Darling Hill

A fresh study by NALP reveals disturbing statistics about minority female lawyers hitting the glass ceiling in law firms.  The study, which finds that "Minority women continue to struggle to make it to the elite ranks of the legal profession," has lawyers and law firms speculating about the impact of attorney mentors, especially when there aren't many.  Some say the problem of few minority women partners is self-magnifying: "Few minority women partners means few mentors for young minority women." 

When it comes to women in the law, the shortage of mentors also extends to another front:  flexible and alternative work--attorneys who model flexible and alternative work arrangements, like jobshares and part-time partnership. 

Lawyers today, especially the young generation of lawyers who are more vocal about their interests in work/life balance, stand to benefit from mentors who have "been there, done that" in terms of creating their own flexible paths in the law (both within and outside a law firm).  There is also a need for greater visibility of mentors, both women and men, who have also stepped out of the law and successfully on-ramped or transitioned back into the law after a hiatus.

It starts with individual lawyers

The big question is how do we, as a profession, build that pool of effective and visible mentors?  Perhaps the answer is simple:  it begins with each of us, young or old, seasoned or relative new to the profession.  It seems that all of us can be mentors to someone, even if that someone is a someday, future lawyer.

Three Easy Ways to Become a Mentor

1.  Get active.  Set up a mentor program.  Get involved with an established one. Work to change your firm or office policies.  There's a lot of talk about change in politics right now.  Use that change as momentum, and do your part to change the profession.

2. Talk.  Be willing to talk about how you arrived at where you are now.  Share what you know.  Think about what you have to offer other lawyers.  

3.  Write.  Put your experiences down on paper--or electronically.  Help others rekindle that belief that they can "make a difference"--and help them find ways to eliminate barriers to leadership and professional success.   

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