The Legal Department

Ever feel like you’re stuck in place? You have excellent technical skills, get the job done and do excellent work. So why aren’t you progressing? In this Goal Getter episode, executive coach and former GC Sheila Murphy is in The Legal Department to show you how to get noticed as “high potential.” Spoiler alert: no one hands you a promotion, you have to raise your hand. Sheila shares how stepping f...

In this Office Hours episode, Deborah Solmor , founder of GC development program " Ready Set GC " is in The Legal Department to answer questions from aspiring general counsel.   Tough questions include: How to show that you're a "strategic advisor" How your organizational skills change when you become general counsel How to keep your confidence up when you don't get a job you really want How...

Have you ever thought about a career in academics? You've learned a lot from practicing law in the "real world," but do these skills translate into the classroom? And without an academic pedigree, can a practicing lawyer even break into the ivory tower? Dean Parrish believes that lawyers (especially in-house counsel) can be great teachers. Parrish says that legal skills are academic skills--writin...

Are the bots coming for our jobs?  Will law firms crate when AI erodes the leverage model? Law professor Jonah Perlin advises us to keep calm and bill hours: AI is but another technology to add to the legal toolbox. In this episode, Perlin explains that time is but one element of the billing ecosystem. In this episode, we talk about the value of legal services and how lawyers and law firms ca...

Ever wonder why people aren't performing the way you want them to, why your team hasn't gelled, why the project is delayed, or why or your boss never seems to be happy? There's a way to avoid all this frustration; start with expectations. Rarely do we take the time to think about what we really expect from others at work or communicate those expectations. Stop suffering in silence! Executive coach...

In this Goal Getter episode, Janet Thompson Jackson , executive coach and founder of attorney wellness platform "Well-Law" shares a three-part strategy she calls "ABS" to help you set and achieve goals that really matter. By Anchoring in what you really want, setting Boundaries to help you stick to it, and identifying the Steps needed to get there. Janet challenges us to ask ourselves how we are d...

In this Goal Getter episode, Stacy's executive coach, Charles Holmes , is in The Legal Department to explore how asking the right questions can lead you to the career you really want. He shares the three questions that can help you identify what you want and how to get there. Stacy and Charles also explore how "tolerable conflict" keeps us stuck between what we want and where we are today.

In this Office Hours episode, Stacy answers listener questions about: (1) how to get up to speed in your first General Counsel job – including tips for holding successful meetings with your CEO; (2) whether you can switch industries and how to do so; and (3) in-house fundamentals on how to deliver a winning board presentation. Thanks to Filejet for supporting the Office Hours series! Submit your q...

Guarding the Attorney Client Privilege is an in-house fundamental, but it's also tricky. As we "level up" as in-house lawyers, taking on new functions and becoming a "strategic advisor," the lines are blurred. In this episode, veteran white collar litigator Diana Feinstein is back in The Legal Department to share step by step tips on how to maintain ACP and work product protections as an in-house...

Attention Goal Getters! Have you ever done a day-by-day review of your calendar to help you set goals for your future? Executive Coach Michael Melcher recommends using the "lookback method" to determine what's important for you in the new year. Instead of making a list of resolutions from what is top of mind, Michael recommends going through your calendar and reflecting on your wins for the prior...

Level-up on legal ethics for in-house lawyers on this episode with former state bar prosecutor, Ryan Little , founder of Little Legal . In this episode, we talk about some of the ethical traps in-house lawyers should watch out for, how to handle conflicts of interest, navigating who your client is, Upjohn warnings in internal investigations, and much more.

Do you feel like you're on a hamster wheel? Or climbing a career ladder that you're not sure you want to be on? In this Goal Getter episode, Executive coach and former public company GC Marla Persky joins Stacy Bratcher to share how setting career goals that align with your "happiness factor" can help us build the career we actually want. She urges lawyers to "own their careers" and set goals that...

Is your company branching out into influencer marketing? Is your Chief Marketing Officer dying to engage with the latest TikTok sensation? Put down that red pen and prepare to approach marketing deals with a different eye. Brittany Ratelle of Ratelle Law has been representing creators for more than a decade. She's in The Legal Department to share tips on how to approach creator deals in a way that...

You're at a great company, with a fancy title and what seems from the outside to be exciting work. But all that glitters is not gold. No matter where you are in your career--whether you're just starting out or at the top of the career ladder, you can feel stuck.   Ellen Yang shares advice for attorneys and managers alike on how to recognize that you (or your team) might be feeling stuck and h...

In-house legal professionals are more than advisors – they’re strategic leaders. This episode of The Legal Department is a replay of a dynamic discussion about how personal branding and influence can elevate your impact, visibility, and career. Listen to the real-world strategies, lessons learned, and tools for building your brand authentically – both inside your organization and across your netwo...

Former Bain consultant and executive coach Anita Kishore knows how to run a good meeting. When a CEO cancelled a standing meeting with her, Anita learned the hard way that planning ahead and communicating meeting objectives are essential for any meeting. As an executive coach, she helps executives maximize their effectiveness through good meeting hygiene. In this episode, find out the two secrets...

Attention all legal operations professionals! This episode is for you. Legal Ops consultant Lyndsey Cain of LegalEng is in The Legal Department to talk about how to make your legal tech implementation a success. From identifying a non-IT leader, knowing your goals, having a comms plan, and an ongoing governance structure, Lyndsey shares that success is more than "just the tech." She also shares ti...

In this Office Hours discussion, Stacy Bratcher is joined by Leah Huddleston, Chief Legal Officer/Corporate Secretary at CBIZ , and Candace Jackson, Senior Vice President/General Counsel/Corporate Secretary of Silvaco . They share their journeys from associate general counsel and deputy GC to their current chairs, highlighting the most valuable lessons they learned along the way. Leah and Candace...

Feeling like you're never going to get resources to support your legal function?   Kathy Zhu has been there. Facing an endless demand for her time and limited resources to meet the business need at DoorDash , Kathy as head of Commercial Contracting, built relationships with her key customers and a process to help her team manage and communicate priorities within the company. She was so succes...

Host Stacy Bratcher steps onto the Leveraging Latitude podcast with Alex Su and Candice Reed to share her practical, hard-won tips for leveling up as in-house counsel. From building genuine relationships with business leaders to positioning yourself as a strategic partner, managing and inspiring your team, and being intentional about your own professional growth, Stacy offers an energizing roadmap...

Tired of feeling like your legal department is a cost center? Fielding too many questions about the outside counsel spend, headcount and all the costs you generate? In this episode, you'll learn how to start an affirmative recovery program that can generate millions of dollars for your company. Veteran GC Andrew Johnstone , formerly in-house at Sears and US Foods, joins Greg McPolin of Burford Cap...

You may be thinking, "not another episode on AI! Haven't we covered that already?" Well, you're right. The Legal Department has covered AI, but we haven't talked practically or tactically about how you would actually use AI in an in-house legal department. In this episode, Sterling Miller , the OG of In-House, shares practical tips on how in-house departments can safely use AI. Other discussions i...

New to a global company? Working with lawyers in different parts of the world and struggling to connect? It's not just about understanding the language: to work cross-culturally, you need to understand the other party's culture. In this episode, Juliana Calil , former in-house attorney at Google, Intel, Disney and other big name companies shares her experience as a Brazilian lawyer learning how to...

2 GCs and a Law Firm Partner answer YOUR questions. Kate Dugan and Joe Glynias return to join Stacy Bratcher in The Legal Department and share their views on maintaining and getting the best value out of in-house relationships. They talk about managing remote teams, crisis communications, and how to get up to speed managing a new function. Joe also reflects on the first year of Husch Blackwell's "...

Y Combinator is the tech incubator that has launched many of today's largest companies–Airbnb, DropBox, Door Dash, Open AI and many, many others. Jonathan Levy , Managing Director and former GC of YC had a role in many of them. On this episode of The Legal Department, Jonathan shares how legal can support start-up companies and help shape the future. He talks about adopting a CEO's mindset, keepin...