The Daily Lawyer
General Counsel Series / 24 July 2025
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What does it take to lead the legal function in a world driven by constant change? In this episode of The General Counsel Series (in proud collaboration with @zohosign ), we speak with Aditi Jha, Board Director and Country Head - Legal and Government Affairs, at LinkedIn India, whose remarkable journey spans law, technology, and leadership. Aditi talks about: - How she built a patent portfolio from scratch in her early career - What it means to lead legal at a company which is at the forefront of technology - The role of storytelling in influencing business decisions - Building gender equity into the product, with data - How she uses systems thinking and legal tech - Why curiosity, not perfection, makes great lawyers You’ll walk away with powerful insights into modern legal practice, business alignment, public policy, negotiation, team leadership, and more. Whether you’re a GC, tech professional, in-house lawyer, or aspiring leader, this episode will stay with you. Watch the full episode here Available on Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts & Amazon Music A big thank you to @zohosign for powering this series. Connect with us: Contact: [email protected] Website: https://thedailylawyer.in/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedailylawyerig/?hl=en LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenna-v-krishnan/ Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Amazon Music. Presented in collaboration with Zoho Sign - A comprehensive e-signature solution built for Indian businesses. Connect with Zoho Sign: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zohosignofficial/?hl=en X: https://x.com/zohosign?lang=en LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zohosign/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@zohosign Explore: https://www.zoho.com/en-in/sign/ Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction: The LinkedIn Job Search & Imposter Syndrome 00:50 - Welcome to The Daily Lawyer Podcast & Zoho Sign Collaboration 01:24 - Introducing Aditi Jha: Head of Legal & Regulatory Affairs, Executive Director, LinkedIn India 02:19 - Aditi's Journey: Integrating Law, Science, and Technology 03:07 - Teenage Rebellion & Choosing Law School (NUJS Kolkata) 04:36 - The First Batch Experience at NUJS & Dr. Menon's Vision 06:33 - BSC LLB & Intersections of Law, Science & Tech (Space Law, Biotech Law) 07:39 - Early Career at ITC: Setting up the Patent Cell 09:11 - ITC Experience: Working with R&D & Innovation Protection 10:11 - Moving to Stanford for LLM in Law, Science & Tech (2010-2011) 11:24 - Stanford Experience: Humbling, Inspiring & Building Relationships 13:58 - The Value of Professional Relationships & Global Perspectives 14:53 - Transition to Johnson & Johnson 15:47 - Finding LinkedIn: An Unexpected Opportunity 16:19 - Evolution of Aditi's Role at LinkedIn: From Contracts to Regulation & Public Policy 18:49 - LinkedIn's Unique Data & Real-time Labor Market Insights 19:35 - Working with Policy Makers & Social Impact Organizations 20:06 - Continuous Learning & Overcoming Imposter Syndrome 21:55 - Evolution of the General Counsel Role 23:10 - The Strategic Role of In-House Legal Counsel 24:36 - Lawyers as Systems Thinkers & External Focus 26:50 - The "Why" Question & Curiosity in Legal Practice 28:24 - In-House Counsel: Being a Business Partner, Not Just a Lawyer 30:17 - The Goalie Analogy: Contribution to Team Success 31:28 - Unusual Skill for a GC: Storytelling (using Data, Anecdotes, Humor) 32:56 - Influencing Without Authority 34:00 - Differences Between In-House and Private Practice 35:00 - Negotiation Strategies: Collaborative Approach & Simplified Contracts 36:40 - Building Alliances with Business Stakeholders in Negotiations 39:48 - LinkedIn Data & Gender Equity Initiatives 41:52 - The "Drop to the Top" & Women in AI Talent 43:03 - LinkedIn's Internal Initiatives & Product Features for Gender Equity (Career Breaks, Recruiter Nudges) 46:27 - LinkedIn's Hiring Philosophy: Hiring for Skills, Not Just Pedigree 48:52 - Importance of Soft Skills in an AI-First World 50:23 - Adapting Legal Training for the Future 51:09 - Integrating Legal Tech & Systems Thinking (Playbooks, Custom Tools) 53:29 - The Legal Tech Wish List: Integrated Dashboards & Triage Systems 56:46 - Career Reflections & International Exposure 58:03 - Money Management & The ROI of an LLM 59:53 - Productivity Tips 1:01:55 - Recommended Fiction Books 1:04:34 - Three Tips for Young Lawyers 1:07:53 -Two Life Lessons 1:09:15 - Best Piece of Advice 1:09:57 - Closing Remarks & Zoho Sign Sponsorship Details #AditiJha #LinkedInIndia #LegalLeadership #TheGeneralCounselSeries #ZohoSign #WomenInLaw #GCSeries #LawAndTech #LegalPodcast #TheDailyLawyer