Minnesota State Bar Association

E-Poll

Mentoring

How can mentoring programs affect new attorneys? Here's what our readers say.

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100% Agree
0% Disagree 1. Retaining skilled and experienced associates is a problem for most law firms.

34% Agree
66% Disagree
2. Law partners today cannot afford the time needed to mentor associates as they once did.

Comments:

This depends on your definition of "afford." Most law partners are making plenty of money, so they can afford whatever they want, but the priority is always on making MORE money, not creating a better work environment.

78% Agree
22% Disagree 3. Law firms that invest in mentoring their associates are more likely to retain top talent than those that offer only financial incentives.

11% Agree
89% Disagree
4. The lack of law firm loyalty among attorneys today will not be remedied by any amount of mentoring.

Comments:

"Much of the current generation of new lawyers are not in the practice of law for the financial gains. If money was the issue, the new lawyers would have obtained IT degrees not J.D.'s."

100% Agree
0% Disagree
5. Most attorneys today would rather spend time on their relationship outside the firm than spend time on their relationships with coworkers.

Comments:

The Ramsey County Bar Assn. did some research a few years ago that indicated that many lawyers don't like one another very much, so why would they want to spend their time on their coworkers, especially when they are taught not to develop relationships, but to PRODUCE clients and work that will benefit the bottom line.

78% Agree
22% Disagree
6. If firms took the time to mentor their associates, lawyers would treat one another with greater civility.

Comments:

Part of the mentoring process should be a constant reminder to associates about the value of civility and the kinder, gentler aspects of being a member of the legal profession (with less emphasis on conducting a BUSINESS).

78% Agree
22% Disagree 7. The morale of attorneys in a firm would be enhanced if the firm paid more attention to mentoring new attorneys.

11% Agree
78% Disagree
11% No Resp.
8. Firms better demonstrate their commitment to new attorneys' development by offering them challenging work than by offering them mentors.

Comments:

This question assumes some sort of exclusivity of what can be offered -- why not challenging work AND mentors?

78% Agree
22% Disagree 9. Close mentoring relationships can be particularly beneficial to the professional development of women and minority attorneys.

78% Agree
22% Disagree 10. Mentoring for new associates is more critical today than at any time in the history of the profession.

	100% Agree 0% Disagree	1. Retaining skilled and experienced associates is a problem for most law firms.

	34% Agree 66% Disagree	2. Law partners today cannot afford the time needed to mentor associates as they once did. Comments: This depends on your definition of "afford." Most law partners are making plenty of money, so they can afford whatever they want, but the priority is always on making MORE money, not creating a better work environment.

	78% Agree 22% Disagree	3. Law firms that invest in mentoring their associates are more likely to retain top talent than those that offer only financial incentives.

	11% Agree 89% Disagree	4. The lack of law firm loyalty among attorneys today will not be remedied by any amount of mentoring. Comments: "Much of the current generation of new lawyers are not in the practice of law for the financial gains. If money was the issue, the new lawyers would have obtained IT degrees not J.D.'s."

	100% Agree 0% Disagree	5. Most attorneys today would rather spend time on their relationship outside the firm than spend time on their relationships with coworkers. Comments: The Ramsey County Bar Assn. did some research a few years ago that indicated that many lawyers don't like one another very much, so why would they want to spend their time on their coworkers, especially when they are taught not to develop relationships, but to PRODUCE clients and work that will benefit the bottom line.

	78% Agree 22% Disagree	6. If firms took the time to mentor their associates, lawyers would treat one another with greater civility. Comments: Part of the mentoring process should be a constant reminder to associates about the value of civility and the kinder, gentler aspects of being a member of the legal profession (with less emphasis on conducting a BUSINESS).

	78% Agree 22% Disagree	7. The morale of attorneys in a firm would be enhanced if the firm paid more attention to mentoring new attorneys.

	11% Agree 78% Disagree 11% No Resp.	8. Firms better demonstrate their commitment to new attorneys' development by offering them challenging work than by offering them mentors. Comments: This question assumes some sort of exclusivity of what can be offered -- why not challenging work AND mentors?

	78% Agree 22% Disagree	9. Close mentoring relationships can be particularly beneficial to the professional development of women and minority attorneys.

	78% Agree 22% Disagree	10. Mentoring for new associates is more critical today than at any time in the history of the profession.