ATTENTION MENTORS - PLEASE BE RESPONSIVE

By Peter Rotskoff

In the overwhelming majority of cases, mentors are doing a excellent job of responding to mentees. In a few isolated instances however, mentors have not responded to mentee inquiries. To ensure that this situation does not occur in the future, we offer the following suggestions:

Mentors: If you are contacted by a mentee either by phone or email please return the call or acknowledge receipt of the email as soon as possible. We understand that your own practice concerns may prohibit you from offering assistance at certain times. However, we ask that if you are unable to help a mentee at a particular time, please let the mentee know as quickly as possible so he or she can seek help from another mentor.

Mentees: If you do not get a response from a mentor after making a contact, please inform the ISBA by email or telephone. We will help you find a mentor who can assist you in a timely manner.

Mentoring Suggested Activities: We know that some of you are involved in a longer term mentoring relationships. Here are some suggested activities for mentor and mentee.

QUESTIONS FOR YOUR MENTOR INTERVIEW

By Janet Grove

When you contact a potential Mentor, here are some questions you may want to ask. You are not obligated to use the Mentor, but you should take some time to get to know what he or she may be able to offer. Base your questions on your specific needs.

Do you need help with litigation skills or corporate law issues?

Do you need increased self-confidence?

Do you just want someone to share their experiences so you have a better general knowledge of the law?

I was asked to respond to a series of questions, as a member of the Committee and as an ISBA Mentor, that might help others in deciding to either become a mentor or seek a mentor for assistance.

What made you want to become a mentor?
Throughout my career, I have benefited greatly from mentors. My level of expertise is an equal mix of traditional CLE programs, experience and information shared by mentors. Being a mentor, sharing what I have learned, has always appeared to be part of being a professional and part of a lawyer's contribution to the profession as a whole.

What is your main area of practice?
Estate planning, probate and real estate.

How long have you been practicing law?
Twenty one years.

Did you have a mentor? If so, was that relationship helpful and rewarding?
I have had one main mentor who is an expert as well as an excellent teacher and who has devoted a significant part of his career to helping other lawyers with the technical, personal and political aspects of practicing law. His assistance has been an immense addition to my education and I am sure his insight has helped me avoid many (but not all) embarrassing moments in front of clients and judges. The single most important lesson I learned from a mentor was to know the limits of one's professional knowledge and this leads to use of the phrase, "I don't know." Most lawyers I know have a hard time with this.

Have you ever mentored another lawyer? If so, how many?
I have helped a few local lawyers in small doses and have had four lawyers contact me through the ISBA MentorCenter.

How much time do you set aside for mentoring?
Most contacts so far are for specific technical guidance in the areas of estate planning, taxation and like-kind exchanges so there has been no long term relationship develop to date. My problem with time is not necessarily the amount of time but the timing. Some requests for guidance can be extensive in regard to bringing the mentee up to speed. I set a time based on my calendar when I can get back with them though they may need to contact anther mentor for a quicker response. I tell myself to keep non-billable activities as a whole limited to 25% of my hours though I do not always listen.

What do you feel you have to offer; please be specific.
I have spent my entire career focused on estate planning including ten years in a trust department at a local bank. Though I am far from being an expert, I like to think I can help new lawyers or lawyers who have a general practice gain a more comprehensive view of estate planning and learn finer details and practical considerations in drafting documents, handling estates and minimizing beneficiary problems.

What is your goal for your mentor/mentee relationship?
Help others to develop expertise and become not only more confident but also more aware of what there is to know and where the gaps are in their education.

What would you do if the mentee wanted too much time or commitment?
That is a hard one since I think most of us are inclined to comply with a request for help. I have told mentees that I would not be able to respond until a set time which may be a week or two away due to time constraints. I have also asked that we work via phone calls which uses less of my time and effort for a technical issue.

What is the most common question or issue you've discussed with a mentee?
All of my contacts through the MentorCenter have been technical questions related to estate planning drafting and tax issues.

What benefits have you received from being a mentor?
Surprisingly, I received questions that I could not easily answer. It provided opportunity for me to learn while helping others. In addition, I know I have been extremely fortunate to have had such devoted mentors and I am grateful for the opportunity to pass that along, though it has been in a much smaller way.

Do you think the mentor program enhances the profession as a whole?
For lawyers that are in small firms, I think is adds a dimension to CLE that cannot be obtained elsewhere–having one-on-one discussions about immediate specific issues. For lawyers in large firms, it offers an opportunity to ask questions free of office politics.

Where do you usually meet with mentees? If your office or in a more social setting?
My mentees and I are geographically spread out so we have only met via email and phone calls. If a more steady relationship were to develop, a combination of social and professional interaction would be great.

Do ethical issues often enter the discussions?
Ethics do not come up often but I have brought up ethical concerns when the topic included a potential pitfall or opportunity to remind the mentee of ethical considerations.