By Masada Siegel, contributing writer
Phoenix Business Journal
Law firms are finding success with internal mentoring programs as a way to bolster their partners’ skills and give their younger attorneys more options for professional and personal growth.
For years, businesses have been pushing the concept of having someone within the company provide feedback to younger associates. Entrepreneurs often seek out mentors in unrelated industries to learn more about business.
“I’ve had many mentors throughout my 15 years of practice, and I don’t think I’ll ever reach the point where I no longer need mentors. I say ‘mentors’ because one is never enough,” said Jessica Everett-Garcia, a partner at the Phoenix law offices of Perkins Coie LLP.
She recalls one instance very early in her career when one of her mentors guided her in a time of need. In preparing for a large case, she made a presentation in a mock trial. At the end of the exercise, comments were submitted on her performance.
“More than a few were brutally honest and scathing. I was crushed,” she said. “I can recall my mentor seeking me out afterwards, emphasizing my strengths and potential as a lawyer and helping me figure out how I could take the criticism and learn from it. That encouragement made a world of difference.”
Often a mentor can persuade a less experienced individual to persevere through challenges, and that is why companies create such programs for their employees.
Just as every business has a culture, each uses a different methodology in its program. Court Rich, an attorney with the Rose Law Group PC, said that firm links each of its associates with many mentors.
“Rather than tie a new lawyer to one mentor, we engage in mass mentorship,” he said. “Everyone from the managing partner on down not only helps train and mold each of our young lawyers, but is also always available for questions and consultation with them.”
Rich said the goal is to provide new lawyers with the information they couldn’t learn in school.
“Law school teaches you very little or even nothing about how to be a lawyer, or how to provide customer service in the practice of law,” he said. “Too often lawyers might be super smart and excellent at what they do, but they have never been trained or taught how to run a business, how to deal with clients, how to exceed expectations on a daily basis. That is the goal of our program.”
