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Why new lawyers might make the best mentors for students
While there are plenty of advantages to connecting with a highly experienced mentor during law school, there is something to be said for seeking advice from lawyers who are just a few years ahead in their career, one new lawyer tells Protégé.
Naomi Neilson
When criminal lawyer Ben Watson first learnt of the opportunity to mentor third-year law students, he was worried that he did not have enough experience behind him to make a difference. Instead, the last two years have taught him that there are plenty of reasons why new lawyers are the perfect mentors for current students.
“There are a lot of stressors in that final year, and having someone that has just been through that gives you the confidence that you will also get there,” Mr Watson said. “Hopefully, you will pass through it successfully and come out the other side a better person. That’s one of the reasons I said, ‘yes, I’ll do it’. It’s something I didn’t really have in my final year that I wish I did, so giving back was really important to me.”
Not only will a new lawyer have the recent experience of having gone through the final year of a law degree, Mr Watson explained that law students stand to benefit from learning how they found work and navigated the profession after graduation.
There are also a lot of benefits for a new lawyer to participate in the mentoring relationship. For Mr Watson, he has worked closely with a law student for the last two years and said it has been “amazing to see that progression from that third-year stage to the final-year stage”, particularly in terms of the career path she is forging.
“Whether I’ve had a hand in that, I haven’t asked but I am sure the confidence I have given to just put your hand up and say yes to things has helped. It’s an important part of what you do as a mentor, to encourage and give confidence,” he said.
In addition to building on soft skills and taking alternative career paths – which was discussed in this article – Mr Watson advised mentees to manage their stress both at work or university and outside of it. Although some law schools have moved into focusing on wellbeing, it’s still important that students consider it themselves.
“I always say it’s particularly important to have some release and to have something else outside of the law to focus on. I’ve got my greyhound who I love looking after and taking for walks and just chilling out with her, but it’s also about making time to eat well and to sleep well,” Mr Watson advised.
“Those are some of the really important aspects that in the midst of our busy and chaotic lives, we sometimes forget or don’t think are important. They make such a difference to how you practise and how you relate with others.”
For more from Ben Watson on mentorships, advice for new lawyers, and how he found a place in criminal law, listen to the episode here!
Naomi Neilson
Naomi Neilson is a senior journalist with a focus on court reporting for Lawyers Weekly.
You can email Naomi at:
