What happens when a self-proclaimed "proud non-lawyer" takes the reins of a law firm? In this lively episode of The Mostly Legal Podcast, Rob and Amanda sit down with John Bowers, CEO of Thompson Burton, to explore how leadership, transparency, and empathy are reshaping the future of law firm operations. John brings his signature mix of candor and …

Ever wondered why your law firm’s bank account doesn’t match your revenue? Or what a K-1 really means? In this episode of The Mostly Legal Podcast, Rob and Amanda are joined by Terrell Turner, CPA and founder of TL Turner Group, to make sense of the financial fog law firms often find themselves in. From translating accounting jargon into plain Engl…

2025-2026 ALA President Travis Armstrong joins Rob Joyner and Amanda Koplos for a high-energy, insightful conversation about climbing higher—both literally and figuratively. From running marathons and championing mental health to leading firm-wide technology upgrades, Travis shares the mindset behind his presidential theme, how he’s helping transfo…

In this episode of Mostly Legal, Amanda and Rob sit down with John Byrne, President of the Legal Marketing Association and CMO of the mid-sized law firm Gould and Ratner, to talk all things legal marketing, from the basics of building a brand to avoiding “random acts of marketing.” John brings his trademark humor and deep industry insight to a wide…

Debbie Foster is back! She's the only guest to make a repeat appearance (so far!) on The Mostly Legal Podcast, and hosts Amanda Koplos and Rob Joyner dive deep with Debbie on what law firms think they need when they say they're hiring a COO, and what they actually need. They explore what the COO title should mean, how to avoid watering it down, and…

How do you go from answering phones to running the business side of a law firm? In this episode of the Mostly Legal Podcast, we sit down with Elyssa Goldstein, Chief Operating Officer of RAM Law and 2025-2026 President-Elect of the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA), to find out. Elyssa shares her journey from receptionist to COO, the mentor…

Rob Joyner and Amanda Koplos are BACK with The Mostly Legal Podcast - Season 4 and ready to share more behind-the-scenes stories of how law firms operate. If you're one of their seven or eight fans, here's a taste of what's in store!By Centerbase

Can you believe this is the season finale for the Mostly Legal podcast season 3? We wanted to end this season the way it started...with a bang! This week we hosted Stefanie Marrone, a LinkedIn expert. Not only is she the queen of social media marketing, but she also runs her own blog, has impressive CMO experience, and is a public speaker. What is …

What if we shifted the way we thought of work-life balance to work-life integration or enrichment? We welcomed Lori Mihalich-Levin, an author, mother, podcast host, and founding principal, to the podcast to discuss the role of motherhood and its integration into the practice of law. She really can do it all! The power of setting boundaries for your…

On this week of the Mostly Legal podcast, Rob and Amanda host Geoffrey Williams (COO and CFO of Cunningham Bounds, LLC) and ALA International President-Elect 2022-2023. Have you ever thought about the differences between curiosity vs. judgment between one another? Geoffrey provides a thoughtful conversation around the impact of their experiences as…

Did you ever think the ALA could bring you some of your best friends? This week, we welcome Jessica Daughtery, the Director of Administration at Wesierski & Zurek. Jessica opens up to Rob and Amanda about how the ALA is not just a place to swap business cards, but rather a place that, if you allow it, can provide you with deep and special friendshi…

Do we have a (Halloween) treat for you this week? On this episode, we welcomed the charismatic father and son duo, Alan and Rich Wilson as they dive into the power of storytelling. Now, this episode does not fall short of in-person storytelling too. From everything from Halloween stories to Alan taking Rob and Amanda through cheers. Also, Rich take…

Has anyone ever bet on your failure? When Bill Lowman started ShuffieldLowman 19 years ago, partners at his former firm predicted he wouldn’t succeed. He was a young partner with a still-growing book of business who was notoriously bad at entering and billing time. But thanks to strong mentors, the ability to learn from his mistakes, and the willin…

This week, you are in for a real treat. We hosted Sarah Evenson, ALA President. Sarah is no stranger to the legal industry. As a previous law school student by day and MBA student by night, Sarah fills us in our her exciting career path and what led her to become the current ALA President. Have you heard of the pre-law scholar's program that Sarah …

When is the last time you heard a great HR joke? We can guarantee you will hear a couple in this episode. Christine Wilbur (Human Resources Director at Aleshire & Wynder, LLP) joins Rob and Amanda for an insightful conversation about leading with love and compassion, goals, and maybe even Disneyland. Working parents everywhere will be inspired to h…

This week, Rob and Amanda have the pleasure of talking to Nick Manty who started his career as a Firm Administrator at a boutique law firm specializing in bankruptcy and creditors' rights. Now Nick is part of the Barnes & Thornburg team the Minneapolis and Salt Lake City Marketing Manager. Nick takes us along his journey from his transition from th…

Are you an Apple or PC user? Could you imagine no Crtl Alt Delete? As a dominant and highly active member in the Mile High chapter of ALA, Terri Moore-Natal brings us through her unconventional journey into the legal management world. Terri walks us through how her time at a call center translated into her work as a paralegal and law firm administr…

The Mostly Legal podcast is back for season 3 and we are starting this season off with a true bang! Have you ever wondered what coaching softball and the legal industry could have in common? Starting off for this season, Michael Cohen, an ALA fan favorite, sits down with Amanda and Rob to address everything from sports to the stigmas behind mental …

This week’s guest on the Mostly Legal Podcast is proof that you really can have it all. Suzy Klepac (Office Administrator, Kirk & Chaney PLLC) has served in multiple administrative roles at various law firms for the last six years, but she recently embarked on her greatest challenge – working remotely full time with a newborn. Working parents every…

This week, Rob and Amanda have the pleasure of talking to Amylyn Riedling (Paralegal, Office Manager, and Bookkeeper at Robin H. Balsam P.S.) who went back to school to become a paralegal because her friend was doing it and she thought it sounded fun. However, through the course of her career, Amylyn has found that her experiences outside of the cl…

Most people start their careers with the dream of changing people and the world. This week’s guests, Julie Logan (Director of Strategic Workforce Planning & Development, Thompson Coburn LLP) and Karen Griggs (Executive Director, Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice, LLC), have discovered that you can’t necessarily change people, but you can give them the to…

Imagine this… you’re a junior in college and all signs are pointing to you being selected as a top 30 NFL draft pick. Right before the rest of your life is supposed to start, you sustain a life-threatening injury that leaves you with a paralyzed arm. What would you do? Many of us would probably want to give up, but not this week’s guest! We had the…

This week’s guest needs no introduction. As a long-time member and past president of the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA), Teresa Walker’s (CEO, Tennessee Private Trust Services) legacy precedes her. Teresa has been at the same law firm for 45 (yes, you read that right!) years and she’s on the mic this week with lots of knowledge to share.…

It’s not often a podcast guest is introduced via poetry, but this week, you’re going to hear exactly that. Take a trip down memory lane with us as one of our beloved Season 1 guests, Jenna Carter (Director of Administration, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP) introduces us to Maria Stanfield (Founder, My Sister CEO) to the tune of Maya Angelou. A…

What superpower do you want to have? Most people would say flying or the ability to read minds. Debbie Foster (Partner, Affinity Consulting Group) has a superpower of her own: getting people to make a change without explicitly telling them a change is necessary. As a consultant in the legal industry, reluctance to change is an attitude she knows al…

How far would you go to get the career you’ve dreamed of since your childhood? In high school, Kyle Weigand (Director of Operations, Brouse McDowell, LPA) wrote letters (yes, back when snail mail still existed!) to 40 law firms in the Cleveland area and got one response. He started in that firm’s mailroom soon after. Kyle’s personal touch paid off;…

How do you earn the nickname “Major Problem Solver” throughout the course of your career? We won’t say it comes solely from holding a variety of positions and working your way up in the legal industry, but that’s a great place to start. Brandi Hobbs (Director of Operations and Process Improvement at Offit Kurman) started her career thinking she was…

The Mostly Legal Podcast is back for season 2 and we’re starting this second go around off with a bang! How do you know when it’s time for a career change? Maybe you’re not enjoying the work you’re doing, not happy at your current employer, or perhaps you’re in the wrong industry all together. Alex Su (Head of Community Development for Ironclad) th…

If we asked you right now who your mentor is, would you be able to give us an answer? Would you without a shadow of a doubt be able to name a person who has not only inspired you but has personally had a hand in your professional success? Statistically, not many people claim to have a mentor, so if you don’t, that’s okay you’re not alone. But in th…

What’s the difference between passion and perseverance? Passion only takes you so far and perseverance takes you the rest of the way. Take Jenna Carter (Director of Administration for K&L Gates, LLP, Washington, D.C.) and Chassidy Deckard (Director of Administration for the Texas region of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, LLP) for example. Their pe…

Which question would you rather have the answer to: where do you find the best firm administrators or how do you gain loyalty from a large group of people? Fortunately, you don’t actually have to choose because Katya Adams (Office Manager, The Watkins Firm, APC) and Gail Fredrickson (Firm Administrator, Rossway Swan) give us answers to both. Pull u…

In this episode we are taking a turn to explore the business of law from the legal technology side of things. Melissa Chambers (Vice President of Enterprise Solutions, LawPay/Affinipay) and Mike West (Vice President of SMB Sales, NetDocuments) unveil the real truth behind the uniqueness of law firms and the real pain points that they have. Now, ima…

What would you do if, 48 hours before the most important event of the year, someone asked you to fill in for the keynote speaker? Would you pass up the opportunity or would you make it to the stage and give the best speech of your life? What if, after 20 years at a small firm, you made a leap and moved to a large firm? Would you be ready for the ch…

Buckle your seatbelts, because there is a lot to unpack in this episode! Holly Pulido (Chief Operating Officer at Slack Davis Sanger LLP) and Eric Hightower, CLM SPHR (Director of Operations at Wright, Constable & Skeen, L.L.P.) take us through a jam-packed, 60-minutes’ worth of award-worthy entertainment. From uncovering the real myth behind the l…

Finding the love of your life is rare. It isn’t something you can search for or pull out of thin air, and sometimes, people go through their entire lives without it. But that wasn’t the case for Mark Bridgeman (HR Manager, ShuffieldLowman Attorneys and Advisors). From the Navy to Chief Legal Records Manager to three ALA chapter leadership positions…

Michael Bumgarner (President of ALA) and Debbie Elsbury (former President of ALA) join the show to discuss everything from the hurdles that come with huge career transitions to the power of titles within a firm. They also discuss how one can progress into leadership within ALA. In the legal community, it’s easy to feel like the dumbest person in th…

Everyone knows you should always maintain a professional relationship with your coworkers, but what happens when your coworker also happens to be a great friend? From a floating Walmart to comfortable tensions, Rob and Amanda speak with long-time friends Tina Terrian (Executive Director at Pirkey Barber PLLC) and Chris Sims (Director of Finance at …

Lyn Calu (Regional Office Administrator at Dinsmore & Shohl) and Michael Keatts (Regional Office Administrator at Bowman and Brooke) began their friendship at Bowman and Brooke where they navigated the waters of a firm with over 300 people. In this inaugural episode, Lyn and Michael discuss what it’s like managing teams through two different lenses…

You may be asking yourself, why should I listen to a podcast about legal management? The answer is simple: as a pioneer in law firm tech sales and a seasoned law firm leader, Rob and Amanda have combined experience of almost 25 years in the legal industry. These two industry titans have seen it all and have some crazy stories to tell with guests th…

You may be asking yourself, why should I listen to a podcast about legal management? The answer is simple: as a pioneer in law firm tech sales and a seasoned law firm leader, Rob and Amanda have combined experience of almost 25 years in the legal industry. These two industry titans have seen it all and have some crazy stories to tell with guests th…