251.73 sec. 001 - Being General Counsel (Fall 2026)
Instructor: Seth R Jaffe (view instructor's teaching evaluations - degree students only)
View all teaching evaluations for this course - degree students only
Units: 3
Grading Designation: Graded
Mode of Instruction: In-Person Instruction
Meeting:
W 10:00 AM - 12:40 PM
Location: Law 113
From August 19, 2026
To November 30, 2026
Course End: November 30, 2026
Class Number: 32876
Enrollment info:
Enrolled: 17
Waitlisted: 18
Enroll Limit: 24
As of: 05/01 09:33 AM
Chief legal officers and general counsels (together, "GCs") drive much of the legal work performed by all lawyers today. This course will take a deep dive into the role of GCs. We’ll look at what a chief legal officer or general counsel does every day, who they work with, and what types of issues come across their desks, including an array of social and political issues. Through lectures, readings, guest speakers and a series of simulations and other experiential learning, students will learn how GCs act as corporate leaders and strategists, to whom the GCs are accountable, and what qualities world-class general counsels share. We will also focus on the human aspects of the role - how GCs deal with individual and organizational issues; how they manage through crisis events, globally and locally, including layoffs, pandemics and natural and human-caused disasters; how they manage difficult and courageous conversations; what group and individual behaviors and psychological issues they face; how they work with outside counsel; how the role is changing as a result of AI and developments (threats and positive changes) in the profession; and how the GC can do what’s right, even when it’s unpopular. We look at how law firm lawyers can become the outside counsel GCs want to choose. We also examine the various career paths toward becoming a general counsel and chief legal officer.
The course objectives are to:
Understand the role and responsibilities of the modern GC and how it differs from private practice, and critical skill sets for attorneys seeking to become and work with GCs as well as those wishing to be hired and retained by GCs
Map a path toward a future GC position
Experiential learning to deal with the issues, challenges, and nuances of the role
Apply psychological awareness to optimize individual and group relationships, manage difficult conversations with internal teams and outside counsel, and handle the emotional aspects of the role
Review successful and unsuccessful examples of GCs prioritizing work, managing critical issues, and handling crisis events.
Focus on the communication skills necessary to excel in the role of general counsel
Grading
1. Class participation in discussions, exercises, and simulations
2. Written, oral, and video evaluations of scenarios and presentation of alternatives and advice, including self-reflective analysis
Instructor
•Seth Jaffe, Adjunct Professor, Berkeley Law; Lead Instructor, General Counsel University at Berkeley Law Executive Education; Immediate Past Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, Levi Strauss & Co.; former general counsel of William-Sonoma, Inc. and CareThere, Inc.; and former attorney at the McCutchen law firm in San Francisco. JD, University of Michigan Law School; AB, Brown University.
After spending the bulk of my career in-house, including three general counsel positions, I decided to use my enthusiasm for teaching to bring the learning from my experiences to students. I have loved the last six years at Berkeley Law!
|
Requirements Satisfaction:
|
Exam Notes: (P) Final Paper
(Subject to change by faculty member only through the first two weeks of instruction)
Course Category: Business Law
This course is listed in the following sub-categories:
Simulation Courses
If you are the instructor or their FSU, you may add a file like a syllabus or a first assignment.
Class materials may also be available on bCourses.berkeley.edu
Readers:
No reader.
Books:
Instructor has indicated that no books will be assigned.