Paralegal Mentorship Program

Introducing the USLegal Paralegals

Mentorship Program

If you are a recent paralegal graduate, an inexperienced paralegal, or a paralegal with less than two years’ experience, you may often feel lost and alone in trying to make career decisions, such as changing specialties, transitioning from a small firm to a large firm, accepting additional responsibilities, going on an interview, or a myriad of career decision-making questions. I know I did.

In addition, as a new paralegal, many times you need to find out how to do a particular procedure or task. Sometimes, you are too embarrassed to ask others in the office and even with all paralegal books around, you just cannot find the answer. If it were not for other paralegals who I could call to ask a question such as where to get a form, what court to file a document in, how to prepare certain pleadings, I would have been very ineffective and much confused.

The history of paralegals goes as far back as the mid-60s, when many attorneys called paralegals “legal assistants.” Today we have many paralegals with more than 15 years’ experience. I know there are many experienced paralegals who enjoy helping others, especially mentoring new paralegals. As I got older and saw many younger paralegals struggling with many questions, I wanted to help. I guess that is why I kept writing books. There is always a pleasure in helping others; funny thing, you get as much out of it as they do. At least that has been my experience.

Thus, I created the USLegal Paralegals Mentor Program whereby experienced paralegals may volunteer to assist new graduates, inexperienced paralegals, and paralegals with less than two years’ experience. This program will allow you to connect with a paralegal and help him or her in their career in whatever way you both agree.

To do this, we need “Mentors” to volunteer and new paralegals “Mentees” who need help. Both Mentors and Mentees must join USLegal Paralegals to access the Mentorship Program and agree to be added to the member system.

The Mentorship program is a “Win/Win” situation in which the Mentor paralegal should receive the satisfaction of helping a fledgling paralegal, and the new paralegal should receive the benefit of the knowledge and experience of the Mentor. Because paralegals are professionals, I know that they will be courtesy and respectful of each other’s time constraints.

Here are a few suggestions to get your relationship started and some of the ways the Mentor Paralegal may help the new paralegal:

SUGGESTIONS FOR THE MENTOR PARALEGAL:

Become a Mentor

1. Request a copy of the new paralegal’s resume’ for review and become familiar with the paralegal’s experience.
2. Suggest that the new paralegal set career goals for one year, five years, and ten years.
3. If the new paralegal is work, have the new paralegal list any problems in the office for which the paralegal needs input.
4. If the new paralegal is working as paralegal, ask the new paralegal to define what he or she wants from his or her current job. If the new paralegal is not working as a paralegal, as the paralegal to define specifically what type of job he or she wants.
5. Ask that the new paralegal further to further define what responsibilities, what salary, location, and specialty the paralegal desires.
6. Recommend further education and/or training if you think it is appropriate.
7. Read my blog journal entry on mentoring http://paralegals.uslegalblogs.com/ on August 18, 2009, and September 20, 2009,  and follow future entries.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE NEW PARALEGAL:

Paralegal Mentorship Signup

1. Redo your resume’ and have someone else proof it. [I recommend the functional resume that indicates what responsibilities you have had or now have in your job(s)]. Look at other paralegals’ resume’s for examples. Wait until you receive a Mentor before you send your resume or Paralegal Inventory & Assessment Form.
2. Complete the above suggestions that your Mentor Paralegal assigns to you.
3. Do extra research to accomplish your assignments.
4. Think about your goals and make sure they are measurable and realistic for you.
5. Each day review your goals and keep records of your progress. (See my article on How to get a $10,000 Raise without Changing Jobs for recordkeeping ideas in the Articles section on this website.).

I have found a paralegal to mentor, and she and I will be keeping a journal to share our experiences with you.

If you are interested in building a relationship and giving back to the profession by helping an inexperienced paralegal, or if you are a new paralegal who needs help, please go to the Paralegal Mentor Program link under “Connect with Paralegals” and complete either a Mentor or Mentee form, and we will help you find someone. If you have any suggestions for this program, please let me know.

Thank you for your participation.

Carole Bruno

Related Posts:

http://paralegals.uslegalblogs.com/2009/08/27/introducing-our-highly-qualified-paralegal-mentors

http://paralegals.uslegalblogs.com/2010/02/09/help-a-new-paralegal-get-a-career-started-(or-Restarted)-on-the-right-fFoot!