In-House Counsel
From Lawyer to Leader: The Road to the General Counsel Seat
In collaboration with
This program is currently under development and planned for a late August 2026 launch.
The program provides a structured pathway for junior and mid-level law firm and in-house attorneys seeking to advance into senior level in-house positions. During the 12 weeks, participants explore the full scope of in-house counsel’s responsibilities and skillsets ranging from strategic business advising and corporate governance, to team building and in-house management skills, to financial acumen, ethics and compliance, and crisis management.
Instruction is delivered through a hybrid format of live synchronous sessions (60-90 minutes per week) and asynchronous learning activities (articles, case studies, and discussions). The synchronous sessions foster meaningful networking while allowing participants to actively engage with course concepts in real time.
The program features a diverse faculty of experienced General Counsel, CPAs, and corporate executives from industries such as healthcare, technology, entertainment, consumer goods, mortgages, and finance. These experts have experience with both public and private companies, and they bring decades of leadership experience from companies like loanDepot, ASICS, Deloitte, CBRE, and Cottage Health, ensuring that the program’s content is practical, relevant, and rooted in real-world application.
Who Should Enroll
The program is designed for:
- Junior and mid-level law firm attorneys seeking to move into in-house legal positions
- Current in-house counsel aspiring to expand their strategic, managerial, and business capabilities
- Aspiring General Counsels preparing to transition into senior level corporate roles
- Experienced legal professionals seeking a deeper understanding of risk management, compliance, financial acumen and corporate governance
Program Benefits
Upon completing the In-House Counsel Program, learners will be able to:
- Discuss the evolving role of a General Counsel and articulate how in-house counsel add value as legal leaders, strategic advisors, and business partners within an organization
- Develop the legal, business, and leadership skills required to transition successfully into a General Counsel position
- Apply practical insights and real-world strategies shared by experienced General Counsel and industry experts
- Evaluate organizational risk by addressing compliance, ethics, governance, and regulatory challenges
- Expand professional networks through collaborative, peer-based learning and live interactive sessions
An application for California MCLE credit is pending approval.
Eligibility and Requirements
Participants should have at least five years of post-bar experience and be licensed to practice law (bar licensure in any U.S. jurisdiction is sufficient).
A participant in the program is awarded a specialization certificate upon the successful completion of one course for 3 CEU. As CEU courses are non-credit offerings designated under the 800 series and will not offer Letter or Pass/No Pass grade options. A grade of “CE” (Continuing Education) will be issued upon satisfactory completion of all course requirements and will appear on the student’s record as confirmation of successful participation.
Digital certificates will be issued to students who successfully complete the course within three weeks of the course end date. Certificates will be issued with the name on file and to the email on file.
Approximate Tuition
$1,250Format
OnlineDuration
12 weeksTotal Units
3
Instructors
Liz Atlee serves as General Counsel and CCO at FiveStar Gourmet Foods, a national consumer package goods company specializing in individual-sized salads sold under the brand name “Simply Fresh.” Previously, Liz was an executive at CBRE, Inc., serving as the Global Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer.
Liz is also an Independent Board Chair of Cyclum Renewables, LLC, a renewable energy Truck Stop Company. A self-professed tech nerd, Liz is a board observer for a legal AI product called Clearbrief.ai which has grown 2x during her tenure; an investor and advisor to legal tech company, Bot Mediation; and an advisor for Progentic.ai, an AI use consulting company. Liz is also on the Executive Committee for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California, is Vice Chair of the USC Gould School of Law Board of Councilors, and is on the Executive Board of How Women Lead.
Liz has received numerous awards from community organizations and publications including, Globe St.com, the Los Angeles Business Journal and the Mexican American Bar Foundation. A graduate of the USC Gould School of Law, Liz had the honor of delivering the keynote address at the 2024 International and Graduate Program commencement ceremony.
Stacy Bratcher is a healthcare strategist and attorney with expertise in governance, risk management, and healthcare regulation. For two decades, she has advised boards of multi-billion-dollar organizations.
She spent 15 years at the University of Southern California, rising to Managing General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Keck Medicine of USC, where she helped grow the system to a top-20 ranking. She also served 14 years as a Commissioner on the Los Angeles County Hospitals and Health Care Delivery Commission, overseeing care in the nation’s largest county.
Stacy has led legal responses to federal investigations, #MeToo lawsuits, and class actions, coordinating with boards, insurers, and public relations.
She is currently Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of Cottage Health, a $1B health system, and Trustee of an $800M workers’ compensation fund. A frequent writer and speaker, she also hosts The Legal Department podcast.
Lisa Hatton Harrington is an accomplished executive leader with extensive experience as a Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary for public and private companies, and as a CEO of private companies. She served as Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary at Viant Technology and MySpace, and was General Counsel, Corporate Secretary, and public company Board Director at Niagen BioScience. Previously, she was Of Counsel at Cooley LLP as outside general counsel, and she held C-Suite legal roles at ASICS, Surf Airlines, NBCUniversal/Comcast’s digital division (including Fandango), and Unum Insurance Group’s Western division. She currently is CEO of Resysta North America, and she is CEO of her outside general counsel company serving clients in the US and EU. Lisa obtained her B.A. from UCLA and her J.D. from USC Gould School of Law.
Lisa is also active in board service and executive education. She currently serves as a public board director for Slam Corporation, and on the board of Tridelta House Corporation. Ms. Harrington is an instructor on public company corporate governance, and on Executive Presence and Leadership Development for Wharton’s executive education program, and she is designing a GC course for UCI law school. Lisa has also served on the boards of the Association of Corporate Counsel, the Association of Media and Entertainment Counsel, the USC Gould School of Law Alumni Association, and the Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles. Lisa's leadership has been recognized by the legal and business community. She was a nominee for the 2021 OCBJ Public Company General Counsel of the Year Award and the 2022 Los Angeles Times General Counsel Leadership Award.
Peter Macdonald is a versatile, accomplished, and respected C-suite executive grounded by significant legal experience, having held responsibility for legal matters for start-up ventures and a large public entity. Peter’s scope of responsibilities has included large legal department management, regulatory affairs, litigation oversight, mergers & acquisitions, corporate governance, and enterprise risk management.
Peter’s most recent venture was as a founding member and ultimately Chief Legal Officer of a ‘start-up’ in the finance industry that grew to 12,000 employees in 14 years. In his role as Executive Vice President, Secretary, & General Counsel, Peter successfully navigated loanDepot, Inc. to an IPO in 2021. Peter has been recognized for his commitment to his community, sits on multiple boards, and is a strategic advisor to several not-for-profit organizations.
In his early career, Peter worked as a prosecutor and Deputy City Attorney for the City of Anaheim. Peter holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, and a Juris Doctor Degree from Western State University.
Rick Rayson is a retired Deloitte partner with 40 years of leadership and professional service experience. Rick executed many office, regional, and national leadership roles during his career at Deloitte. These roles included serving as the national chief talent officer, overseeing all aspects of talent-related strategies, development, and operations for 10,000 audit and advisory professionals. Rick served as a client service partner, audit partner, and quality review partner serving public and private companies in various industries, including technology, gaming, fitness, utilities, manufacturing, and media.
Rick has developed and led many learning programs related to leadership, accounting and auditing, governance, business development, and professional development. Since retiring from Deloitte, Rick has been an adjunct lecturer at Chapman University in Orange, CA, and has developed and instructed various professional continuing education programs.
Rick brings a dynamic blend of academic rigor and real-world insight to classrooms and continuing education programs, drawing from his professional and teaching experience. Rick is known for bridging theory with practice and integrating current case studies, industry trends, and hands-on scenarios to prepare students and participants for the challenges and complexities of today’s professional landscape.
Course Schedule
Course schedules are subject to change.
Required Course
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