Lawyer to Lawyer Mentoring
The Commission assists local courts and bar organizations in creating mentoring programs in which experienced lawyers formally support the professional learning and development of new lawyers. Mentoring programs are designed to teach skills, professional values and judgments necessary to practice law in accordance with the highest ideals of the profession. Our goal is to advance professionalism through learning focused mentoring. By building relationships between beginning and experienced lawyers, we pass on fundamental skills and core values of professionalism essential to the aspirational practice of law.
The term “mentor” originated from Greek mythology with the character of Mentor in Homer’s Odyssey. Mentor, a friend of Odysseus, was entrusted with the education of Odysseus' son Telemachus. Mentor was a guardian, teacher and counselor to the young boy. Today mentor is defined (Merriam-Webster 4th Edition) as a wise, trusted counselor and teacher. Within the legal profession, mentoring relationships between experienced and new lawyers facilitate the transfer of valuable information and insight into the practice of law. While legal theory and application can be learned during law school, the practice of law is learned in the workplace, whether in private practice, government service, or corporate practice.
Skillful mentoring takes time and attention. This Lawyer to Lawyer Mentoring Guide offers a process, specific strategies and resources for skillful Lawyer to Lawyer mentoring. How we introduce young lawyers to the profession forms a foundation for their continued growth and development as practitioners. Skillful lawyer mentors stretch and expand their protégés abilities and capacities for professional thinking and problem solving. Skillful mentors facilitate the development of civility and ethics through consulting, collaborating and coaching their protégés. Lawyer to Lawyer mentoring honors the rich knowledge base and expertise that continues to accumulate through the years of practice. As a mentor, the experienced lawyer offers both the wisdom of practice and the practice of wisdom while preserving core values of our profession.
Lawyer to Lawyer Mentoring is designed to be a one-year voluntary experience to support new lawyers through the transition from law school to the practice of law. Through the collaborative development and implementation of a mentoring agreement and action plan, the experienced attorney mentor counsels and teaches the new lawyers. The mentoring action plan offers discussion topics and learning experiences to be completed over the course of the one-year mentoring term. The relationship between the mentor and new lawyer is intended to be an on-going relationship for the sole purpose of guiding and teaching the new lawyer about the practice of law and the issues the new lawyer is likely to face in the practice of law. The mentor shares professional experiences, provides guidance and resources, and engages in dialogue with the new lawyer in completion of the activities in the mentoring plan.