{"id":32493,"date":"2025-01-17T04:55:27","date_gmt":"2025-01-17T04:55:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/apprentice\/how-to-find-a-mentor-and-make-the-pitch-like-lincoln\/"},"modified":"2025-01-17T04:55:27","modified_gmt":"2025-01-17T04:55:27","slug":"how-to-find-a-mentor-and-make-the-pitch-like-lincoln","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=32493","title":{"rendered":"How to Find a Mentor and Make the Pitch \u2013 Like Lincoln"},"content":{"rendered":"


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By Omonigho Oiyemhonlan and\u00a0Yassi Eskandari-Qajar<\/p>\n

About three years into SELC\u2019s legal apprenticeship experiment, we\u2019ve heard from dozens of local and online followers that the one thing standing in the way of their apprenticeship is finding a mentoring attorney. We hear you. The seven legal apprentices in our cohort have navigated similar difficulties, and we can all agree that it\u2019s all about commitment, connections, and making the right pitch. To help out our LikeLincoln followers, the newest apprentice in our cohort, Omonigho Oiyemhonlan, has put together a list of organizations and arguments to beef up your mentorship search.<\/p>\n

Find Your Leads<\/h3>\n

When starting your mentor search, think hard about your areas of interest, but be open to experiencing areas of law that seem to fall outside your comfort zone. Remember that every law firm can offer a valuable experience \u2013 particularly in year one when you\u2019re learning the very basics. You may be able to find an attorney through local and national lawyer associations such as the ones listed below:<\/p>\n

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  1. The National Legal Mentoring Consortium<\/a> provides resources to promote a stronger culture of legal mentorship in the US.<\/li>\n
  2. LGBT Bar Association of Greater New York<\/a> provides mentorship, community, and enhanced career prospects for LGBT law students and lawyers.<\/li>\n
  3. The Asian American Bar Association (AABA)<\/a> is a \u201cfamily\u201d centered mentorship program with a holistic approach. They recruit from specific schools, but a strong case can be made to open their program to legal apprentices.<\/li>\n
  4. The Mexican American Bar Association (MABA)<\/a> is unique in that it matches mentees with local judges. Law students are expected to take a proactive role in shaping their mentorship.<\/li>\n
  5. The Labor & Employment Committee (National Lawyers Guild)<\/a> supports a mentorship program for law students interested in labor and employment law.<\/li>\n
  6. Women\u2019s Bar Associations<\/a> aim to support, mentor, and integrate women into the legal profession. Though they typically serve lawyers and law students, there is a strong argument that legal apprenticeship can increase the number of women lawyers, and that these associations should play a mentorship role. Look for state and local Women\u2019s Bar Associations such as California Women Lawyers<\/a>, Washington Women Lawyers<\/a>, the Vermont Bar Association- Women\u2019s Division<\/a>, the Virginia Women Attorneys Association, and the Women\u2019s Bar Association of the State of New York<\/a>. Those in the San Francisco Bay Area may want to connect with the Women Lawyers of Alameda County\u2019s<\/a> Young Lawyers Association<\/a>, which provides networking and mentorship to law students and new lawyers. Click here for a list of Women\u2019s Bar Associations by state.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Make the Pitch<\/h3>\n

    After identifying potential supervising attorneys, set up some coffee dates! Before you meet, you\u2019ll want to brush up on the requirements for legal apprenticeship in your state<\/a> because the attorney is likely to have a lot of questions! You\u2019ll also find it helpful to be able to express to the attorney how they would benefit from taking you under their wing. Consider these benefits for attorneys<\/a>, and a few more ideas from Omonigho, below:<\/p>\n