First-Year Student/Attorney Mentor Program Spring 2012

Over 100 first-year Boyd law students have expressed interest in being paired with an attorney mentor for the spring semester.  Attorneys who are interested in serving as a mentor to a first-year student should complete the registration form here: http://law.unlv.e... by Friday, December 9, 2011.  If you have any questions regarding the Mentor Program, please contact the law school’s Career Services Office at (702) 895-2326.

Purpose of the Mentor Program:  The Mentor Program affords students the opportunity to gain insight from a practicing attorney and become exposed to an area of practice that is of interest to them.

Expectations of Mentors:  Mentors should be willing to share their experiences with their student.  Mentors may suggest activities in which they would like to engage with their student (see examples below).  Regular communication and monthly meetings are encouraged.  The program is specifically designed for first-year law students during the spring semester and will conclude at the end of that semester.  Informal mentoring may continue with the agreement of the student and mentor.

Expectations of Students:  It is the student’s responsibility to initiate and maintain contact with his or her mentor.  Mentors are a valuable resource for information and insight into the profession; they are not expected to provide or assist students in finding employment.  Students should thoughtfully consider how their mentor can serve as a resource and should initiate activities with their mentor using the list below for guidance.

Communicating With Each Other:  Students and mentors should plan to connect at least once per month. While personal meetings are preferable, students and mentors may communicate by telephone or e-mail.  Additionally, students and mentors should determine in which activities they would like to engage.  For some students and mentors this may simply mean meeting for lunch or some other activity on a regular basis.

Suggested Activities:  The Mentor Program is designed to be flexible and time efficient.  Some activities in which students and mentors may choose to engage include:

• Meeting monthly for lunch, breakfast or coffee to discuss the student’s law school career, address questions the student may have about practice, or any other pertinent issues.
• Shadowing the Mentor at court or on other appropriate occasions.
• Describing the Mentor’s practice to the student.
• Attending Bar association activities together.
• Conducting a mock interview.
• Reviewing the student’s résumé.

These activities are merely suggestions and not intended to constrain the mentor/student relationship.