From Good to Great: How Legal Mentorship Can Transform Your Career

A mentor is someone who sees more talent and ability within you than you see in yourself and helps bring it out of you." — Bob Proctor.

Have you ever felt confused or lost? Are you stuck trying to figure out how to get where you want to be? Have you felt frustrated and wondered why? Have you felt stressed? Do you ever wish you had someone to chat with? To answer your questions? To listen to you empathetically?

What if you were no longer overwhelmed by stress? What if you had the clarity to know where you wanted to go and exactly how to get there? What if you could be successful, fulfilled, and delighted? What if you had someone at your beck and call who was always there to listen to you confidentially and support and encourage you?

Feeling lost, trapped, confused, and alone is not unusual. Most of us have felt that way at times. We know we need help and guidance but are afraid to ask for it. In the demanding field of law, the journey from good to great can be challenging and rewarding. While legal prowess and dedication are essential, the guidance and support of a mentor can significantly accelerate this transformation. Mentorship in the legal profession is not just about passing down knowledge; it's about fostering growth, instilling confidence, and achieving the success and freedom you deserve.?

In this blog, I will describe the most significant challenges many lawyers face and why some hesitate to use a mentor. I will show how a wise, experienced mentor can help solve these problems. Most importantly, I will explain how a mentor can help you grow from good to great, from stress to success, from stuck to free.?

What are some of the most essential challenges lawyers face?

In my many discussions with lawyers, they share some concerns faced by many:

1. Isolation. So many lawyers feel so alone. There are other lawyers in offices on either side of you,? and you pass colleagues in the break room or the hallway, but you feel separated from them. The other lawyers all look so happy and so confident. But often, you feel alone. You feel there is no one you can talk to. There is no one to share your concerns, fears, or hesitancies. The isolation makes you feel even more stressed, worried, and anxious.

2. Self-doubt. Do you ever feel insecure, worried, or doubt your abilities? Are you ever concerned that you are not as good as the lawyers in your firm or the other side of the case? Do you ever doubt that you have the skills, talents, and commitment to succeed as a lawyer? So many of us do. Despite our track record of success, we often feel that we do not measure up and do not have what it takes. We are skilled, intelligent, and experienced, yet when we look at ourselves and sometimes compare ourselves to others, we doubt we are good enough to be the lawyer others expect us to be.

3. Not having the answers. Are you ever unsure how to handle an office conflict? Do you wish someone could guide you on dealing with the other attorney? Are you uncertain about what to share with your managing attorney? So often, many questions come up during our work day that we wish we had someone to guide us, share their expertise with us, and give us answers.

4. Lack of Clarity. Are you clear about what your vision is for your future? Do you know where you want to be five years from now and how to get there? Often, we lack clarity about our future, what we want, and how to achieve our goals.

5. Need for accountability. Do you ever find yourself setting targets about how to use your time, what to work on, your goals, and how to achieve them, but you fail to stay on track? Often, we struggle with not holding ourselves accountable for the targets we have set for ourselves.

6. Lack of Productivity. We often work so hard. We feel like a hamster on a wheel. We have many matters to do and tasks that are all piling up. And no matter how hard we work, we fall further behind. Do you ever wish you could be more productive during your day?

These are just some of the many problems that lawyers encounter daily. A mentor can help with each of them.

Why do some lawyers hesitate to use a mentor?

Why is it so hard to ask for help? Primarily fear. We often know we could benefit from guidance from a supportive, experienced third party, but we are afraid to. We are expected to be confident, independent, competent, and in charge. The thought that we need someone to help us conflicts with our identity as attorneys. We worry that others will see us as weak or incompetent. Our culture honors self-help and independence. We fear that seeking help will undermine our confidence, make us question our abilities, or create anxiety. Sometimes, we need to be self-aware enough to know that some coaching would be helpful to us. But, more importantly, even when we do, we are afraid of how we might look if we ask someone for help.

Of course, those feelings, while natural and understandable, are not accurate. No one thinks less of us when we ask for help. We should never let that unwarranted fear stop us from obtaining the support we need.

We often say we do not have the time to work with a mentor, but honestly, we all know we can clear two hours in a month to gain the freedom and success we deserve. Seeking mentorship is a sign of strength and a commitment to professional growth. We do not have all the answers. Lack of time and money are stories we tell ourselves to justify not getting the support we need. We should not let fear or ego get in our way. It's important to remember that even the most accomplished lawyers have sought guidance and support at various points in their careers.?

What problems can a mentor help you solve?

Do you know how we often feel that we have no one to talk to? Need someone to ask for advice? Or for the support and accountability we need? These are some of the ways a mentor can benefit you:

1. A confidential listening ear. We feel so alone sometimes, don’t we? We do not want to appear weak or be judged for our feelings or struggles. You can share your fears, worries, and struggles with your mentor confidentially and openly. Mentors can be very effective, confidential, and supportive listeners. Your mentor will always be there to hear you and to understand - how important is that?
2. Guidance. Often, we need to figure out what to do next. We are still determining where to turn or how to get there. We do not know how to handle some office challenges. Your mentor has many years of experience and can give helpful suggestions about our goals. You can have your questions answered. You will no longer be struggling and confused.?
3. Vision creation. Sometimes, our mentor sees our abilities and futures that we do not see in ourselves. I know I’ve experienced that with my clients. I have a vision of how incredible their future can be, but they have not yet seen it. Your mentor can help you create a vision for your future that may be more powerful than you know for yourself.
4. Clarity. Sometimes, we feel like we are in a fog, confused. Your mentor can clarify where you are, where you want to get to, and how to get there. He can help you plan your path to accomplishing your dreams.?
5. Confidence. Your mentor is always on your side, lifting, encouraging, and supporting. He affirms your talents and your positive traits. An ongoing mentorship process helps you develop self-confidence and resilience to overcome challenges.
6. Accountability. Sometimes, the same mistakes keep happening; we back away from the same hurdles or are afraid to take the following steps. Your mentor can hold you accountable. Together, you can set targets for your next task, and your mentor will encourage you to meet those goals and deadlines you set for yourself.
7. Productivity. We often feel as if we work very hard and accomplish little. Your mentor can show you how to be more productive, prioritize your tasks, plan and organize, and do much more in less time.? How can your mentor help you get from good to great??Your mentor can give you confidence, guidance, clarity, and support. You will be more productive. What does that lead to?

You will be happier. You will no longer be so stressed and overwhelmed. Your career will now be a place of joy rather than anxiety.?

You will grow from stress to success. More confident with a clear vision of your future, you will have better client relationships. You will receive more referrals. The more productive you are, the more efficiently you can handle your matters and be more profitable.?

You will grow from frustration to freedom. You will own your practice rather than it owing your life. You will be more fulfilled and fall in love again with the practice of law. You will achieve that work-life balance that is so important to all of you.?

Don’t you deserve it?

Let's talk if you'd like to achieve this success and freedom. Would you like to schedule a complimentary discovery call? You'll be able to do so here.