make this conversation both insightful and encouraging—you won’t want to miss her inspiring journey toward improving legal wellness for lawyers like you.
Think you're too busy managing legal work to get involved in public policy? Think again. In this episode, Chad Golder, General Counsel of the American Hospital Association, shares why it's important for lawyers (especially in-house counsel) to develop relationships with trade associations and share their company's perspectives with policy makers. A former clerk to Justice Stevens, Golder shares perspectives on the court and what it was like to get feedback from Stevens' beach reads.
The General Counsel role is the brass ring in the in-house career. How do you know if you want it? In this episode, veteran GCs Julie Kinch and Deborah Solmor share their insights on the General Counsel role—what makes it unique compared to other in-house positions and how to know if it's right for you. They describe how the GC role is different than other in-house roles: It's more business and management and less lawyering and legal work. They share examples of the additional duties "as assigned," including what it's like to lead a cultural transformation.Why building your team and delegating is essential; andThe different "soft skills" and communication needed to succeed. But these skills aren't out of reach. Julie and Deborah are designing share a new program to help aspiring GCs. As a new GC, Deborah founded Ready Set GC, a professional development program aimed at helping women GCs succeed in the role and connect with peers in a safe, collaborative environment. Identifying a gap in the market for emerging in-house leaders (deputies, associate GCs, etc.), Ready Set GC is also developing the Ready Set DGC to GC Program to elevate the next generation of leaders.If you’re considering the next step in your in-house career, this episode of The Legal Department is for you.
Are you tired of the friction between IT and Legal? In this episode of The Legal Department podcast, Sarah Richardson of This Week Health, shares her insights on what the CIO wants in a GC partner. Discover how IT and Legal can become strategic allies, collaborating on everything from cybersecurity to vendor negotiations. Learn about the importance of proactive communication, clear advice, and a shared understanding of the business. Plus, hear Sarah's personal story of navigating a challenging situation involving a vendor-imposed solution. Don't miss this episode for valuable tips on building a stronger partnership between IT and Legal.
A "Thumbs Up" might seem like a harmless response to a text message, but it turns out it might not be so safe for work after all. In this episode, Professor Eric Goldman delves into the legal implications of emojis and how they can influence the outcome of a case. He offers valuable tips on handling discovery when emojis are critical evidence and explains why you should be cautious when expressing enthusiasm with an emoji string. Welcome back to class.
The CFO is one of the most important partners for the General Counsel. To maximize this relationship, legal teams must understand the CFO's priorities. In this C-suite conversation with Kevin Rubin, CFO of BetterUp, discover how in-house counsel can deliver tangible value to the finance function. Learn to position legal as a strategic partner, effectively communicate complex risk landscapes, and build a compelling case for increased legal resources. Rubin underscores the CFO's desire for legal counsel who provides sound advice and offers strategic insights and decisive recommendations. He also shares some tips for maximizing your success at budget time.
These days, we're expected to bring our "whole selves" to work, right? Well, not always. Leaders often find themselves in an "authenticity paradox" where they are expected to share just the "right" amount with their teams, peers and leadership. Executive Coach Dina Denham Smith says that this emotional labor is taxing on leaders, especially lawyers. This often unacknowledged labor takes its toll and often appears as frustration, short temperedness or lashing out--not leveling-up behaviors! In this episode of The Legal Department, Dina shares how leaders can offload some of this labor and stay true to core values (and get the work done). If you're feeling overwhelmed by keeping a smile on your face during a shitstorm, this episode will give you some tools to steady the ship.
Hold on tight! The Legal Department is going on a wild ride of acquisitions, IPOs, and spinouts with Eric Lentell, General Counsel of Archer Aviation. At the start of Eric's legal career, the GC informed him that the company had been sold and he no longer had a job. Since that first role, he has ridden the roller coaster at companies like Fitbit, DISH Network, and Google, taking companies to IPO and through other major transitions. In his current role, Eric is leading legal and government affairs for an electric airplane company that is disrupting the established and highly regulated aviation industry.In this episode, you'll learn Eric's suggestions for selecting and managing outside counsel for "bet the company" litigation and M&A, how to get comfortable with being uncomfortable, and how to vet opportunities to join the legal department of a start-up. Eric's energy and passion are sure to get you pumped up.
Negotiation skills are fundamental for lawyers, but how many of us really know what it takes to get the most out of a mediation? Alex Carter, Professor and Director of the Mediation Center at Columbia Law School, mediator, and author of the Wall Street Journal bestselling book, "Ask for More," shares her insights on negotiation and how to succeed in mediation. Turns out, it's not just knowing your bottom line. Her brilliant 10 questions from Ask for More can help lawyers avoid a "one car accident" and get more for their clients and in their careers. She shares practical, actionable advice for succeeding in mediation, including the key steps of doing your homework and identifying the problem you're trying to solve before you enter the room.She also offers tips for finding the right mediator to resolve your case, preparing for mediation, and the magic that can occur from joint sessions.Finally, we talk about career growth--how to think broadly about what you want and why it's important to "ask for more" at work.Her beautifully written book, Ask for More, is a must-read. With 10 simple questions, Alex shows us how we can find the "more" in business, law, and life.