Page 3 - First Year Associates

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First-Year Associates Handbook | Tuesday, OcTOber 13, 2015 | S3
the legal world point to strong mentoring relationships that helped train and educate them along their paths to success, not only in their particular area of practice but in the intricacies of navigating the business aspects of the legal profession, and the particular firm where they work.
The importance of finding a mentor and cultivating that relationship cannot be overstated. according to the 2008 report of the american Bar association’s committee on Professionalism, “mentoring programs encourage a valuable interchange between newer and more-experienced lawyers ... .” a true mentor becomes a trusted colleague who imparts experience, perspective and wisdom to her mentee. Mentoring is a serious com- mitment and requires a willingness to engage a mentee and seek out opportunities to be an effective mentor.
Law firms are challenging and unique environments. young associates face many unknowns, from handling difficult assign- ments on novel issues, to understanding how to navigate the firm, as well as diverse personalities. On top of that, they need to get to know all of the people who, at one time or another, will have a significant impact on their ability to get their job done, including firm management, paralegals, administra- tive staff, office services, the iT team, the research team, and accounting personnel. a mentor can provide an insider’s view of the firm and help a mentee quickly integrate at
both the micro and macro levels of the firm. all attorneys, whether junior or senior, inevitably will face challenging legal situa- tions in their careers. having an effective mentor during these times can prove to be extremely beneficial. chances are, the mentor has had similar situations in her own career and can help navigate these challenges. a mentor can provide a different viewpoint to a current challenge. she can ask probing and difficult questions to assist the mentee in reaching a solution. sometimes, it is simply an issue of pointing the mentee in the right direction, whether it is to highlight a case law or similar deal, or to guide the mentee to other resources in the firm that can best help. along these lines, a mentor should feel comfortable providing constructive criticism, pointing out mistakes and deficiencies in the associate’s work product or conduct, and helping the mentee obtain the proper training and advice to help minimize or eliminate the customary bumps in the road. a good mentor under- stands that this type of open communication leads to deepened problem-solving skills, self- awareness and more developed emotional intelligence, all of which are critical to an associate’s evolution as an attorney and his
ultimate success as a lawyer.
But, becoming a quality, well-trained lawyer
is only the first step to long-term career suc- cess at any firm. The role of a mentor does not stop at providing legal work-specific advice. an engaged mentor should be a sounding
board for a mentee’s professional goals, help- ing a mentee identify effective and attainable goals, create a path to reach those goals, and ensure that the mentee remains accountable and on his envisioned path. an active mentor also will recognize and help a mentee capi- talize on his hidden talents and strengths. For example, if a mentee displays strong leadership skills, a mentor may encourage the mentee to participate in a firm associate committee. a mentee who exhibits promis- ing presentation skills may be encouraged to participate in a cLe presentation to help sharpen those skills. an engaged mentor also can help his mentee balance work/life issues, providing tools and setting an example to help the mentee balance the many different work and life demands that tug at every attorney’s time. all of these efforts will help round out a successful associate.
a good mentor is especially important in a big law firm, where promotion depends upon the consensus of shareholders or partners. a mentor can be the champion and ally that any associate needs. a mentor who trusts and respects her mentee’s abilities, even during difficult or demanding moments in the men- tee’s career, can be the mentee’s best advo- cate for advancement. a mentor can provide knowledgeable answers to some of the most significant questions at a law firm: What is expected of me as far as billable hours? What are the firm’s bonus standards? What is part- ner track and how do i ensure that i am on it?
and, even if partner track is not the men- tee’s ultimate career goal, a good mentor can help guide a mentee towards a different career path. There are many attractive opportuni- ties for associates to have successful legal careers outside of a law firm, and a mentor who understands and appreciates her men- tee’s goals can assist her mentee to achieve them, even if that means the mentee leaving the firm. guiding a mentee to a decision that makes the most sense for him and the firm is a critical aspect of the relationship, and often, the mentoring relationship survives these moves and both the mentee, mentor and the firm benefit. remember, today’s well- trained and well-mentored associate can eas- ily be tomorrow’s best client.
What is important is that the mentee finds a mentor that inspires him: someone who has the job or had the type of job or position that the mentee finds interesting, or who comes from a similar background and reached a level of success to which the mentee aspires. such a mentor can help a mentee hone his legal skills, become a quality lawyer, and expand his circle of influence, all of which will help a mentee reach his ultimate professional goals.
Developing the Mentor Relationship
Mentoring relationships typically evolve in two ways: either through a formal program established by the firm, or informally as a result of a growing work rela- » Page S12
THE POWER OF LEGAL EDUCATION AND THE LL.M. DEGREE
Nothing exemplifies the power of a legal education better than an LL.M. degree from the University of Houston Law Center. We have renowned specialty programs with two (Health Law and Intellectual Property) ranked in the Top Ten according to U.S. News & World Report. Located in Houston, attorneys will study in the nation’s fourth-largest city, which is also a global leader in healthcare, energy, international business and other disciplines.
Choose from one of the following five programs:
• Energy, Environment & Natural Resources Law • Health Law
• Intellectual Property & Information Law
• International Law
• Tax Law
Learn more at law.uh.edu/llm | Contact us at [email protected] The University of Houston is a Carnegie-designated Tier One public research university and an EO/AA institution.