Ty Lord of Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton has mentored many lawyers. Here is what four of them had to say:

  • “She does not hesitate to tell you when you’re doing well or if you seem overwhelmed.”
  • “She pushes me to take on more responsibility and coaches me through those (often intimidating) next steps.”
  • “When it came time to pitch the work, Ty worked with me in excruciating detail to develop a plan and explain the process. It was Ty’s investment in my career and her coaching that helped me develop and hone my skills as attorney.”
  • “In addition to the benefits I’ve received from the advice she’s given me, I’ve become a better supervisor and mentor because of her example.”

What do inexperienced lawyers need the most in their careers, and how much can a mentor give them that, as opposed to letting the mentee experience it on their own?

The young lawyers with whom I’ve worked are smart and eager to learn. They don’t always understand that we are problem-solvers. Our clients want us to help them achieve their business goals, and that often goes beyond finding the right case law or writing the perfect memo. Mentors can help flatten the learning curve by giving young lawyers the opportunity to convert their legal research into practical solutions that help clients.

Who are one or two people who helped you achieve your career success, and how did they do that?

I can’t identify just one or two people who helped me achieve career success. I’ve been fortunate to have a whole village of people supporting me and pointing me in the right direction, allowing me to take risks and make mistakes, and celebrating me when I got it right. I will name a few here, but this list is by no means exhaustive. Chris Bussert was a drill sergeant.  He was passionate about trademark law and always had time to talk through an issue. I recall him coming to my office and sitting down to walk through a brief or a document and questioning everything. Chris helped me learn to defend my positions. Virginia Taylor entrusted me with one of her oldest and biggest clients when I was a junior associate. Her confidence in me helped me build trust in my own judgment. Finally, there was Ted Davis. Ted always gave me his honest assessment of what I needed to do to succeed at my firm. All of these people, introduced me to their networks, challenged me to do more, and were always there when I called. The level of support they and others continue to give has contributed to my success. I hope I can do for others what they have done for me.