Canadian Lawyer 4Students

BY HEATHER GARDINER rship o t en M 101 Tips for mentees and mentors on how to get the most out of their relationship. A " re you my mentor?" It's a question Facebook chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg warns is "a total mood killer" in her book Lean In. But for law students searching for guidance, it's a valid question. As third-year Osgoode Hall Law School student Rebecca Lockwood pointed out in her Canadian Lawyer 4Students column "Finding the one," law students are repeatedly told to find a mentor. "Every career panel I've attended and every law school guide I've read have all provided me with the same piece of advice: every successful professional has a mentor — get one," she wrote. "Mentorship in the legal profession provides you a sense of collegiality, expectation of professionalism, and gives you a first look into how the profession runs," says Charlotte Wolters, founder of the Women's Legal Mentorship Program. "It helps set the tone for what you will experience as a lawyer." Since it's such a vital part of building your career, here are some pointers for mentees and mentors on how to create a lasting, meaningful mentorship. 14 1 Expand your reach As a law student searching for a mentor, you need to increase your exposure. You can do this by attending networking events and joining associations that interest you. Promise Holmes Skinner, who recently graduated from the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, advises students to attend as many networking events as possible and keep an open mind because you never know who you're going to connect with. As nerve-wracking as networking events are (especially as a first-year law student), you will benefit from attending them and expanding your network because there is always an opportunity to meet someone who is going to enhance your personal and professional life, she says. Fernando Garcia, general counsel at Nissan Canada Inc., has mentored students through Osgoode's mentor program with Legal Leaders for Diversity. He suggests students join organizations to meet new people. "Get involved in associations, get involved in the things that you find interesting and you will meet people who are of influence who can help you out through the process," he says. You can also look for a mentor outside of the legal profession. "It's healthy to be maintaining working relationships with people outside of the profession," says Susan Lightstone, senior educational consultant at the Ontario Court of Justice. "It gives you a wider world view and you're bringing in diverse perspectives." Charlotte Wolters of the Women's Legal Mentorship Program echoes this sentiment, adding there's lots of wisdom to be gained from outside of the legal profession so you should look for a mentor even in unlikely places. fall 2013 CANADIAN L a w y e r 4 students MAGOZ 5 ntees me Tips for

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