Summary of Survey Results
Survey Background
The Commission on Professionalism administers Internet-based surveys to its Lawyer to Lawyer Mentoring participants. Responses are anonymous unless a lawyer chooses to provide contact information at the end of his or her survey. The results below are from the November 2008 group, which ended its mentoring term Dec. 31, 2009. Ninety-four percent of our new lawyers and 92 percent of our mentors completed these surveys.
Benefits to New Lawyers
- 97 percent said they are better equipped to deal with ethical and professionalism considerations in their daily practice
- 94 percent said they learned about legal customs
- 94 percent said they were better lawyers because of the program
- 93 percent said they are better prepared for the practice of law
- 91 percent said they have more practical knowledge about the practice of law
- 90 percent said their standards had been raised or reinforced
- 87 percent said they built collegial relationships with other members of the bar
- 61 percent said that their participation contributed to an increase in job satisfaction
New Lawyers' Endorsements
- 99 percent would recommend the program to other new lawyers
- 99 percent would recommend to another lawyer that they choose their mentor as one of their mentor nominations
- 98 percent said the program met their goals
Benefits to Mentors
- 82 percent said that their participation contributed to an increase in their professionalism
- 77 percent said that their participation contributed to an increase in job satisfaction
Mentors' Endorsements
- 98 percent said that they would recommend the program to other experienced practitioners
Continuing Mentoring Beyond the End of the Term
- 96 percent of new lawyers said they believed they would maintain a relationship with their mentor after the term concludes
- 95 percent of mentors said they believed they would maintain a relationship with their new lawyer after the term concludes
Responses to the Open-Ended Question, “What has been the greatest benefit of your participation in mentoring?”
New Lawyers
- “Meeting with such an inspiring and passionate attorney. I intend to ask him to continue to act as my mentor indefinitely.”
- “I can't pick one thing. It has been an invaluable experience.”
- “I know I have gained a mentoring relationship that will last long after this program ends. It’s really comforting to know that I will continue to have someone that I can rely on for advice.”
- “Learning from an experienced practitioner. Again, only those who have practiced for awhile know the real customs. I feel that you cannot teach much about custom from a classroom. Custom has to be experienced. This was the greatest benefit to me.”
- “My greatest benefits were becoming more self-confident, meeting a new person, and having someone else outside my small office to turn to for advice.”
- “The greatest benefit was getting to know a woman a few years older than me who has survived and even thrived in a profession that can be tough on women, and to form a relationship with her that can be maintained beyond the formal program.”
- “Establishing a social network of lawyers within my community.”
- “The ability to see how someone who has actually practiced law for 30 years views the law instead of reading it from a textbook.”
- “I started my own firm directly out of law school. So it has been extremely helpful to have someone to use as a sounding board for ideas and questions.”
- “[L]aw school provides you with the tools to be a lawyer but does not teach you what a legal career looks like or will be like. My mentor provided a long view of a legal career that is absolutely critical for any newly minted lawyer. The mentoring experience was one of the best parts of my first year practicing law.”
Mentors
- “I feel as if I am contributing to the overall system of justice by helping a new lawyer.”
- “I could not believe how much I enjoyed the program. It has really been fun getting to know a new attorney and imparting words of wisdom. The greatest benefit is the lasting relationship that has developed out of this program.”
- “It reminded me why I chose this profession as a career.”
- “I told my mentee at lunch today that the thing I enjoyed most was meeting a new member of the profession who was thoughtful, respectful, bright, and willing to listen to an old guy talk with him about the way the profession used to be, and how it could continue to be the greatest profession. I feel great as a result of participating, and I think my mentee did, too.”
- “It has made me stop and rethink how I handle my relationships with others in the legal community - both in-house and outside.”
- “Regular face-to-face meetings with a new associate gave me a better appreciation for real issues that our new associates are facing. It hasn't been that long since I was one, but quite a bit has changed in a short period of time. It was a nice reality check, and my mentee is a wonderful individual. I am glad I was able to spend so much time with her!”
- “Working with a young lawyer, with a fresh perspective, great energy, and boundless enthusiasm. Thank you for this opportunity.”
- My hope is that, by virtue of participating in this program, I have helped my mentee to avoid problems in his practice that many young attorneys encounter. I enjoyed the program so much and have made a friendship that I believe will be lasting. We plan to continue our meetings, despite the end of the official mentoring relationship.”
- “The young lawyer renewed my faith in being a lawyer.”