Mentorship at All Levels!

Legal veterans, reach out and help the next generation, e.g., with hbcu20x20 or Pay it Forward. And I’m so impressed that young legal leaders are already mentoring others! I list their resources below.

Nyssa Chopra, a tech lawyer with a background in diplomacy and human rights, puts out a bi-weekly “Mentor in Law” newsletter aimed at “law students, recent grads, and lawyers about everything law school doesn’t teach you (particularly all the practical aspects).”  (I’m honored to be in the July 1 issue.) 

• Legal leaders give insight on what they could have done differently in law school, what they wished they knew in their first five years of practice, a myth about lawyers to bust, and predictions about the future of law.
• She interviews practicing lawyers on how to get into different practice areas, veteran lawyers who are near retirement/retired on lessons learned throughout their careers, and law professors on how to maximize the law school experience.
• She also interviews former lawyers who have pivoted to other careers (like yours truly) and asks what legal skills we still use, why we left the law, and how to find opportunities outside of law. (My answers in a nutshell: The legal skills I use today include drafting, negotiating, interviewing, analyzing situations, and closing matters. I left law because I hated the politics; now I can advise others on how to navigate. To get a non-legal job, research your intended area, and pick something you can transfer skills easily. There’s more on what I said and a ton of great advice from others.)
• She lists helpful links for practitioners, e.g., Practicing Law Institute, Law360, etc.

Another resource by a young legal mind I came across is Jess Miers’ post on how to prepare for law school. She gives practical and important pointers like figure out what you want to do, build a brand and network, find a mentor, and redefine what success means to you. I don’t think I thought about any of these things when I was in law school, and I certainly should have! Definitely take the time in law school to try different areas of law.