October 2008

In This Issue:

• Some States Now Require Mentoring
• Considering Mentoring…

Some States Now Require Mentoring

By Peter L. Rotskoff

Does law school fully prepare you for the practice of law? An increasing number of lawyers and judges have determined that the answer to that question is “no”. The ISBA Mentoring Program, now in its fourth year of operation, provides an avenue to help new attorneys with practice questions; office management issues; and balancing personal and professional life issues. The Illinois Commission on Professionalism is also currently developing a pilot program for “lawyer to lawyer mentoring”. Details about the pilot program are available on the Commission’s webpage at www.ilsccp.org.

In recent years, a number of states have been moving towards requiring mentoring for all new attorneys who plan to actively engage in the practice of law. Descriptions of some of these programs are listed below:

Georgia

Georgia requires newly admitted attorneys to participate in its Transition Into Law Practice Program. According to the State Bar of Georgia’s website, the program provides guidance to beginning lawyers by affording each new lawyer access to an experienced lawyer equipped to teach practical skills as well as help with matters involving ethics and professionalism. Each new lawyer and his or her mentor must complete various activities and experiences designed to help the new lawyer transition into the practice of law. Various topics in ethics and professionalism must also be addressed. Information about the program is available at www.gabar.org.

Ohio

In July 2006, Ohio initiated a pilot program for newly admitted lawyers. Mentors and Mentees are required to complete activities from five subject matter categories; legal community and the community at large; personal and professional development; introduction to ethics; office management; and client communication, advocacy and negotiation.

New lawyers are able to choose from activities within the categories which are most appropriate for their individual practice settings and personal goals. The Supreme Court of Ohio recently established the lawyer to lawyer mentoring program as a permanent program for lawyers admitted in November 2008 and beyond. A more complete description of the lawyer to lawyer mentoring program is available on the Supreme Court of Ohio’s webpage www.supremecourtofohio.gov.

South Carolina

The South Carolina Supreme Court established a mentoring program in 2006 and required a percentage of new admittees to participate in the program. The Court also established a uniform mentoring plan which requires various activities to be completed by the mentor and the mentee, along with topics to be discussed including issues related to ethics, professionalism, office management and client relations. More information about the program is available on the Court’s website www.judicial.state.sc.us/supreme

Considering Mentoring…

By Lynne Davis, Staff Liaison

For many years, the legal profession has witnessed idealistic young lawyers, fresh out of law school, eager to take on their new career with passion and vigor, only to realize they had more questions than answers.  Many of these young attorneys did not anticipate what three years of law school neglected to teach them—the ability to enter into and navigate your way through the business of law. 

Upon recognizing the need to guide young lawyers through their first few years of practice or help experienced attorneys who were looking to enter into new practice areas, the Illinois State Bar Association created the Special Committee on Mentoring in 2003.  One of the first tasks the Committee undertook was to create the ISBA MentorCenter, intending to raise awareness within the ISBA membership of the importance of mentoring inexperienced graduates.  In addition, the Mentoring Committee members also sought to coordinate educational and social opportunities for participants in the ISBA MentorCenter. 

Throughout the past five years, the MentorCenter has been slow developing, but is ultimately achieving its goal of establishing relationships between experienced attorneys and lawyers with questions, one match at a time.  One-on-one interaction enables mentors and mentees to forge a professional relationship that can be mutually beneficial. Additionally, your input on additional activities and resources the MentorCenter can provide are invaluable.  If you would like to share your thoughts, please visit the “Suggestion Box” on the MentorCenter website, or contact Melinda Bentley at mbentley@isba.org or Lynne Davis at ldavis@isba.org. 

If you are interested in sharing your initial experiences and the lessons you learned with a newly practicing attorney, the ISBA MentorCenter urges you to contact them about becoming a mentor.  Some of the simplest activities may make a great impact in the eyes of a mentee.  Suggested activities include giving a tour of a law office, thus, demonstrating to a young lawyer how an office is managed, discussing the roles of office personnel and how a collaborative effort from all employees can make a practice successful, and discussing not only methods of client development, but also techniques for business development.

If you are looking for a mentor, remember, in order to make the most out of your interactions, please be prepared before contacting a mentor with specific questions and be able to identify how you want the mentor to assist you.  The more organized you are for your interactions, whether by phone, email, or in person, the more you will likely get out of the relationship what you had hoped for.

ISBA Standing Committee on Mentoring 2008-09

Illinois State Bar Association
424 South Second Street, Springfield, IL 62701
217-525-1760 Fax: 217-525-9063