The Value of Mentorship in a New(er) Lawyer's Career.

• Date: 01 July 2022
• Author: Lesser, Gary S.
• Published date: 01 July 2022
• Author: Lesser, Gary S.

The legal profession has changed so significantly in many ways over the last few decades, but some concepts are as enduring and important as ever. Among these key concepts is the invaluable and incalculable role a good mentor can play for a lawyer at the beginning of his or her career.

There are those of us practicing law for many years who can remember having a helpful mentor at the beginning of our career. Many years ago, most law students obtained employment after law school, and many of these mentorships occurred organically where they worked, at a private law firm, government agency, or elsewhere.

The legal market has changed considerably over the last couple of decades. Many law school graduates are not getting hired at law firms or elsewhere, and ultimately find themselves "throwing up their own shingle," or sharing space with a former classmate who may have graduated a year or two before...