The Young Lawyers Section of the Jacksonville Bar Association (JBA) is proud to work with the JBA to expand, enhance and increase awareness of its confidential mentor program.
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines a mentor as “a trusted counselor or guide.” For those of us who have had the benefit of excellent mentors, we can tell you that not only will your mentor serve as a trusted counselor or guide through your early years of practice, but your mentor will also provide you with important practice tips, make you aware of any unwritten local rules, assist you in networking with other members of the Bar, introduce you to the judges and be there to listen or help you strategize as you prepare for a deposition, mediation or hearing.
In addition, a mentor will help you avoid catastrophic mistakes and/or potential ethics violations. Your mentor will allow you to shadow him or her at a court appearance, mediation or other proceeding.
While young lawyers in large firms may have access to an internal mentoring program, the JBA’s confidential mentoring program will most likely benefit solo practitioners or young lawyers in smaller firms. Even young lawyers in larger firms will benefit from having a mentor outside of their firm as the mentor will provide advice on how to improve/manage the mentee’s relationship with their formal mentor at their firm.
A mentor does not take on this role for personal gain. There are many excellent lawyers who have registered as mentors through the JBA who are ready to assist you and help you reach your potential as a lawyer. I am not aware of many lawyers who would decline an opportunity to serve as your mentor.
Nevertheless, there are some lawyers who choose not to have a legal mentor. Circuit Judge Karen K. Cole indicated that, “Some inexperienced attorneys fear that they will suffer a loss of credibility with their peers or judges if it becomes known that they have a mentor. Nothing could be further from the truth. Becoming a good lawyer is hard work. Judges admire young lawyers who have the good sense to recognize that they have much to learn, and to seek a mentor who could help them fulfill their potential.”
The JBA accepts applications throughout the year with the goal of matching mentees with more experienced attorneys in their preferred practice areas. The placements are confidential to assure a successful and positive relationship between the mentor and mentee. Anyone interested in serving as a mentor or working with one can apply at: http://www.jaxbar.org/mentoring.php, or contact the JBA office at 399-4486. Attorney Chris Hand ([email protected]) and I ([email protected]) are also available to answer questions.
In summarizing the importance of a mentor, Cole noted, “A lawyer’s reputation is built over time, beginning the first day he or she meets a client, appears in court, or drafts a pleading. A reputation takes a long time to build but can be destroyed in a short time. All attorneys make mistakes. A good mentor, however, can help the attorney avoid the obvious practice potholes and ethical mistakes that may haunt the lawyer’s career. Almost without exception, the finest lawyers end their careers by looking back with gratitude on the education received and the hands of one or more legal mentors.”
Please take advantage of this wonderful resource that the JBA has to offer. The mentor-mentee relationship is a win-win for the court, the clients, the mentor and the mentee.