Mentorship Program

What does a mentor do? Mentoring creates an opportunity for an experienced attorney to provide professional guidance and share practical knowledge and skills with another attorney.  The mentoring relationship is intended to: (1) provide career guidance and goal setting; (2) assist with ethical guidance and professional development; (3) help build connections and networking; (4) improve legal ability and professional judgment; and (5) provide feedback and support.

What is a mentor/mentee relationship NOT mean to be? While some legal education and guidance may be available, a mentor is not meant to: (1) be a mentee’s supervisor or be required to review their work product; (2) be a substitute for CLE or legal education for the mentee; (3) be on call 24/7 to answer mentee questions

What do you need to do to be a mentor?  You are required to be a member of the Bar in good standing.  You can be active, inactive, or retired.  After completing this form the Alaska Bar Association will try to match you with a mentee.  You may also use this opportunity to establish your own mentorship with an attorney outside of this program by reaching out to them directly.

What do you need to do to get a mentor?  You have to be a member of the Alaska Bar and must fill out this form. The Alaska Bar Association will then try to match you with an attorney mentor.  You may also use this opportunity to establish your own mentorship with an attorney outside of this program by reaching out to them directly.

Can you get a mentor or be a mentor for a specific goal? Yes. Both interest forms have options for you to select what capacities you would like a mentor or would be willing to provide guidance.  This includes: law office management, becoming a judge, dealing with work/life balance, courtroom practice & local court customs, career planning & professional growth, building your legal network, winding up your practice & succession planning, being available as a general sounding board, and many more.

I have filled out a mentor or mentee form. Now what?  The Alaska Bar pairs up mentors on a rolling basis.  It may take days to a few months for a mentorship pairing to be made.  If you are seeking a mentor and need more immediate assistance, we encourage you to reach out to the Lawyers’ Assistance Committee directly. You can also get free ethics advice by contacting Bar Counsel.

How often should the mentor/mentee meet?  This depends on each particular match.  Part of the intake questionnaire will help us make matches based on the schedules of the individuals.  Some mentors may want to just meet once a quarter, some may want to meet weekly.  This is up to you to figure out what works best. 

I was matched with a mentor or mentee, but it is not working out.  What can I do?  The Alaska Bar will do its best to pair you with a good mentor/mentee.  However, we are aware that these relationships can be very personal.  If your mentorship match isn’t working out, just email us at info@alaskabar.org so that we can help find a better mentorship match for you.