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Tips on Mentoring : DEI & All Good Things Diversity , Equity and Inclusion Committee and Senior Fellows Committee
At last Spring ’ s Induction Meeting , the DEI Committee and the Senior Fellows Committee presented a lively panel discussion on best mentoring practices . At the conclusion of the formal presentation , we asked our Fellows in the audience to respond to some questions about their experiences . Thanks to Shari Bedker , we have compiled the responses to our questions and thought we would take this opportunity to share them with the College with the hope that these observations will foster deeper mentoring experiences . Enjoy these insights and feel free to share them with your colleagues .
What was your best mentoring experience as either a mentor or a mentee ?
• When starting out as a 4 year associate in a new firm , my mentor spent an afternoon explaining how a secured credit agreement worked , including how the various sections worked together , and the significance of certain sections . He invested time on a holiday weekend on me , and it made me feel he cared about my professional success .
• One hopes that our mentees will grow beyond one ’ s own achievements .
• I conducted a class for new associates that was very rewarding .
• I gave a young attorney the opportunity to take his first deposition but arranged with opposing counsel that I could step in if he was in trouble . This gave the young attorney the confidence to complete his first case .
• Watching an associate conduct an excellent examination at a confirmation hearing .
• As a mentee , maintaining connections and being offered opportunities from senior bankruptcy partner at my former firm .
• As a mentor , practicing with a partner who has a fully independent book who was hired to be my summer associate .
• Judge would always say , “ Beware the fury of a patient man ” from a John Dryden quote .
• Received advice that this is a profession with a long run . There will be highs and lows but over the long run , patience pays off .
• A feeling as a mentee of being included , seen and heard . As a woman , this was vital to me staying in the profession .
• As a mentee , too many to list , but here ’ s one constant , he always showed me he had confidence that I would succeed .
• Be there and be seen .
• Having a partner defend me from being stereotyped .
• Working with a young female attorney who thought she had to leave the practice because “ you can ’ t have it all .” She still practices .
• Supporting young women so they could have a life with children and still stay an active member of the practice .
• I let an excellent first year lawyer sit first chair on a contested CCAA application for a small public company . I sat second chair . The judge congratulated me later and said he