Finding Mentors as an Underrepresented Student

Mentorship in BigLaw is one of the strongest predictors of career satisfaction and success. But if you are from an underrepresented background, finding mentors who understand your experience can feel difficult. The good news is that more people want to help than you think. You just need to know where to look.

Where to find mentors

Your law school's alumni network. Search your school's alumni directory for graduates working at your target firms. Filter by practice area, location, or affinity group membership. Alumni are disproportionately willing to help students from their school.

Firm affinity groups. During callbacks or after receiving an offer, ask to be connected with members of the firm's affinity groups. Most firms are happy to arrange these conversations, and the attorneys in these groups are often specifically interested in mentoring.

Professional organizations. Groups like the National Bar Association, Hispanic National Bar Association, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, and the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association all have mentorship programs and networking events.

Diversity fellowships. If you participate in a 1L diversity fellowship, you will likely be assigned a mentor as part of the program. These relationships often last well beyond the fellowship itself.

LinkedIn. Search for attorneys from your background at firms you are interested in. A thoughtful, brief message expressing genuine interest in their career path has a surprisingly high response rate. See our LinkedIn etiquette guide for how to do this well.

How to approach potential mentors

The best mentor relationships start with a specific, low-commitment ask. Do not email someone asking them to be your mentor. Instead:

• Ask for a 15-minute phone call to learn about their path
• Reference something specific about their background or work
• Be clear about why you are reaching out to them specifically
• Follow up with a thank you and stay in touch periodically

Mentorship develops over time. It starts with one conversation, then another, and eventually someone is in your corner because they have watched you grow.

What good mentorship looks like

A good mentor in BigLaw does some combination of:

• Answers your questions honestly, including the uncomfortable ones
• Gives you feedback on your work or career strategy
• Introduces you to people in their network
• Advocates for you when you are not in the room
• Shares their own mistakes so you can avoid them

You do not need one perfect mentor. Build a network of three to five people who each contribute something different.

Give back early

Even as a student, you can mentor pre-law students or 1Ls if you are a 2L or 3L. Mentorship is a practice, and the earlier you start giving back, the stronger your own network becomes.

Browse the firm directory to research which firms invest in mentorship and professional development for underrepresented attorneys.