New Lawyer Mentoring Programs
Mentoring Programs for Newly Admitted Lawyers in
* The
http://www.massbar.org/for-attorneys/mentor-program
* MBA Mentoring Circles offers a unique spin on conventional mentoring by combining varying professional levels together and providing all members, senior and junior level, with the resources they need to develop and improve their management and leadership skills and grow within their profession. While offering guidance, advice and valuable insights to one another, members of our mentoring circles will provide support and encouragement in a confidential setting.
http://www.massbar.org/for-attorneys/mentor-circles
* Massachusetts Bar Association's Law Practice Management Section is developing a program in conjunction with the Massachusetts Law Office Assistance Program to provide limited technical assistance to both new lawyers as well as more experienced lawyers to assist in the management of effective private law practice, including such topics as technology, finance and billing, human resources, marketing, general law office administration and ethics.
http://www.massbar.org/member-groups/sections/law-practice-management
County/Regional Bar Associations
Bar Association of
http://www.norfolkbarassn.org/programs
Barnstable County Bar Association: The Barnstable County Bar Association is establishing an attorney mentor program for its lawyers this year.
http://www.barnstablecountybarassociation.org/
Boston Bar Association: The Boston Bar Association (BBA) has an established Group Mentoring Program. Noting that an indicator of career success for lawyers is having a supportive mentoring environment, the BBA's group mentoring program aims to build networks for lawyers and support a new generation of diverse leaders in our legal community. Each of the mentoring groups is led by two experienced mentors working with eight to ten participants. Our groups are open to lawyers from all backgrounds and practice areas who have been admitted to the bar eight years or less. The BBA also has an array of programming for newly admitted lawyers including networking, practical skills workshops, and other training- primarily through its New Lawyers Section. http://www.bostonbar.org/sections/diversity-inclusion/group-mentoring-program
Essex County Bar Association: The Essex County Bar Association (ECBA) promotes mentoring by contacting established members and connecting them with new attorneys who practice in the same area. While this is done at the request of the new attorney, the ECBA allows the relationship to develop on its own. The bar holds social events and seminars in order to encourage mentor/mentee relationships.
http://www.essexcountybar.org
Many other county bars, while not yet adopting formal mentoring initiatives, provide informal networking and/or training opportunities for their members. Please refer to the following websites, where available, for further information:
* Berkshire County Bar Association: http://www.berkshirebar.com
* Bristol County Bar Association: http://bristolcountybar.org
* Dukes County Bar Association
* Franklin County Bar Association: http://www.franklincountybar.org
* Hampden County Bar Association: http://www.hcbar.org
* Hampshire County Bar Association: http://www.hampshirebar.org
* Middlesex County Bar Association: http://www.middlesexbar.org
* Nantucket County Bar Association
* Plymouth County Bar Association: http://plymouthcountybar.com
* Worcester County Bar Association: http://www.worcestercountybar.org
Affinity Bar Associations
Massachusetts LGBTQ Bar Association: The Association's Mentorship Committee builds creative programming to meet the needs ofLGBTQ law students and lawyers at all stages in their careers, and administers the Mass LGBTQ Bar's Mentoring Program. The Committee is comprised of law students, new lawyers, and experienced lawyers.
http://www.masslgbtqbar.org/article.html?aid=105
South Asian Bar Association of Greater
http://www.sabagb.org
Women's Bar Association (WBA): The WBA's mentoring circles program provides a confidential forum for women lawyers to discuss professional development and many other issues. Each circle is comprised of ten to fifteen women of varying levels of experience from a wide range of practice areas. Each circle meets at least quarterly.
http://www.womensbar.org
Many other affinity bars, while not yet adopting formal mentoring initiatives, provide informal networking and/or training opportunities for their members. Please refer to the following websites for further information:
* Asian American Lawyers Association of Massachusetts: http://www.aalam.org
* Massachusetts Association of Hispanic Attorneys: http://www.mahaweb.org
* Massachusetts Association of Women Lawyers: http://www.mawl.org
* Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association: http://www.massblacklawvers.org
* Massachusetts Black Women Attorneys: http://www.massblackwomenattys.org
Other Professional Associations
http://www.actl.com//AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home
The Real Estate Bar Association for
http://www.reba.net/page/membership
Additional Related Resources
Law Office Management Assistance Program provides trainings for attorneys who are in the process of establishing solo practices. At these meetings, attendees learn about important considerations for the establishment of an independent law practice and ask questions about this transition.
http://www.masslomap.org/start-up-attorneys
Starting Out Solo is an organization designed to help
http://www.startingoutsolo.com
Pro Bono Opportunities
Many pro bono referral programs will provide volunteers with training and/or an experienced mentor. One example is the Volunteer Lawyers Project of the
http://www.vlpnet.org
Please note that this list is an illustrative, but by no means comprehensive, list of the mentoring programs available for newly admitted lawyers in