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The GC Academy

An accelerated learning programme for emerging GCs

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Are you looking to shortly move into the position of GC?  Have you recently been appointed as GC for the first time? Or are you already a GC and want to feel more equipped for the role?

Join the GC Academy

A practical learning programme to equip you with the tools, skills and network to manage a legal function within a fast-growing company and develop your leadership skills.  The programme is tailored for those who need to quickly acquire a comprehensive set of skills to effectively manage a legal function.  This will also create a vital cohort of likeminded individuals who can troubleshoot problems with structured group coaching.

We will utilise the Mishcon de Reya legal faculty, executive coaches, leading GC’s and our Mishcon Academy learning experts.

What is the GC Academy?

The GC Academy offers a comprehensive and interactive learning experience across four inter‑linked modules. In total the programme will stretch across four months with a half-day learning hosted in London each month.  Each module is structured as follows and commitment will be a full day per month, broken up into the following:

Course summary
Audience
  • Emerging GCs
Modules
  • Financial literacy and the key metrics to measure success
  • The role of legal ops to improve the delivery of legal services 
  • LegalTech for strategic impact
  • Becoming a leader
Approach
  • In person, interactive

 

1.  Pre-reading and study materials per module.

2. A live half-day module in-person in London.

 

3. Group coaching session to embed learning.

4. A follow-up practical exercise to help put learning into practice.

Modules

Delivered in person, the interaction session covers four areas.

1. Financial literacy and the key metrics to measure success

This module enhances your financial literacy and ensures that you can demonstrate how the legal team adds value to the company.

You will learn to:

  • Understand the P&L and Balance Sheet of your business
  • Become familiar with the financial language surrounding financial statements
  • Gain insights from a CEO/CFO about how they measure legal performance and which metrics they prioritise
  • Develop a clear set of KPIs and metrics to measure the legal team's success from a financial perspective

2. The role of legal ops to improve the delivery of legal services 

This module explores how to implement and develop your legal ops strategy to enhance the delivery of legal services.

You will learn to:

  • Understand how legal ops can improve the delivery of legal services and where to focus your efforts
  • Design a legal ops strategy appropriate for your organisation, considering current resources and success metrics
  • Optimise allocation of legal spend and manage external law firm relationships to maximize the legal team's effectiveness
  • Develop an agile legal ops strategy that scales with the planned growth of the business

3. LegalTech for strategic impact

This module helps you identify where technology can drive strategic impact and the confidence to select and implement new technology in your organisation.

You will learn to:

  • Deepen your understanding of the LegalTech landscape and the different ways technology is being used within a Legal function.
  • Prioritise challenges worth solving and assess the real need for technology solutions.
  • Engage effectively with vendors to increase the chances of successful collaboration.
  • Develop a playbook for how to pilot and buy new technology, and measure ROI.

4. Becoming a leader

This module supports you in shaping your leadership style as you transition into a senior leadership role.

You will learn to:

  • Explore your individual leadership preferences and reflect on how to interact with others
  • Manage time effectively to prioritise and action your leadership style
  • Link board strategy to day-to-day operations, acting as the axis and translator of legal strategy
  • Prepare a Personal Progress Plan outlining why, what, and how to implement your own leadership approach

In partnership with...

Flex Legal

Flex Legal started with a simple question: what if busy legal teams could instantly connect with the lawyers and paralegals they need? Fast forward seven years, Flex is doing exactly that, and is now one of the UK’s fastest growing companies.

Visit Flex Legal

MDR Lab

Our mission is to drive change in the legal industry by bridging the gap between law and technology. We exist to help legal entrepreneurs build better products and get on the path to product-market-fit.

Visit MDR Lab

 

Who leads the programme?

Mary Bonsor

Founder, Flex Legal

Patrick Connolly

Academy Director, Mishcon de Reya

Dan Sinclair

Head of Early-Stage Strategy, MDR Lab

Ashley Williams

Partner, Mishcon de Reya

Register your interest

The first cohort is now fully booked and will take place in London in January 2025, hosted at Mishcon de Reya’s central offices. To register your interest for the next programme, please complete the form below. Each programme is limited to 20 participants to ensure a personalised and focused educational experience. 

To find out more, please download a brochure.

To get in touch directly, please contact academy@mishcon.com

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