Lawyer to Lawyer Mentoring Program Forms & Materials

Mentoring Agreement

All participants are required to submit a Mentoring Agreement, which defines the parameters of their mentoring relationship and limits potential liability. The new lawyer and mentor should submit this agreement along with their Mentoring Plan at their first meeting at the start of the mentoring term.

View In-house Mentoring Agreement
(To be used where the new lawyer and mentor have the same employer)

View Outside Mentoring Agreement
(To be used where the new lawyer and mentor have different employers)

Mentoring Plan

The Mentoring Plan includes core concepts, lawyering skills, and experiences that should be used as learning activities for the new lawyer and mentor during their meetings. The Mentoring Plan is developed by the mentor and the new lawyer together during their first meeting by selecting a minimum of eight activities and topics from a list of 40 possibilities. The Mentoring Plan serves as a checklist of activities that the new lawyer and the mentor are required to complete together by the end of their mentoring term.

The Mentoring Plan provides an introduction for new lawyers to the following general topics:

• The Legal Community & the Community at Large
• Personal & Professional Development
• Ethics
• Law Office Management
• Client Communication, Advocacy and Negotiation

Each of the activities and experiences that may be selected as part of an individual Mentoring Plan references a worksheet. Worksheets include questions designed to generate meaningful discussion between a mentor and new lawyer, cites to the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct, and supplementary legal articles. Use of the worksheets is not mandatory, but participants are strongly encouraged to review them.

The worksheets below were used for the 2006 pilot program and will be updated by the mentor orientation in January 2009:

Worksheet A:	First Meeting of the New Lawyer and Mentor
Worksheet B:	Introduction to the Mentor's Office
Worksheet C:	Introduction to the Organized Bar
Worksheet D:	Introduction to the Legal Community
Worksheet E:	Introduction to the Courthouse
Worksheet F:	Introduction to Unwritten Customs and Rules
Worksheet G:	Introduction to the Local Jail
Worksheet H:	Introduction to Pro Bono, Civic and Charitable Activities
Worksheet I:	Introduction to A Lawyer's Creed and A Lawyer's Aspirational Ideals
Worksheet J:	Introduction to Career Objectives
Worksheet K:	Introduction to Career Satisfaction
Worksheet L:	Introduction to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Issues
Worksheet M:	Introduction to Career Paths
Worksheet N:	Introduction to Management of Law School Debt
Worksheet O:	Introduction to Malpractice and Grievance Traps
Worksheet P:	Introduction to Resources for Ethical Issues
Worksheet Q:	Introduction to Malpractice Insurance
Worksheet R:	Introduction to Reporting Lawyer Misconduct
Worksheet S:	Introduction to The Grievance Process
Worksheet T:	Introduction to Law Office Management
Worksheet U:	Introduction to Time Management
Worksheet V:	Introduction to Client Confidentiality
Worksheet W:	Introduction to Conflicts of Interest
Worksheet X:	Introduction to Office Personnel
Worksheet Y:	Introduction to the Unauthorized Practice of Law
Worksheet Z:	Introduction to Office Politics
Worksheet AA:	Introduction to Planning for Retirement, Death or Disability
Worksheet BB:	Introduction to Leaving a Firm
Worksheet CC:	Introduction to Client Development
Worksheet DD:	Introduction to Client Decision-Making & Involvement
Worksheet EE:	Introduction to Case Evaluation
Worksheet FF:	Introduction to Difficult Clients
Worksheet GG:	Introduction to Client Communication
Worksheet HH:	Introduction to Legal Counseling
Worksheet II:	Introduction to Dealing with Others
Worksheet JJ:	Introduction to Depositions
Worksheet KK:	Introduction to Negotiation
Worksheet LL:	Introduction to Legal Writing
Worksheet MM:	Introduction to Alternative Dispute Resolution
Worksheet NN:	Introduction to Appellate Courts
Exhibit OO:	A Lawyer's Creed and A Lawyer's Aspirational Ideals

Certificate of Satisfactory Completion

In order to receive credit for completing the mentoring program, a Certificate of Satisfactory Completion must be executed by both the new lawyer and the mentor at the conclusion of the mentoring term. In so doing, the new lawyer and mentor certify the following:

• The new lawyer has satisfactorily completed the Lawyer to Lawyer Mentoring Program
• The activities selected in the Mentoring Plan were completed
• There was a discussion about substance abuse and mental health issues
• There was at least nine hours of mentoring during six in-person meetings

Upon receipt and approval of the Certificate of Satisfactory Completion, new lawyers and mentors will receive new lawyer training or CLE credit.

Download Certificate of Satisfactory Completion