When you're busy putting your client first and ensuring everything is running smoothly within your firm, there is one important priority that might easily fall by the wayside: fostering the next generation of lawyers. After all, behind every confident attorney is someone who helped them find their footing when they were first starting out.
Legal mentors aren't mere role models—they're lifelines. They help new attorneys navigate the complex and overwhelming transition from classroom to courtroom. However, a recent decline in cases going to trial means new attorneys have less opportunity to gain practical courtroom experience in presenting cases to a jury, potentially impacting their development as litigators.
A powerful mentorship is just the first step of many in guiding our youth towards a successful legal career. Whether you're a seasoned practitioner hoping to guide the next generation or a new attorney seeking the right kind of guidance to look for, here are seven marks that distinguish a truly great legal mentor.
Communicative. Communication is the core foundation of any successful mentorship. This doesn't just mean rattling off everything you know; it's the key to connecting across generations. The most important communication skill? Listening. A great mentor takes the time to listen before offering ideas or feedback. They go the extra mile by explaining the "why" and not just the "what," detailing the reasoning behind every instruction.
If you're interested in learning more about how to connect multiple generations of lawyers through communication, be sure to sign up for "Connecting the Generations in the Practice of Law" on Friday, May 30!
Commitment. A great mentor makes time for their mentee, even when there is none to be had. It could be grabbing a coffee or a quick check-in to ask how they're doing. Taking the time to understand your mentee's goals and pain points will go a long way in their growth. One of the most valuable things an experienced lawyer can give to a young one is time. After all, mentorship isn't about grand gestures—it's about showing up consistently when it matters.
Humility. No mentor should ever let the fact they have others looking up to them go to their head. In fact, ego should be set completely aside within a mentorship. A great legal mentor never pretends to have all the answers and has no problem sharing the times they got it wrong. They'll admit to missteps, missed deadlines, and hard-earned lessons because they understand that the greatest growth comes from our failures. This type of honesty also builds trust and makes one more relatable because at the end of the day, nobody is perfect.
By being honest about your own journey, you can help mentees build confidence in theirs.
Approachability. If your mentee doesn't feel comfortable coming to you with questions, then what is this all for? Don't ever shame a budding attorney for their mistakes or questions. Have an open-door policy and exercise patience within your mentorship. Sometimes, simply being there, and your mentee knowing they can fall back and rely on you, goes a long way.
Empowering. A great mentor knows when to push and when to back off. They're not just there to cheerlead—they'll ask tough questions, offer honest feedback, and push for excellence. But they also know to back it up with encouragement and support, empowering their mentee to rise to the challenge.
A great mentor should also teach their mentee how to think and not what to think. The law is full of gray areas. Instead of spoon-feeding answers for every situation, a great mentor points them towards where to get started. They ask questions, guide reasoning, and build their mentee into an independent thinker who will one day take ownership of their own cases with confidence.
Integrity. You may not realize it, but you are always teaching by example. Your mentee will be observing your professionalism: how you treat staff, how you handle pressure, how you talk about opposing counsel and clients. It's important to demonstrate integrity in every action and model what a successful lawyer should be for the aspiring ones at all times.
Consistency. A great mentor demonstrates all of these qualities throughout the mentorship and beyond. They check in regularly. They stay invested in their mentee's long-term career development and celebrate their victories as their own. Because this is a relationship built on trust and empathy that can last for many years if you put the time and effort into it.
The legal profession is built on tradition, precedent, and passing knowledge from one generation to the next. Mentorship is how we carry that legacy forward.
If you’ve had a great mentor, thank them. If you’re ready to be one, start by showing up. Because at its best, mentorship isn’t just a one-way street—it’s a relationship that lifts the entire profession.
