Counsel's Collective

Nix Berlin

Unfiltered conversations with General Counsel, senior legal leaders and some straight up interesting folk. We talk mental health, leadership pressure, messy decisions, great (and not-so-great) teams, crisis proofing and more. Made by Workgroup- it’s fluff free, with zero corporate nonsense P.S. cover the kids’ ears - we swear

Episodes

  1. #2: Reframing neurodiversity at work and unlocking talent with Sarah Clark

    FEB 4

    #2: Reframing neurodiversity at work and unlocking talent with Sarah Clark

    Sarah Clark is CEO at The Legal Director and a former General Counsel. In this episode, Sarah talks honestly about her own journey with ADHD, leadership, and why “attention deficit” might be one of the most misleading labels going. Drawing on her own late diagnosis and a zig-zag legal career spanning criminal law, in-house roles, private practice, and now scale-up leadership, Sarah shares what it really means to understand how your brain works - and to stop trying to force yourself into someone else’s mould. We talk corkscrew brains, burnout cycles, rejection sensitivity, and the quiet grief that can come with looking back on your career, and life, through a new lens. Sarah also makes a compelling (and very commercially sound) case for why workplaces -especially law firms - are committing a catastrophic waste of talent by not designing roles and teams around how humans actually function at their best. Expect to learn: • Why ADHD isn’t a deficit of attention so much as an abundance of attention - and what that changes at work• What a “corkscrew brain” is and why it’s exactly what organisations need more of• How better self-understanding can break burnout cycles and lead to more consistent success• Why pairing people like an orchestra (visionaries + finishers) beats forcing everyone to do everything• How psychological safety, asking for help, and ditching the “shoulds” can unlock both wellbeing and performance• A simple “passport” idea that could radically improve how teams communicate and collaborate Want to get in touch with Sarah?She loves connecting so drop into her LinkedIn DMs but don’t email her. Outlook is her nemesis! - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-clark-49211533/ Want to get in touch with us? This podcast is hosted by Workgroup — where we do group-therapy-style events for senior leaders:https://workgroup-events.com/about P.S. The fantastic article written about Sarah’s keynote talk at the Lawvu conference we reference in the podcast can be read here - https://legalleaders.lawvu.com/article/brilliance-in-chaos-struggle-in-routine/

    45 min
  2. #1: Switching roles with confidence & finding more balance as a General Counsel with Sam McGinty

    JAN 21

    #1: Switching roles with confidence & finding more balance as a General Counsel with Sam McGinty

    Sam McGinty is the Lead General Counsel at the University of Nottingham.   In this episode, Sam came on to chat openly and honestly about his career as an in-house lawyer in higher education - the kind where “never a dull day” is less slogan and more survival strategy. Sam shared why he made the leap to Nottingham from a job he loved at Loughborough and what it really takes to manage pressure when you’re trying to be a leader, a parent, a partner, and a functioning human.   We also get into the surprisingly emotional rollercoaster of LinkedIn visibility (yes, that top legal poster list), why boundaries aren’t a wellness buzzword, and how learning what not to worry about might be the most underrated General Counsel skill of all.   Expect to learn: • Why higher education is under serious strain - and why it can be the most interesting place for lawyers to do their best work • How to make a “stretch move” as a GC without spiralling into I should already know where the tea and bathroom is energy • What burnout can look like in real life and why talking about it actually helps • How Sam approaches boundaries, overwhelm, and the art of saying “no” without feeling like you’ve committed a felony • Why LinkedIn can be more than algorithms and ego - and how using your voice can genuinely open doors   Want to get in touch with Sam?Slide into his LinkedIn (professionally, please) and tell him you’re here to help maintain his totally chill and not-at-all stressful Top Legal Poster reputation:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuelmcginty/🙃   Want to get in touch with us? This podcast is hosted by Workgroup - where we do group therapy style events for senior leaders: https://workgroup-events.com/about

    46 min

About

Unfiltered conversations with General Counsel, senior legal leaders and some straight up interesting folk. We talk mental health, leadership pressure, messy decisions, great (and not-so-great) teams, crisis proofing and more. Made by Workgroup- it’s fluff free, with zero corporate nonsense P.S. cover the kids’ ears - we swear