Want to Have a Strong Legal Career? Find a Good Mentor.

MentorThis article in the ABA Student Lawyer Magazine discusses the benefits of having a mentor. A mentor can help you acclimate to your new role as a lawyer.  A good mentor will make your life easier both at your office and in external venues.  Your mentor can teach you how to communicate effectively with clients, can show you how to handle technical and procedural matters that may otherwise be hard to learn on your own, and can introduce you to top management at your place of employment.  Having a mentor can speed up how you learn to be effective in your job.

When you start at a new law firm, if your workplace doesn’t already have a mentorship program, ask your employer if someone would be willing to mentor you. You may find that someone is looking forward to the opportunity to teach you.  Don’t hesitate to ask your mentor questions and to seek feedback from your mentor.  Your mentor will likely be a busy person and may appreciate your initiative in seeking advice.  Also show gratitude—thank your mentor for his or her guidance when you receive it.  Keep your connection strong by occasionally inviting your mentor for lunch or coffee.

Always be on the lookout for possible mentors. A friend who has a few years’ more experience can be a powerful mentor because you have already established a trusting relationship.  Emulate the good behaviors you see your mentor exhibiting.  Children learn by imitating others, but adults learn similarly when placed in a new environment.  If you see someone who is successful, watch them closely to see if you can pick up any techniques.  That person is mentoring you, if even they don’t know it.

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