Four Reasons Why First-Generation Attorneys Need Mentors

Mentors help first-generation attorneys overcome imposter syndrome

A widespread problem in the legal profession for first-generation attorneys, no matter their pedigree or practice area, is that feeling that they do not belong or that they are not supposed to be there. The feeling is familiar for many, as it’s likely not the first time since they entered the legal world that they felt that way.

Imposter syndrome manifests itself in many ways: when you’re trying to prepare for a big hearing or trial, or when you feel you don’t understand a certain aspect of the practice area, which may arise during regular interactions with judges or other attorneys.

The feeling can be debilitating and can cause us to be less than the best version of ourselves that our clients need us to be. Having a mentor that can provide a first-generation attorney with needed encouragement in those times of doubt is not only beneficial for their professional growth but also relieves a lot of the stressors that seem larger than what they really are.

Mentors realize that many “issues” aren’t really that important in the grand scheme of things, but they know it might seem that way to a newer attorney because they haven’t had a particular experience yet or enough of them to demystify them. A good pep talk from a friend is sometimes all we need to keep pushing forward in life. The same is true in the legal profession.

In addition, one of the best-kept secrets within the legal world is the power of a good document template, no matter which corner of the legal landscape you find yourself in. However, it’s no secret that some templates are better than others.

Mentors often have a wealth of templates, among other substantive materials, they have collected over the years. Given how long they’ve been practicing, their templates tend to be exceptional because they’re battle-tested and have been refined over time. Working on templates created by a mentor can both give a first-generation attorney an enormous head start and save them, literally, days’ or weeks’ worth of time they would have otherwise spent creating a document from scratch or from lesser sources.

Mentors help first-generation attorneys instantly develop networks

“Your network is your net worth” is a phrase that is often said but rarely well understood. If you want to truly grasp what that phrase actually means, ask an attorney who secured the position they are in based on another attorney’s recommendation. Or better yet, ask a solo practitioner how much business comes through the door based on word-of-mouth advertising or referrals from other attorneys.

Having a mentor, and this is true in all professions, expands a first-generation attorney’s network outreach to an extent they can’t have imagined. If you’ve seen the movie “Six Degrees of Separation” starring Will Smith, you’ll get a sense for how small this world truly is, and how you never know who another person could connect you to and the opportunities that connection could bring.

Having a mentor who has been practicing for a substantial period of time can expose first-generation attorneys to their next job, next client, next co-worker, or perhaps just a new friend. The legal profession emphasizes networking, but for good reason, knowing who to call in a specific situation is invaluable, and knowing that you have someone who can call the right person even more so. When a first-generation attorney has a mentor, they instantly get access to their network and vice versa. It’s a mutually beneficial relationship that can make a big difference for a first-generation attorney, especially one just starting out.

Mentors spent decades making mistakes and developing best practices so first-generation attorneys don’t have to

Wouldn’t it be awesome if you could have all the wisdom of a seasoned attorney without having to go through years of hard work and countless experiences, including making your fair share of mistakes? When you have a mentor, that’s exactly what happens.

Mentors bring with them decades’ worth of mistakes, positive and negative experiences, and life lessons from which a first-generation attorney can draw from and build upon. Not that a first-generation attorney won’t still make mistakes or have experiences of their own. But having a person who can provide a first-generation attorney with guidance in unknown waters can not only steer the ship in the right direction but can also prevent it from sinking.

When a first-generation attorney has no other source from which to base their experience on or from which to envision what their future as an attorney will look like, mentors are there to provide their wisdom and expertise. Sometimes learning from mistakes comes at the cost of losing a motion, trial, case, or a client. But having a mentor can provide a first-generation attorney with an education about the profession while eliminating the risk that comes with being a novice. No one has it all figured out in this profession, but as a wise person once said, “I’m never too old to take advice.”

Mentors help first-generation attorneys develop their personal brands

With the rise and dominance of social media, the legal profession has seen a shift from the proverbial “we” to the more personal “I.” Personal branding has become a key characteristic in almost all professional services fields, with attorneys having taken the lead in this regard.

The rise in personal branding via social media platforms, combined with the necessity of marketing in order to run a successful law firm, have led to many attorneys finding success by regularly creating social media content. You probably already see many attorneys having both personal and professional social media accounts, whether on Facebook, Instagram or X. You also have probably run into many Instagram Reels/TikToks from attorneys providing small pieces of general advice in their practice area.

Without the proper guidance, it can be daunting for first-generation attorneys to launch their own personal legal brands (with or without the help of social media). A mentor will steer them in the right direction regarding brand building and social media. Mentors have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly with attorneys’ marketing efforts, and they know how an attorney’s personal brand can make or break them in this profession.

A mentor that has an established personal brand (with or without the help of social media) can advise a first-generation attorney about developing their own brand regardless of whether they’re at a firm or in-house at an organization. Building a personal brand has become a borderline necessity for attorneys who want to build their practice by bringing in their own clients. A mentor can help speed up that process and avoid pitfalls.

For first-generation attorneys, mentors provide an unfair advantage

Life as a first-generation attorney can be difficult. There are plenty of “known unknowns” and practically an infinite number of “unknown unknowns.”

By aligning themselves with a mentor and getting their money’s worth by using them as a resource regarding all aspects of their professional lives, first-generation attorneys can save precious resources and get a head start toward success by, among other things, overcoming imposter syndrome, instantly developing a network, learning from their mentors’ mistakes, and getting much-needed help developing their personal brands.

Jose De Los Santos is a workers’ compensation attorney at Pond Lehocky Giordano LLP, the largest workers’ compensation and social security disability law firm in Pennsylvania, and one of the largest in the U.S. He can be reached at jdelossantos@pondlehocky.com.

Reprinted with permission from the October 17, 2024 edition of The Legal Intelligencer © 2024 ALM Media Properties, LLC. All rights reserved. Further duplication without permission is prohibited, contact 877-257-3382 or reprints@alm.com.