We want to hear from you!
We are currently accepting blogs of 250-350 words on mentoring. Let us know what works, what doesn't work or anything else you wish to comment on. Submissions can be anonymous or credited. If we like your submission enough, we may approach you to contribute it also to our upcoming book on Mentoring and Sponsorship.
What is Mentoring?
I created the Advocacy Club to equip junior advocates with the techniques necessary for modern law practice. Several senior lawyers have applauded my efforts as excellent mentoring. When I hear this praise, I thank them for their sentiment, but correct their use of the term. "Mentoring" is not "training." There is a world of difference.
Junior ( especially young) professionals need so much more than training. They have tough decisions to make in a marketplace that offers few opportunities and presents huge costs and risks. Often, they are unsure of their choices. Where should they work? Under what rules of engagement? Should they change career path? What areas of law or type of work should they consider? How should they deal with people problems (clients, senior members of their firm, other lawyers, officials, the public)? What level of commitment is appropriate for each choice they make? These are mentoring issues - not how to draft a factum or examine an expert.
Any experienced lawyer can advise about techniques. Mentoring is a whole other matter. It requires a whole different approach. IMO, both training and mentoring are necessary. They just require different mindsets, expectations and relationships. For tips and techniques for junior advocates, check out my Mentoring Blog and Guest Mentoring Blog, or click on the following titles to go directly to that blog post:
Junior ( especially young) professionals need so much more than training. They have tough decisions to make in a marketplace that offers few opportunities and presents huge costs and risks. Often, they are unsure of their choices. Where should they work? Under what rules of engagement? Should they change career path? What areas of law or type of work should they consider? How should they deal with people problems (clients, senior members of their firm, other lawyers, officials, the public)? What level of commitment is appropriate for each choice they make? These are mentoring issues - not how to draft a factum or examine an expert.
Any experienced lawyer can advise about techniques. Mentoring is a whole other matter. It requires a whole different approach. IMO, both training and mentoring are necessary. They just require different mindsets, expectations and relationships. For tips and techniques for junior advocates, check out my Mentoring Blog and Guest Mentoring Blog, or click on the following titles to go directly to that blog post:
- Mentoring is a Two-Way Street
- How to Choose a Mentor
- Mentoring and the Open-Door Policy
- Is Mentoring a Right or a Privilege?
- What Does it Take to Be a Good Mentee?
- How Does Sponsorship Differ from Mentorship?