Legal Mentoring For Lawyer Professional Growth
My Own Lawyer Mentoring Journey Story
I remember in my early days of practising law when mentoring happened in the pub after a bad day at the office.
There were quite a few of these early on!
The legal mentoring I got there was well meaning, empathetic and sufficiently executed by the older and wiser around me, to get me back to work the next day, and survive a few more weeks until the next “mentoring” session.
In those days, mentoring for legal professionals and lawyer coaching were almost foreign concepts, rarely undertaken at the scale we see today.
Seeking professional help or career coaching as a lawyer was also seen as a last resort, even when things looked like they were going decidedly pear-shaped.
It was done on the quiet, often seen as a sign of weakness or even something to be ashamed of.
You certainly did not tell your managing partner or HR you were getting it.
The Early Days Of Legal Profession Mentoring
The culture of self-development for lawyers was different then.
It was more focused on surviving as a lawyer, than thriving and developing as a more rounded legal professional as it is today.
Lawyer career pathways to success were pretty defined and almost singular then, and were all pretty much attuned to climbing the ladder towards the elusive golden chalice of partnership.
The guiding mantra was pretty hard core, and yet simple - “Work really hard, bring in the fees and one day, some of this might also be yours.”
As I said above, lawyer career advice was often sourced from ad-hoc discussions with other legal profession colleagues and friends, well-meaning but, more often than not, hit or miss.
The mentoring received was no doubt sincere in its intention, yet unpredictable in its execution and effectiveness, leaving much to chance.
What worked for one lawyer may not for another.
Success therefore was almost an unpredictable and accidental mix of hard work, experience, trial and error, hit and miss and, for more than a few, a bit of luck.
The Evolution Of Lawyer Mentoring
Thankfully, times have changed for the better.
We have seen how lawyer mentoring benefits more and more.
It took a lot of time and quite frankly pretty much a generational shift in thinking.
This generational shift has not only changed how we approach lawyer professional development, but also how we discuss and prioritise mental health, work-life balance, alternative career development pathways and our ultimate career satisfaction.
Seeking advice as lawyer or legal professional is no longer seen as a sign of weakness, but rather a strategic move towards a more holistic well rounded long-term success.
The legal profession now more readily recognises the myriad of, often unprecedented challenges we face, many of which impact us in ways we could never have expected nor predicted.
This is also coupled with a myriad of opportunities in law and legal practice that never existed and go well beyond any expectations of our initial university education and vocational training.
The shift in perception has seen lawyers being more proactive in identifying and tackling issues head-on, sooner than later.
Ad hoc well meaning lawyer mentoring on its own is no longer the solution for the above.
Legal Profession Mentoring Today
As I said at the heart this lies the rise and power of formal lawyer mentoring.
How can I best describe what mentoring is, and what having a professional legal mentor means, is something I pondered a bit for this blogpost.
As you can tell from above, I believe you should have paid professional legal mentoring from someone who has done it for a long time. Full disclosure - that is us!
I am not against well meaning unpaid legal mentors but by paying for advice, in my opinion sharpens your attention to and appreciation of what you are trying to achieve. You tend to listen more when you pay for advice as well!
Investing in paid legal mentoring is more than just a financial commitment, it’s a more personal thing, one more connected to one’s personal and career growth, career development and aligned with a more longer term and more holistic success.
Whether you’re navigating a career transition, launching a new business venture, facilitating your personal development, or managing professional relationships, a mentor can be your confidant, your sounding board, and your trusted advisor.
The Difference Between Legal Mentoring & Lawyer Coaching
Legal profession mentoring is about building a long-term relationship that guides you throughout your career, providing ongoing support and insight as you progress your professional life.
Lawyer coaching is more specific in terms of what it is trying to achieve.
Mentoring is more working on your longer term career.
What Makes A Good Legal Profession Mentor?
Here a few things I think a good legal professional mentor should offer:
Experience - been there done that - not much can beat that.
Empathy - arising from the above
Professional Relevancy - they still practise and / or teach / or do what they are helping you with.
They Get It - they know what is going on in the modern world.
They Hold You To Task - they are kind, yet also they do not sugar-coat what needs to be said.
Do You Need A Legal Professional Mentor?
Do want to look back at a career filled with regret, unfulfilled potential and mediocrity? The answer is probably no.
Contact us today for a free initial consultation about legal profession mentoring.
