Meredith C. Slawe partner with Cozen O'Connor.

Meredith Slawe, Cozen O'Connor

Slawe's efforts as a mentor are supplemented by her fierce determination to sponsor junior lawyers and open doors to business development and visibility opportunities for them regardless of seniority. Despite her demanding schedule, Slawe is always accessible to colleagues or friends seeking professional advice or who may just need a sounding board.

One mentee, who was promoted to senior counsel in 2020, said of Slawe, "Meredith is the real deal: a tremendous mentor, she is not only a world class litigator, but a true colleague and advisor. She engages with you about your goals and skills; provides you with opportunities and exposure; ensures that you are learning as you are working and growing as a lawyer and a person. In my experience, it is rare to find a lawyer like Meredith who is so willing to share her success with those she mentors and I consistently reminded how blessed I am to work with her."

Why is mentorship important in the legal profession? Mentorship is not only important in our profession, it is essential.  Navigating a career in a law firm, for example, can be challenging; during the first few years as an associate it can be difficult to see the forest for the trees.  A mentor who helps her mentee find opportunities to collaborate, serves as a source of candid and confidential advice and support, and (where mentorship meets sponsorship) champions her mentee's achievements, can truly change the shape of that lawyer's experience and trajectory.  Law firms do a great job with formal mentoring programs for summer associates, junior attorneys, and lateral partners and associates.  These programs can spark incredibly rich and enduring relationships.