Finding the Right Mix of Mentors in Your First Year

“Ask about their mentoring programs,” urged a recent law school graduate and friend of mine when I began interviewing with firms during the summer before my 2L year. Dutifully, I followed her instructions, and in each interview I asked about the firm’s mentoring program and personal experiences with mentorship in various firms. The responses I received were interesting—most firms did have mentorship programs, but the attorney responses about their personal experiences with mentorship, both as a mentor and a mentee, ranged from almost non-involvement to completely career-shaping encounters.

It was not until I actually began my summer at Duane Morris a year later, however, that I realized the importance of mentors in Big Law. During my summer at the firm, I was fortunate to be paired with mentors—both partners and associates—who were invested in mentoring and invested in my success at the firm. These were individuals who had actual experiences with the work environment that quickly became my daily reality. They had gone through the same daily challenges and triumphs, navigated the maze of corporate hierarchy, and mulled over the same choices that I was facing.