UIAMentor Program

UIA is delighted to announce the start of a pilot mentoring program called UIAMentor as an additional benefit for its members.

For eligible members, UIA will match up a lawyer with fewer years in practice with a more experienced lawyer who will act as a mentor on issues related to professional and personal development.

While the specific goals of any mentoring relationship depend on the individuals, mentoring can provide enormous rewards to both parties – expanding the professional network and experience of the mentee and giving him or her a sounding board for challenging professional decisions, while allowing the mentor to put to use years of experience in helping to guide the professional and personal development of the next generation of lawyers.

There is nothing more useful than having someone looking out for your interests and willing to talk through your opportunities, concerns and ideas. Because of UIA’s broad international base, the opportunities provided by UIAMentor are even more diverse than with traditional mentor programs.

For example, a mentee in one country might choose a mentor in her own city or country to help her navigate local or national bar or employment opportunities, while another mentee might choose a mentor in a different country to expand his client development efforts or international networking there.

What matters most is matching the right people together based on their interests...

 

In the context of UIAMentor, mentoring is a formal relationship through which an experienced, knowledgeable and trusted more experienced mentor supports the professional and personal development of a mentee early in his or her career.

UIAMentor allows for facilitation of relationships between mentees and mentors from the same or different countries and regions.

Support can be in the form of, for example:

  • Asking questions
  • Listening
  • Providing a sounding board
  • Giving advice
  • Suggesting options and ideas
  • Allowing the mentee to “shadow” the mentor at meetings or events
  • Facilitating introductions to relevant contacts/organisations
  • Signposting to potential sources of information
  • Challenging assumptions
  • Encouraging the mentee

 

Both mentees and mentors can benefit enormously from the mentor relationship.

Benefits for mentees can include, for example:

  • Developing new client, professional and/or technical skills
  • Growing experience both inside and outside their own country or region
  • Broadening their network internationally 
  • Learning and testing new ideas
  • Thinking in new ways and from alternative perspectives and cultures
  • Gaining knowledge about other jurisdictions
  • Building confidence
  • Formulating direction and goals for their personal and professional development
  • Learning how to make best use of their UIA membership for personal and professional development and for expanding their international network


Benefits for mentors can include, for example:

  • Learning from the experience of mentoring
  • Hearing new perspectives and staying in touch with the perspectives and concerns of lawyers earlier in their careers
  • Learning from the mentee
  • Reaping the satisfaction of supporting another more junior lawyer’s development and growth
  • Sharing experience and knowledge
  • Enjoying the stimulation of a new role at the UIA

 

Eligibility of mentees and mentors

You can be eligible as a mentee if you:

  • Are a fully paid-up individual member of the UIA (in the under 35 category)
  • Provide an explanation of why you wish to participate in UIAMentor and what you hope to achieve through it
  • Commit to giving the mentoring relationship appropriate time and effort

  • Commit to the confidentiality of the relationship as agreed to by both parties

You can be eligible as a mentor if you:

  • Are a fully paid-up individual member of the UIA
  • Provide an explanation of why you wish to participate in UIAMentor, what you hope to offer, and what you hope to get out of your participation
  • Commit to giving the mentoring relationship appropriate time and effort
  • Commit to the confidentiality of the relationship as agreed to by both parties


An effective mentor will have strengths in these areas:

  • Accessibility: you will be able to commit sufficient time to the mentoring relationship
  • Listening: you will have well-developed listening skills and know how to listen actively
  • Communication: you will be able to communicate clearly, both in writing and orally
  • Self-awareness: you will have a good understanding of your own strengths
  • Empathy: you have the ability to empathise with others
  • Curiosity: you will be curious and inquisitive, excited to learn about new ideas, and what is important to your mentee

 

Contact: Anne-Marie Villain, avillain[a]uianet.org