Podcast

The Mostly Legal Podcast: Season 2, Episode 8 "Building a New Generation of Talent: Applying Strategy When Hiring Legal Support Teams"

Amanda Koplos

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.

These two Association of Legal Administrators (ALA) dignitaries met through the organization 20 years ago at a Punt, Pass, and Kick Contest and since then it’s been a whirlwind of events, career growth, and a lot of fun along the way.

So, pour yourself that second cup of coffee and prepare yourself for an hour of laughs and interesting legal insights. Your mindset will be forever changed after hearing what these two have to say.

About the Guests

Julie Logan, SPHR, SHRM-SCP

Julie Logan is the Director of Strategic Workforce Planning & Development at Thompson Coburn LLP in St. Louis.

With more than 30 years of experience in the legal industry, Logan is a strategic and influential human resource professional with proven achievements in leading organizational initiatives, process improvement, and comprehensive human resource programs. She has experience leading workforce realignment projects and executing team structures in law firms. Logan has been a member of ALA since 1998 and has served in numerous leadership positions on the local, regional and international levels, including a three-year term as At-Large Director on the ALA Board of Directors and Chair of ALA’s inaugural Human Resources Conference for Legal Professionals. She has served as President of the Kansas City and Gateway Chapters, and is currently the immediate Past President of the Gateway Chapter and volunteering as an ALA Membership Ambassador. Logan acquired Bachelor's degrees in Psychology and Sociology and holds two human resource professional certifications.

Karen D. Griggs, CLM

Karen D. Griggs, CLM, is the Executive Director of Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice, L.L.C. (BSCR) in Kansas City, Missouri. BSCR has been recognized by Ingram’s Magazine as one of Kansas City’s Best Places to Work. The firm is a member of The Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, an organization of corporate chief legal officers and law firm managing partners dedicated to creating a truly diverse legal profession.

Karen is a Past President of the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA), an international association that supports approximately 9,000 professionals involved in the management of law firms, corporate legal departments, and government legal agencies. She served on the Board of Directors for ALA from 2006 to 2012. Karen has also served in numerous leadership positions at the local, regional and international levels of ALA. In 2006, she was presented with ALA’s Outstanding Association Volunteer Award and in 2014 was presented with The Spirit of ALA Award. She is also a former President and member of the Greater Kansas City Association of Legal Administrators where she received the Chapter’s first Legacy Award in 2008.

Karen was honored in the Inaugural Group of Kansas City’s Top Ten Legal Leaders in 2004, the only non-lawyer to receive this prestigious award. She has also served on the ABA’s Law Practice Division Education Board and was Vice-Chair of the Division’s Sponsorship Committee. Karen earned the Certified Legal Manager designation in 1999. Karen is a frequent speaker on leadership and employment issues and has published several articles.