Three Benefits Of Being A Law School Mentor

Three Benefits Of Being A Law School Mentor

If anyone ever tells you that they didn’t need help at some point in law school – they’re probably lying. Law school is a difficult three-year stretch that involves tons of studying, pressure, and stress. It’s expected that students reach out for help! Especially because law school isn’t something you need to do alone. Who better to help a 1L out than someone that’s already gone through the process? If you’re a 1L thinking about helping incoming students next year, this post is for you. Of course, if you’re a 2L or 3L thinking about becoming a mentor, this post is also applicable. Becoming a student mentor can be a rewarding and beneficial experience for a number of reasons. Here are JD Advising’s top three benefits of becoming a law school mentor.

Three Benefits Of Being A Law School Mentor

Networking Benefits

Becoming a law school mentor is a great way to familiarize yourself with the incoming class and build your network. As a mentor, you’ll be meeting with 1Ls and getting to know them on a personal level. Like we’ve mentioned plenty of times before, other law school students aren’t just friends and classmates – you’ll likely be engaging with them professionally as well. The legal community is a tightly knit circle where many law school classmates often end up crossing paths as attorneys. The 1L student you’re mentoring might happen to be a colleague, referral, or other professional connection in the future. As a mentor, you’re opening yourself up to many different potential connections!

Resume Benefits

On top of expanding your social and professional network, becoming a law school mentor also looks great on a resume! Assuming the role of a law school student mentor shows potential employers that you’re never too busy to give back. It also demonstrates that you possess strong leadership and collaboration skills while maintaining responsibility for something bigger than just you. Employers love to see these types of experiences on a resume for a number of reasons. First, becoming a student mentor can help you stand apart from other applicants. Second, it demonstrates that you likely have the basic skills to someday become a supervising attorney. Lastly, it shows that you care about your law school and legal community. Many employers hope candidates demonstrate a similar level of care towards their place of employment.

Giving Back Feels Good

The last major benefit of becoming a law school student mentor is that you get to help someone, and chances are, that someone could really use the help! Remember, although it may seem like a distant memory (2L and 3Ls we’re talking to you!), at one point you were just beginning law school. Regardless of whether you had a student mentor to help during your 1L year, mentors can be a great benefit to students. Providing advice on final exams, structuring outlines, applying for jobs, and professors to avoid can make new students feel comfortable. In turn, many of the 1Ls that have mentors go on to become mentors themselves, creating a cycle that is beneficial to both incoming and outgoing students!

• Seeking Success in Law School?

  • Benefit from personalized one-on-one tutoring by our seasoned law school tutors.
  • Explore our NEW and highly acclaimed law school study aids, available for a free trial.