Mentors wanted for scheme's second year

The Society intends to run its career mentoring scheme for a second year and is currently recruiting mentors for this.

Mentoring describes a developmental relationship between colleagues, one of whom is (normally) a more experienced practitioner. Mentoring relationships facilitate personal and professional development through support, challenge and review. The role of mentors can involve listening to concerns, identifying problems and helping guide someone with decisions in relation to their career.

Mentors who would like to take part in the scheme should be:

• solicitors from all areas of practice, and all levels, including in-house;
• actively interested in continuing professional development;
• enthusiastic about encouraging others and helping individuals achieve their career goals;
• able to commit around one hour per month to the mentoring scheme.

The aim is to match mentors and mentees, depending on their requirements and experiences. One mentor will be matched with one mentee. All mentors are required to attend a full day training session on either 10 October or 17 November in Edinburgh before they begin the process.

Mentors gain the opportunity to share knowledge and expertise and support new lawyers, enhance their coaching, leadership and management skills, can consider their own career development, and are able to “give something back” to the legal profession.