Mark Wechsler

There was no shortage of testimonials as to the mentoring excellence of Mark Wechsler of the family law practice at Einhorn, Harris, Ascher, Barbarito & Frost in Denville. Wechsler "comes in at 4:00 a.m. most days because from 9:00 a.m. on, his office becomes a revolving door of attorneys seeking advice," one colleague says. Another says he "explains how he would do it and why, but never forces his style upon me; he encourages me to develop my own style." Yet another says Wechsler "is a champion of young attorneys at our firm and I am a better attorney for his influence and mentorship."

Is the role of mentor one that you set out to take, or one you happened into?

For me, it was a combination of both. On the one hand, mentoring seems to be a role that is very consistent with my personality. I want people to feel comfortable and collegial within our law firm. On the other hand, I have always thought that it was critical, particularly for new/young lawyers, to feel that they have a support system in place so that they do not feel as if they are alone on an island or banished to the law library for years while writing legal briefs.

Why are mentors so important in the legal profession?

One learns the law a minimum of three times: while in law school, to pass law school exams: at the conclusion of law school, to pass the bar exam; and in practice. Each incarnation is markedly different. Mentors can help a new/young attorney transition from academic training to real-world practice. Moreover, an attorney's reputation is everything to him/her. Once earned, for better or worse, it stays with the attorney for many, many years. Without proper mentorship, the path to professionalism can be less than clear for new/young attorneys.

Good mentors often have learned from good examples. Who are some people who have mentored you?

Clearly, the judge for whom I clerked—Martin A. Herman. Judge Herman was always more familiar with a file than the attorneys who appeared before him. He made the attorneys and litigants in each case feel that their case was the single most important on his docket. He also was on the bench and ready to go before the court day officially started. Preparation and punctuality are traits that serve every attorney in every practice area.

Law is, for many, more than a full-time job. How does one create time for mentorship?

The answer to the question resides within the question; law is more than a full-time job. An attorney doesn't stop his/her preparation because he/she has worked 40 hours in a given week. Professional responsibilities don't conclude because an attorney has worked 40 hours in a given week. Having the opportunity to serve as a mentor is a privilege. It is a privilege that brings with it great rewards. Within the past few months alone, several adversaries have gone out of their way to offer to me their unsolicited compliments about the group of talented, young and mid-level attorneys in our firm. It is not lost on me and my partners that the size of our firm has grown slowly, steadily and consistently over decades, while maintaining what I have to believe is an unparalleled, low turnover rate among our attorney staff. Creating a fertile environment for new/young attorneys to grow within, and accomplishing that in an environment that they do not want to leave, is extremely gratifying.

How are the business and profession of law changing, and are New Jersey lawyers well-positioned for the future?

The more things change the more they stay the same.

During the course of my career, technology has changed the practice of law in ways that certainly I never could have anticipated. The pace of the practice has accelerated several fold.

Email has created an expectation by clients and adversaries for immediate or near immediate responsiveness 24/7. Social media has impacted both the business and profession of law in innumerable ways. Yet, I believe that the core of the practice has and will remain the same in that an attorney-client relationship is a very personal one that is built on personal interaction and trust.

New Jersey is a place where the practice of law is characterized by an outstanding, thoughtful, forward-thinking court; excellence among the bar; and great strength in its state and county bar associations. All of which bodes well for the future of the practice of law in our state.