OCTOBER 2013

Focus on Germany

49 are there any changes you would like to see?

In-house counsel function at the centre of decision-making in today's organizations and have a significant impact on the success of a company; they interface internally with executive management as well as individual departments, and they also work externally with customers and suppliers. The knowledge and skills from a law degree alone are no longer sufficient as preparation for such a broad spectrum of responsibility. Management competencies and key entrepreneurial skills are essential to benefit an organization. Through its combination of research and practice, an LL.M. in Legal Management will equip students with the advanced training in corporate law and the skills they need to be successful as an in-house counsel.

What is Strategic Legal Management about?

Strategic Legal Management is based on the economic ground work of strategic management gurus such as Michael E. Porter and Peter F. Drucker. It transfers the concepts developed in the field of economic science into those of legal science. It deals with the role and the contribution of law to the value chain of corporations: the transit from “doing things right” to a more strategic and general role of legal advice in a corporation. Strategic Legal Management focuses on the contribution of law to sustainable success of the company. It positions law as a “creative driver” rather than a restrictive force. Strategic Legal Management is of importance as it contributes to every aspect of the value chain of a corporation. It can support almost every business aspect.

The search for opportunities to strengthen the own position is a key aspect with regard to gaining a sustainable competitive advantage. Strategic Legal Management is about developing a strategy based upon experience and lessons learned. Where shall our strengths be focused on, what can we do differently? It is about climbing up the strategy cascade: What steps do I have to take to achieve the goals in my respective area of responsibility? How do I in addition support the

goals of business divisions or those of the company? Also of

importance is the

consideration how the legal department needs to be positioned in a corporation and how its internal processes can be continually be optimized. Because based on innovation and structured processes the legal department is not only best positioned to adapt in changing environments but it may also be one step ahead of the changes. Strategic Legal Management plays in every aspect of a corporation an important role: it can be used for a strategic analysis of the legal department itself or form basis to determine the role of law within the company and its vision.

Legal Strategic Management will lead to

increased efficiency and strengthens the position of law and the position of the legal department in a company.

How are challenges in Strategic Legal Management navigated?

Strategic Legal Management requires evaluating situations in their totality, to recognize the interdisciplinary dimension of tasks and to be able to evaluate and work on them efficiently. Additionally, a legal manager has

communicate with target groups appropriately and to competently and confidently put forward and implement your views.

A key prerequisite for an in-house-counsel is the ability to act as a legal manager and to not solely rely on a dogmatic approach, but rather to develop a result that is convincing also in practice.

Where can you obtain a comprehensive education to face the new challenges for an in-house counsel?

As a unique masters program in Germany the LL.M. in Legal Management offers attorneys and especially in-house counsels, with at least one year of professional experience, the possibility to get a comprehensive preparation for the aforementioned challenges of an in-house- counsel. Developed especially with regard to the

demands of in-house legal advice, students of the LL.M. in Legal Management at the German Graduate School of Management and Law (GGS) will experience a unique combination of an in-depth insight in business and commercial law, management courses as well as soft skills.

Within a short time, GGS has become a respected research and educational institution, a business and legal think tank that adheres to the highest international standards. As an innovative and internationally oriented business

school

dedicated to educating responsible business leaders, GGS offers its students the unique opportunity to study alongside their work and qualify for a leadership position. In selecting their lecturers, great importance is attached to practical experience and renowned in- house-counsel from well-known companies are engaged, professors from famous universities and international business schools, as well as top-notch lawyers from international law firms.

What makes Germany a great place to work? to

Germany is a country with a great infrastructure, well-qualified personnel and innovative enterprises as well as a high standard of living. Quality health insurance and high average wages is also an important draw. Based on categories such as cost of living, culture and leisure, economy, environment, health, infrastructure, safety and climate Germany regularly ranks among the world's Top 5 best places to live by the Quality of Life Index compiled by travel magazine International Living. In the land of Goethe and Beethoven, theatre, art, literature and classical music concerts define the cultural landscape. Talking about landscapes, Germany offers a variety of regions that welcome sports and nature lovers. LM