C A N A D I A N L a w y e r 4STUDENTS AUGUST 2017 51
features
4S
Mentors
are a must
avigating new territory is oen confusing and stressful, especially when you're do-
ing it alone. But in the law, entering the profession doesn't have to be so daunting
for students and new junior associates with a mentor — someone who is more
experienced in the field, who can share advice and wisdom with a protégé.
"Having a mentor is extremely helpful because they'll let you know what you
have to do to develop your skills, how to constantly be improving and give you
tips," says Vivian Li, associate at Alloway & Associates PC and protégé through the
Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers' mentorship program.
ere are different types of mentorship relationships: formal, where an established pro-
gram pairs a protégé with a mentor in a similar area of practice or interest, or informal,
where the protégé meets experienced professionals organically.
Formal matching mentorship programs exist within many law schools and law firms
and through various organizations, such as the Law Society of Upper Canada's Coach and
Advisor Network, the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers, Hellenic Canadian Law-
yers' Association, Legal Aid Ontario, the First Generation Network, the Women's Law As-
sociation of Ontario — the list goes on.
N
ALL STUDENTS NEED TO FIND
MENTORS TO SUCCEED, BUT FOR
THOSE WITHOUT AN ESTABLISHED
NETWORK, IT IS CRUCIAL
BY ALEXIA KAPRALOS
