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Starting a new job or joining a new company is excitingâbut 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.
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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 departmentâs 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.
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Manglende episoder?
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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," youâll 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.
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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 departmentâs culture and approach.
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Are you stuck on the âbroken rungâ 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 tipsâhow to highlight executive presence and other soft skills, how to present yourself in interviews, including how to answer the tough questions like âtell me about yourself,â without talking too much, and what the C-suite is looking for in their next general counsel. Donât miss this great nuts and bolts episode!
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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, âDonât say no, ask how,â is bound to become your go-to in-house tagline for leading a successful and motivated legal team. Donât miss out on these game-changing insights for building a thriving in-house legal department!
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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. Janetâs warmth and expertise make this conversation both insightful and encouragingâyou wonât want to miss her inspiring journey toward improving legal wellness for lawyers like you.
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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.
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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 roleâwhat 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 youâre considering the next step in your in-house career, this episode of The Legal Department is for you.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Michelle Banks has "been there, done that" in The Legal Department. The former General Counsel of The Gap led a global legal and compliance team for the largest specialty retailers in the U.S. Now, she's an executive coach, helping other in-house lawyers navigate their roles. In this conversation, Michelle shares advice on how to position yourself for a general counsel position if you haven't had the role before, and how to build relationships and support the CEO and other leaders. We also talk about career transitions, building a portfolio career, and working through the fear of making a transition.
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Tired of being "just a lawyer"? If you're thinking about moving from the legal department into a business role, this episode is for you. Michelle Johnson-Tidjani served for years as General Counsel of Henry Ford Health and before that at top healthcare companies such as The Cleveland Clinic and Tenet Healthcare. With a true passion for learning the business and supporting company objectives, Michelle accumulated legal adjacent functions throughout her career, overseeing legal, compliance, risk, insurance, cyber, and government relations. She took that passion and experience and is leading administrative operations for one of the nation's largest health systems, CommonSpirit Health. Her bottom line advice--get close to the business, care about people, raise your hand to do more, and above all, bet on yourself.
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Forget the stereotype of lawyers toiling away in isolation. Buckle up, legal eagles, because you're about to become strategic partners with the C-suite! This episode of C-Suite dives deep with Jim Dunn, CEO and President of LD Human Capital Consulting. Jim pulls back the curtain on the Chief Human Resources Officer role, offering a treasure trove of practical advice for the legal department to become the CHRO's ultimate wingman. Jim's book, "101 Lessons in Leading with Laughter," teaches us how humor can be a leader's superpower. Plus, his recent Newsweek article champions trust as the cornerstone of any healthy business culture. Be ready to unlock the powerhouse partnership and join Jim Dunn to take your legal game to the next level.
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Sapna Pandya is executive vice president and general counsel of Red Bull North America--one of the most iconic beverage companies. But the company is much more than that, covering media, events, marketing, and distribution. Pandya's team provides legal support for this complex business. In this episode, Sapna shares how to foster a culture of professional development in The Legal Department and why growing in your career takes more than being great at your role. She also describes how to create a strategic plan for your legal department in a way that encourages ownership and development of the team. This episode has Wiings.
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Contracting is the "meat and potatoes" of in-house practice, but sometimes it seems to lack sizzle, yet Laura Fredrick disagrees. She's so passionate about contracting that she founded How to Contract, a contract training business focused on helping lawyers and in-house contract teams learn real-world contracting skills. Laura is no stranger to in-house practice, having spent seven years leading Tesla's contracting function, in addition to roles at other companies. These experiences honed her business skills, and she learned how the contracting process helps advance business goals. In this episode, Laura shares practical tips for managing risk in the contracting process and delivering value to the business and coaches me on how to get "pumped up" about contracting. She also grew her business almost entirely through posting on LinkedIn--every day for almost four years. She may not have a pump-up song, but her passion for contracting makes this a "must-listen" episode.
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