One of the greatest gifts is the gift of time, and what better example than mentoring is there? “Mentoring is a brain to pick, an ear to listen, and a push in the right direction,” said educator John Crosby. The legal profession can excel at mentoring, but it needs a more diverse core of mentors to reflect Canadian society and support diversity within the profession.
During a panel discussion for the National Women Lawyers Forum and the Standing Committee on Equity during the 2007 Canadian Legal Conference in Calgary, Chief Justice Beverly McLachlin spoke on the issue of women leaving the private practice of law. She identified mentoring as a means of supporting women and changing attitudes. Mentoring might be said to fulfill similar aims for all underrepresented groups within the profession.
Mentoring in law includes the development of a relationship to provide assistance, perhaps even coaching, on the ways and means of the profession. Often there are a lot of ways to acquire technical skills, but fewer avenues to develop professional skills and know-how. The difficulty of finding mentors can be a huge challenge.
Mentoring programs – some established and some in development – are being offered through provincial bar association sections and law societies. As mentors, we need to support these programs. Many of us were the “firsts” in a particular firm, clinic, or in-house department, and we know first hand how difficult it could be. More pointedly, there usually wasn’t anyone we could talk to about these difficulties because the other lawyers “just did not understand.” As a result, a lot of us dropped out of the profession.
We can make it easier for those lawyers who follow, by providing an ear and understanding. We can provide mentorship by helping mentees develop their confidence and self-awareness. We may also provide advice when asked, in such a way that the mentee can take it and make it their own.
There is a lot of material on the subject of mentoring, but the best tip for mentors is to concentrate on the mentees’ strengths, less so on their weaknesses, in order that their strengths continue to develop. A mentor wants to think about what they stand for; what difference they make; and what can be done to make the difference. In turn, the mentor will help the mentee through the same process.
As law schools become more reflective of society, mentors need to ensure that the profession continues its path toward greater diversity and broader attitudes.