Nov. 30, 2011
Supreme Court Expands Mentoring Program
The Supreme Court of Ohio has expanded the pool of lawyers who can participate in its mentoring program.
While “pleased with the growth and success” of the Lawyer to Lawyer Mentoring Program, the Commission on Professionalism proposed and the Supreme Court adopted a rule change to allow attorneys who are registered for corporate status to participate as mentors for new lawyers. Previously, only attorneys registered for active status were eligible.
The change, which takes effect tomorrow, is contained in Rule X of the Supreme Court Rules for the Government of the Bar of Ohio.
Established as a permanent program in 2008, the Lawyer to Lawyer program seeks to elevate the competence, professionalism and success of Ohio lawyers. The one-year program pairs experienced lawyers with those recently admitted to the practice of law who meet six times for discussions and activities selected from an approved mentoring plan.
In addition to the change implemented by rule, the Court also revised the program in two other ways:
- By removing the requirement that a mentor’s five years of practice experience must have occurred in Ohio
- By allowing, as part of a one-year pilot, co-counseling on specific cases between mentors and new lawyers who work for different employers.
View the complete text of the rule amendment.
New lawyers who were admitted to the Ohio bar earlier this month may register for the program until Jan. 9, 2012. Experienced attorneys and judges who meet the program’s requirements are encouraged to apply to be mentors at any time. For more information, go to http://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/AttySvcs/mentoring/default.asp.
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