IIM Ahmedabad - Executive Education

Legal Counsels Management Development Programme

IIM Ahmedabad - Executive Education

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About Programme

The Legal Counsels in a company undertakes extensive legal & non-legal functions. It covers - assisting CLOs/GCs, drafting contracts, undertake compliance functions, working with law firms and litigation teams, strategizing with cross functional teams, support in due diligence for mergers, acquisition and distress/insolvency, ideating on new initiatives, negotiate with clients, provide legal advice to departments, assess legal risk in the working of a company or activity, provide communication support etc.

Given the multifaceted nature of their role, In-house Legal Counsels is an important partner in the operational and business success of a company. As such, they are expected to understand critical management skills and tools that are necessary for effective functioning within the company.

This course covers key management and leadership concepts, real life experiences, layered understanding of the world of business and management, and using AI tools to improve decision making and many others. The key objective is to enable participants to develop key managerial skills to work as in-house counsels effectively and under the General Counsels/CLO.

Genesis of the Programme

In 2023, Prof. Ram Mohan of IIM Ahmedabad and Shri Sidharth Sharma, Group General Counsel of Tata Sons, designed and offered the first of its kind leadership and management development programme for General Counsels/In-house Counsels across the Tata Group. This programme is now in its 4th year!

Based on the experience, an open enrolment programme for Chief Legal Officers was offered for the first time in 2024. The third edition of the programme is scheduled for August 4 to 8, 2026.

Across all these programmes, one of the feedback received was that the programme should be made available to legal counsels across levels. This programme aims to address this gap.

Programme Content

Company’s Objects and Business

The session(s) will cover idea of corporation, business objects of a company, and running of a company.

Learning strategy formulation

These sessions would provide an initiation to the idea of strategy formulation and execution. From a leadership perspective, the focus would be on how the legal counsels could understand their strengths as leaders and develop these further as they grow in their roles.

Working with General Counsels/CLOs

The legal counsels’ day to day interaction is with Chief Legal Officer. Further, the CLO position is the likely ambition for most legal counsels within their organizations. These sessions will deal with understanding the working and mindset of CLOs, the kind of challenges they face and what adjustments need to be made by the legal counsels while working with CLOs.

Navigating artificial intelligence-oriented changes at the workplace

The world is moving towards new technology-oriented workplace. These sessions would help provide legal counsels with an understanding of technological, specifically artificial intelligence related challenges to their work and how they could navigate them.

Preparing for and leading organizational culture changes

In the present times, employees face various elements that bring changes to the workplace culture. These sessions would help legal counsels with developing a better understanding of factors that can bring drastic workplace changes, and the kind of adaptations needed at their end to navigate these, including behavioural and mindset-oriented adjustments.

Cross functional team dynamics

Skills and training of a lawyer sometimes conflict with expectation when working for a company. These sessions would focus on how legal counsels could navigate workplace interactions specifically focusing on dealing with interpersonal and team related dynamics and challenges.

Negotiation Skills and Managing Contracts

Management of contracts and disputes are critical components of lawyers’ role. The sessions will cover management techniques of negotiations

Learning the financial management

The sessions are geared towards providing legal counsels explore how the world of company finances work, and also to understand the financial vocabulary and concepts better.

Business communication

Making business decisions and communicating to the world forms a critical part of company’s visibility. The session covers the art of business communication and the methods of behaviour and influence. These sessions will also focus on crisis communications.

Roles of in-house legal counsels

Legal function of a company is not a profit centre. Legal is expected to be an impartial voice to look for possible risk arising from business operation. However, equally it is important to understand business side of company. We will explore the role of legal counsels.

Programme Objective

To provide necessary managerial skills and tools to in-house counsels to function effectively within the company.
To develop in-house counsels into future Chief Legal Officers/General Counsel/Legal Heads.
To help cultivate lawyers to transition to in-house legal counsel by providing general management and business skills.

Pedagogy

The programme adopts a mix of case studies, case-based discussions/sessions, lectures, experiential exercises, and participant presentations.

Programme Audience

The programme is primarily targeted for

In-house legal counsels across levels
Lawyers aspiring to become CLOs/General Counsels/Legal Heads
Lawyers seeking transition into in-house legal roles
Members of corporate legal teams across industries

Other programs in this subject area you might find useful

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Speak with an Advisor

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Prashansa Uttam

Programme Advisor

+91 9403890085[email protected]Mon – Fri, 9am – 5pm IST

IIM Ahmedabad - Executive Education

Executive Education Office

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https://www.iima.ac.in/
Ahmedabad, India

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Legal Counsels Management Development Programme | IIM Ahmedabad