Jessica VanTroost, Chief Strategy and Operations Officer at McGlinchey Stafford, talks with Amanda Koplos and Rob Joyner about what it really takes to build a thriving law firm culture where “fun is not illegal.”

From McGlinchey’s famous “Ministry of Fun” to its nationwide “Snack Bracket,” Jessica shares how intentional culture-building drives engagement and inclusion across the firm's 18 offices. She also discusses her path from a chance babysitting gig to a leadership role at one of the country’s top firms, her game-changing ideas for legal support structure, her work with her beloved Jacksonville ALA chapter, and why her leadership philosophy starts with people, purpose, and play.

Expect laughter, football banter, and some truth bombs about the future of law firm management. Tune in for practical takeaways, inspiring stories, and insights that will leave you rethinking how law firms can work, grow, and thrive.

Are you buried under emails, notifications, and open browser tabs? You’re not alone.

In this episode of The Mostly Legal Podcast, Amanda Koplos and Rob Joyner sit down with Paul Unger, founding partner of Affinity Consulting Group and author of “Tame the Digital Chaos: Distraction, Time, Task & Email Management in an Age of Information Overload."

Paul shares how lawyers can reclaim focus, improve productivity, and bring calm back to their workdays. From AI tools like Microsoft Copilot to practical strategies for email management, time blocking, and centralizing firms’ data, Paul offers real-world advice for law firms drowning in digital clutter.

You’ll also hear his personal insights on ADHD, self-care, and why he thinks time management is really about managing energy and living a healthier, happier life.

Topics Covered:

• The evolution from analog lawyering to digital overload
• How to build your firm’s “digital house”
• AI’s role in productivity (and where lawyers get it wrong)
• Why multitasking is a myth
• Paul’s favorite tools and time management secrets

Tune in for a mix of humor, honesty, and practical advice you can use today!

In this episode of The Mostly Legal Podcast, hosts Amanda Koplos and Rob Joyner welcome William Washington III, Global CFO at Baker McKenzie, for a deeply personal and inspiring conversation.

William shares his unconventional journey, from being a high school and college dropout, a young father facing eviction, and coping with personal tragedy, to rising to the C-suite of one of the world’s largest law firms. He explains how resilience, mentorship, and relentless focus on improvement propelled him forward.

The discussion covers William’s approach to leadership as an introvert, the importance of professionalizing law firm operations, and his creative strategies for finding and developing talent. He also shares candid thoughts on AI in law firms, how technology will reshape the industry, and why leaders need to create space for every personality type to thrive.

Along the way, you’ll hear stories that are both entertaining and insightful, including a surprise encounter with Brooke Shields and how William once applied Lean Six Sigma principles to shorten a church service.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in leadership, resilience, and the business side of law firms.

AI is transforming the legal world, but where do law firms even begin? In this episode of The Mostly Legal Podcast, hosts Rob Joyner and Amanda Koplos talk with Melissa “Mel” Ballesteros, Manager of AI and Legal Technology Adoption, to explore her career journey from tech support to becoming an AI leader in law. Mel shares practical insights on:

• How law firms can dip their toes into AI without getting overwhelmed
• Why training programs need to evolve into workshops and communities
• The role of AI tools like Copilot, ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini in everyday legal work
• Why women in AI and cybersecurity need more support and visibility

It’s part tech talk, part career journey, and all-around inspiring. Whether you’re an attorney, a law firm administrator, or just curious about AI’s role in legal, this episode is packed with insights (and a few laughs along the way).

Remember to subscribe to The Mostly Legal Podcast for more conversations at the intersection of law, business, and technology!

Rob Joyner and Amanda Koplos welcome Jessica Aries, CEO of By Aries and former attorney, for a candid conversation about what actually drives business development on LinkedIn and how AI can help lawyers do it faster. Jessica traces her path from in-house marketing leader to agency founder after a gutsy LinkedIn post during COVID sparked nine new clients in a day. She breaks down four essential content pillars (services with value, credible recognition, relationship-building, and thoughtful personal brand), explains why engagement beats follower counts, and explains how to use AI for first drafts, better hooks, plain-language edits, and repeatable workflows (even custom GPTs). The trio also plays LinkedIn Lawyer Bingo (goodbye, stock handshake pics) and an AI or Die lightning round before Jessica’s Pitch Your Passion on AI-enabled marketing teams and agents that cut through marketing inefficiency. Expect practical tactics, zero fluff, and a few laugh-out-loud moments. 

Basketball coach. Executive coach. Law firm operations leader. And the next president of the Association of Legal Administrator’s (ALA) New York City chapter.  

In this lively conversation, Tirek Gayle shares how a coach’s mindset powers law-firm leadership—from building a true people-first culture to competing with big-firm brands in the heart of New York. We cover recruiting and retention, in-office vs. hybrid, mental health, white-glove client service (without $2k/hour rates), and how ALA NYC is evolving with new ideas and regional collaboration. 

What you’ll hear: 
- The backboard-smashing story—and what it teaches about breaking barriers 
- Coaching attorneys (and everyone else) with honesty, transparency, and readiness 
- Competing in NYC: boutique service, quality of life, and smarter pricing 
- PTO, flexibility, and empathy that’s actually lived, not laminated 
- ALA NYC’s plans, charity work, and Tirek’s “Let’s go” leadership mantra 

If you’re a managing partner, legal admin, or ops pro, this one’s full of practical energy. Subscribe for more insights each week!

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 humor as he shares:

• Why he embraces the term "non-lawyer" 
• How a fully transparent, formulaic compensation model drives growth and accountability at his firm
• His bold take on the role of CEOs and business leaders in law
• The powerful story behind the #LovedJenny movement and his fight to expand mental health support for all legal professionals

Whether you're a legal administrator, law firm leader, or passionate advocate for change in the profession, this episode will leave you inspired, informed, and maybe even a little fired up. Don’t miss it!

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 English to explaining why you probably shouldn’t rely on the legal drama, Suits, for legal business advice, Terrell shares real-world insights for law firm leaders, administrators, and accountants who want to get smart about their numbers. Plus, we talk trust accounts, how to avoid phantom income nightmares, and why “retainer” is the most misunderstood word in the legal world.

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 transform ALA’s volunteer structure, and why empathy and endurance are essential in legal leadership. 

He also dives into his recent experience spearheading a major document management system upgrade at his firm—how he secured stakeholder buy-in, used trusted team members as change ambassadors, and why bringing in a consultant helped turn a complex rollout into a success story. 

If you’ve ever wondered how to lead with purpose, manage meaningful change, or find clarity on a trail run—this episode is for you. 

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-ranging conversation that covers:

• What small and mid-sized firms get wrong (and right) about marketing
• How current clients drive 80% of new business and how to engage them better
• The difference between CRMs and ERMs (and why even your Outlook inbox holds untapped marketing value)
• How business development is evolving for younger attorneys
• And… a classic RFP horror story

Whether you're a legal admin, firm leader, or aspiring marketer, this is a must-listen conversation packed with practical tips, strategic guidance, and a few laughs.