Current Issues in In-House Practice-From Staff Attorney to General Counsel

• Semester: Spring 2019
• Course ID: 279M
• Credit Hours: 2
• Unique: 28355

Description

Today corporations, large and small, often have sophisticated in-house legal teams that perform cutting edge legal work and negotiate with and supervise the work of outside counsel. In addition, analyses of recent corporate scandals have often included questions about “where the lawyers” were, and legislators and regulators have heightened their expectations of in-house counsel as ethical gatekeepers.  In-house lawyers are expected to practice at the highest level, “add value”, adopt common business management practices, translate the work of their outside counsel for internal audiences and be influential with their business colleagues.

 This course will explore the evolution of in-house practice, recent corporate scandals, skills and attributes important to success in in-house practice, and the special role of the general counsel in American corporations. In addition to the readings (many of which will be articles from the trade press), and related discussion, the class will include regular practical exercises. 

 This is course is designed to be of interest both to those contemplating working as in-house counsel, now or in the future, and those who plan to work as outside counsel, which often involves marketing to and working with in-house lawyers.