Home>Mentorship Program

    MENTORSHIP PROGRAM

    Developing a lasting relationship with a mentor is key to the success of law students, and new lawyers or legal workers.  Several NLG chapters have mentorship programs, and this program will both augment existing programs and also, where none exists, create a nationwide program with a specific focus on labor and employment law.  The Labor & Employment Committee mentorship program aims to support the coming generation of Guild members, build our membership, and build a community of legal activists to support workers and worker organizations. 

    We are now accepting applications for the 2016-2017 school year. 

    Each mentor / mentee relationship is just for one year, but we hope the relationship will provide an opportunity for recent law school graduates, law students, and new legal workers to have a lasting professional relationship with experienced labor and employment law attorneys and legal workers.  The NLG L&EC mentorship program also aims to provide mentees with career advice and to offer a better understanding of what is involved with being a successful Guild labor and employment activist.

    To volunteer as a mentor or apply as a mentee, you please submit the appopriate online form. For more information about being a mentor or mentee, see below. 

     

    Mentee Interest Form 

    Are you interested in being a Mentee?

    Attorneys and experienced legal workers have volunteered to be mentors, including those in private practice, working for nonprofit organizations, and working as in-house counsel for unions.  Whether you are hoping to practice labor law, employment law, work with a nonprofit or legal services program serving low-wage and other vulnerable workers, we hope to match you with someone who shares your passion and desire to serve workers.

    Your Role as a Mentee

    Initial contact is the responsibility of the mentee as assertiveness is a key trait necessary to being an effective attorney or legal worker and every bit of practice helps. We ask mentors to meet or chat with mentees several times over the course of the year-long mentorship.  If possible, we encourage mentors to invite their mentees to shadow them or otherwise provide opportunities for practical learning and guidance.  The mentorship program is intended to help you get oriented to a labor or employment law practice.  It's not intended to get you a job with your mentor.  If a work opportunity arises with your mentor, please contact the L&EC to be assigned a new mentor.  We do not want to discourage hiring, but would like to keep the mentor/mentee connection separate from the employment relationship.  

    Mentor Volunteer Form

    Are you interested in being a Mentor?

    Whether you are in private practice, working for a nonprofit or serve as in-house counsel for a union, your experience is invaluable. We hope to match you with someone who shares your passion and desire to serve the labor movement, low-wage workers, and workers generally.

    Your Role as a Mentor

    Initial contact is the responsibility of the mentee as assertiveness is a trait necessary to being an effective attorney or legal worker. We ask mentors to meet or chat with mentees several times over the course of the year-long mentorship. If possible, we encourage mentors to invite their mentees to shadow them or otherwise provide opportunities for practical learning and guidance. The mentorship program is intended to help mentees get oriented to a labor or employment law practice.  It's not intended to get you a job with your mentor.  If an employment relationship develops, please contact the L&EC to be assigned a new mentee.  We do not want to discourage hiring, but would like to keep the mentor/mentee connection separate from the employment relationship.  

     

    Depending on the mentor's and mentee's schedule, we also encourage mentors to:

    • provide general course selection advice;
    • provide general career advice;
    • speak at a career panel at the mentee's law school;
    • critique the mentee's resume;
    • conduct mock employment interviews; and
    • assist with networking for clerkships or employment positions.
       
       

    Please contact Angela Cornell at abc49@cornell.edu or nlglabor@gmail.com with any questions.