Welcome, New Lawyer (Or New Lawyer to Be)
Mentoring provides support that new lawyers need as they leave their academic lives behind and encounter the real-life challenges of practicing law. A mentor assists in your skills development, serves as an advisor and role model, and may even expand your professional network. A mentor's guidance can be extremely helpful as you undertake the demands of a new workplace and assume the identity of a legal professional.
Mentoring Term Requirements and New Lawyer Training Credit
Lawyer to Lawyer Mentoring is a year-long relationship involving nine hours of mentoring over the course of six in-person meetings. Upon completion of mentoring, you will satisfy your new lawyer training requirement, provided that you have also taken the three-hour required class on professionalism, law practice management, and client fund management. Unlike other new lawyer training courses, there is no cost to participate in Lawyer to Lawyer Mentoring.
New Lawyer Endorsements
New lawyers who have participated in Lawyer to Lawyer Mentoring are very appreciative of their mentoring experiences. Examples of their comments about the program include the following:
- "The interaction with my mentor proved to be invaluable. I learned excellent lawyering skills."
- "[My mentor] pointed out ways of doing things and problems I had never considered, and would never consider, because of [my] lack of experience."
- "I learned more about the community aspect of being a lawyer. You don't just sit in your office and nail out cases. You are part of a community and I think my mentor helped me see that."
- "[My mentor] was great. I will still meet with him once a month after the program is completed."
- "My mentor was extremely helpful to me as I dealt with a difficult and unprofessional coworker this year."
- "My mentor gave great advice on how to further my career and get more out of my job. Without him, I doubt I would be happy [at the workplace]."
New lawyers responding to our end-of-term surveys provided the following feedback:
- 99% would recommend the program to other new lawyers
- 96% said they are better equipped to deal with ethical and professionalism considerations in their daily practice
- 94% said they learned about legal customs
- 92% said they are better prepared for the practice of law
- 92% said they have more practical knowledge about the practice of law
- 87% said they built collegial relationships with other members of the bar
New Lawyer Eligibility
Lawyer to Lawyer Mentoring will be available to new lawyers who pass the Ohio bar examination and are admitted in November 2008, and to every class thereafter. To participate new lawyers must:
| Be admitted to practice law in Ohio and register for active status within 30 days of their admission ceremony or register for corporate status | |
| Submit a New Lawyer Application within 60 days of their admission ceremony or corporate registration | |
| Be subject to the new lawyer training requirement under Gov. Bar R. X |
Registration Deadline
New lawyers interested in mentoring must submit a New Lawyer Application within 60 days of their admissions date or within 60 days of their registration for corporate status.