Law Student and Newer Lawyer Mentoring Programs
Please check out the 2023 Law Student’s Guide to Opportunities with Bar Associations published by Twin Cities Diversity in Practice at the link here.
Specific mentorship programs include:
Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers (MABL) Mentorship
Apply to be paired with a practicing lawyer and MABL Member.
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Open to: Black, African, African Diaspora law students from Minnesota schools.
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Deadline: Ongoing
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Contact: Board@MABL.org
TCDIP (Twin Cities Diversity in Practice) Connect Mentoring
Using a structured small group model, TCDIP Connect brings together attorneys of varying experience levels, local law students of color, and early career attorneys of color. The goal of TCDIP Connect is to develop meaningful professional interconnectedness between multiple people who may not have otherwise crossed paths. Attorneys are from TCDIP Member law firms and corporate law departments.
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Open to: 2L and 3L students of color in Minnesota
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Deadline: Fall, yearly
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Contact: info@diversityinpractice.org
Minnesota Hispanic Bar Association (MHBA) Mentorship Program
The MHBA pairs law students with practicing Latinx attorneys and judges in Minnesota. The goal is to provide law students with an opportunity, throughout the school year, to work with experienced attorneys and judges to obtain career guidance and advice. Information about how to sign up to be a mentee will be sent out and available on our website soon.
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Open to: Latinx law students in Minnesota.
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Deadline: None
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Contact: mnhispanicbar@gmail.com
Minnesota Lavender Bar Association (MLBA) Mentoring Program
The MLBA is developing a formal mentoring program to connect law students and newer lawyers with MLBA attorneys. Keep an eye on the MLBA website (mnlavbar.org) for further details as we get closer to launch!
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Open to: Minnesota Law Students
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Deadline: TBD
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Contact: info@mnlavbar.org; https://mnlavbar.org
Minnesota Women Lawyers (MWL) Student to Attorney Mentor Program
MWL's Student to Attorney Mentoring Program matches law students and attorneys in a one-on-one mentoring relationship based on student interest and attorney practice area. The goal of MWL's Student to Attorney Mentoring Program is to 16 provide law student members with knowledge, advice, and support they need to successfully navigate law school and develop a fulfilling and meaningful career. This program continues over the course of the school year.
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Open to: All Minnesota law students. Must be an MWL member.
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Deadline: Fall, yearly
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Contact: Tessa Jones, tjones@mwlawyers.org
Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) Mentoring
Providing talented, diverse first-year law students with practical advice and guidance they need to maximize their potential in law school and beyond.
LCLD Mentors are top legal professionals from LCLD Member organizations who actively invest their time, experiences, and resources into their Mentees’ development. Ask any successful attorney: nothing propels a legal career like having a great mentor.
Contact: https://www.lcld.com/programs/law-school-mentoring/
American Bar Association's Commission on Disability Rights Mentor Program
In 2000, the American Bar Association's Commission on Disability Rights established the National Mentor Program for law students with disabilities and recent law school graduates with disabilities. The program provides mentees the opportunity to gain insight into the legal profession and professional guidance from an experienced attorney who works in a particular practice area, practice setting, or geographical region, and/or who shares similar personal experiences with the mentee, such as having a disability. However, mentors do not have to have a disability in order to participate.
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Open to: Law student and recent law school graduate mentees
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Deadline: Ongoing
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ABA Forum on Entertainment & Sports Industries Mentoring Program
The ABA Forum on Entertainment & Sports Industries is thrilled to announce the opening of its new mentorship program, designed to match attorneys (or law students) with more experienced mentors within the sports and entertainment industry. Selected mentees can expect to receive one-on-one mentorship from experienced attorneys working in sports and entertainment. Mentees also will have opportunities to engage in exclusive programming and professional growth opportunities within the Forum. Overall, the program is directed toward improving your professional skills, building your network, gaining knowledge of the industry, enhancing your ability to form and maintain professional relationships, and learning about opportunities in the field and how to position yourself for them.
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Deadline: Summer, yearly
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Open to: Attorneys and law student mentees
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Contact: https://www.americanbar.org/groups/entertainment_sports/mentoring-program/
ABA Antitrust Law Section Mentoring Program
The Mentoring Program matches experienced Section members (both lawyers and economists) with junior practitioners and students (again, both lawyers and economists) for the ABA year, (which aligns with the academic year). Participants can also attend a variety of career development and networking programs and join affinity squads to develop additional mentoring relationships. The application opens in August, and please don't hesitate to reach out off-cycle to be added to email list for Mentoring Program events.
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Deadline: August, yearly
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Open to: Attorneys and law student mentees
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Contact: https://www.americanbar.org/groups/antitrust_law/about/membership/als-mentoring/
ABA Solo, Small Firm and General Practice Division (GPSolo) Mentoring Group
The GPSolo Mentoring Group provides a unique opportunity to connect with others in the Division. The Group consists of an online discussion platform where you can ask and answer questions, grow your network, share your experiences, and give back to the legal community. The Group is perfect for law students, young lawyers, new lawyers, new GPSolo members, established members, and everyone in between.
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Deadline: August, yearly
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Open to: Attorneys and law student mentees
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Contact: https://www.americanbar.org/groups/gpsolo/initiatives/mentoring-program/
Federal Bar Association’s Lift Up Leaders Mentorship Program
Focusing on creating pathways to leadership in the professional community as well as in the association, the Lift Up Leaders Mentorship Program connects FBA members from all stages of the practice of law.
Volunteer mentors and mentees will complete a profile on the FBA “Lift Up Leaders” mentorship portal. Based upon the profiles, the system will display the best possible mentor matches and the mentees will make a selection and extend an invitation to a mentor. Participating mentees may choose mentors based on professional goals, specific topical interests, experiences, location/chapter, or leadership roles. The program allows for the mentorship pair to build a mutually beneficial and positive relationship.
The program is designed for a six-month relationship. Opportunities to enroll and match occur in the fall. Mentors/Mentees are expected to schedule regular meetings convenient for their schedules for at least a six-month period to ensure the program adds value to each mentor/mentee relationship. The FBA will provide webinars and resources to stimulate conversations.
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Open to: FBA attorney members
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ABA Forum on Entertainment & Sports Industries Mentoring Program
The ABA Forum on Entertainment & Sports Industries is thrilled to announce the opening of its new mentorship program, designed to match attorneys (or law students) with more experienced mentors within the sports and entertainment industry. Selected mentees can expect to receive one-on-one mentorship from experienced attorneys working in sports and entertainment. Mentees also will have opportunities to engage in exclusive programming and professional growth opportunities within the Forum. Overall, the program is directed toward improving your professional skills, building your network, gaining knowledge of the industry, enhancing your ability to form and maintain professional relationships, and learning about opportunities in the field and how to position yourself for them.
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Deadline: Summer, yearly
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Open to: Attorneys and law student mentees
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Contact: https://www.americanbar.org/groups/entertainment_sports/mentoring-program/