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 everywhere will be inspired to hear Suzy’s story of work-life balance in the fast-paced legal industry, which, according to her, is a little like living life like someone left the gate open. But, make sure you don’t let the goats out! 

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 classroom have been just as beneficial to her success as lectures and tests. 

How did her job operating rides at an amusement park when she was 16 set her up to be a paralegal later in life? You’ll have to listen to the episode to find out!

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 tools they need to succeed.

Join us for this discussion on learning to be adaptable in the ever-changing legal administration landscape. Julie and Karen both have unique perspectives to share on mentorship and hiring a new generation of talent. Your mindset will be forever changed after hearing what these two have to say.

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 honor of speaking with Inky Johnson (Host, Serendipity with Inky Johnson Podcast) about maintaining strength and resilience in the face of adversity, and we can’t wait to share his story with all of you.

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. You’ll want to hear what she has to say about what has changed in the legal industry over the years; some of it may even surprise you!

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 speaker, executive career coach, and bestselling author with a heart for service, Maria’s message for us is simple: it’s never too late to realize your full potential.

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 all too well. This week, Debbie takes the mic and shares her tips for making law firms a great place to work – one change at a time. 

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; from there, it’s been a steady rise from paralegal to director to helping start a law firm from the ground up for this go-getter. 

Join us for this fascinating discussion on why transparency and communication for all levels of employees is crucial to a firm’s success. Kyle brings a unique perspective to this topic and gives us all a lot to think about.

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 going to be an attorney, but now she’s a strategic change innovator and has a Master of Professional Studies in Law Firm Management from the George Washington University, one of the only schools to offer such a program. You won’t want to miss this fascinating discussion on the sheer power and impact marketing can have on law firms. 

Brandi has some wild insight to share that just might blow your mind! 

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) thinks you’re much more likely to be successful in your career if you focus on doing something that’s aligned with your strengths instead of trying to fix your weaknesses. A former lawyer now working in legal technology, Su found one of his many strengths was social media, and before he knew it, he had almost 70,000 followers on TikTok watching his jokes about the legal industry. But there’s so much more to him than just some content poking fun at BigLaw…Join us for this discussion on what it means to find your own path and be successful, even if it’s not what you initially envisioned.