What it is:
Something they don’t teach you in law school is what it’s actually like to practice law once you pass the bar exam and begin working. Yes, it is important to learn the law, but wouldn’t it also be beneficial to learn about the multitude of different practice areas by talking to more senior attorneys who are currently in private practice, in government, in-house or work for a nonprofit organization?
Enter The Legal Mentor Network (“LMN”), the first formal mentor network connecting law students and young lawyers with senior level attorneys. The LMN began in 2020 following Brian Potts’ viral LinkedIn post of a 20-year-old rejection letter from a law firm. Following the post, Potts was bombarded by young lawyers and law students seeking career advice. Potts could not help everyone, so he reached out to colleagues and other lawyers to see if they would be interested in mentoring, and the LMN was established.
Today, the LMN has spread nationwide.
Who is offering it:
Matt Schwartz, a partner at DLA Piper in San Diego, is the co-founder of the LMN. Schwartz discusses the importance of offering young lawyers free mentorship and gives senior attorneys some worthwhile tips for becoming an effective mentor. The LMN is a valuable resource for both law students and young lawyers.
How to get started/ next steps:
For more information and to sign up to be a mentor or a mentee, click here.
Learn More:
Please visit our Resources page for more helpful information and tips for (be)coming a happy rainmaker.
