Upper years share their tips with 1Ls on fostering great mentor/mentee relationships
Participating in a peer mentorship program can teach you to be more comfortable asking for help, and self-aware in recognizing when you need help. There are many ways in which 1Ls can foster the best possible relationships with their mentors, whether they are seeking academic, professional, or personal support.
Just as their mentors helped them, many upper year students are happy to share their hard-earned wisdom with current 1Ls. Ultra Vires spoke to Venessa Sectakof (2L), Andrea Das-Wieczorek (2L), and Dana O’Shea (3L) to find some ways students can make the most out of the peer mentorship opportunities at the law school.
Peer Mentor Program (PMP)
1. Use your mentor for more than just course summaries and maps.
One of the patterns peer mentors tend to see is mentees reaching out to get course summaries, and then falling off the grid. But it’s possible for mentees to foster much more meaningful relationships with their mentors. Consider asking your mentor to proofread an assignment you are worried about, to give you tips on how to manage your time during exams, or for general tips about navigating law school and your legal career.
2. As a mentee, don’t be afraid to follow up if your mentor is busy.
If your mentor isn’t getting back to you right away, don’t take it personally. Your mentor might be juggling the search for a summer or articling position, clinic work, moot preparation, and a hundred other things. If your mentor is in a combined program, they might have a very different schedule from yours. As a mentee, don’t be afraid to nudge your mentor if you aren’t hearing from them.
3. You can ask your mentor to connect you with people who can help you with specific challenges.
Even if the program did a great job matching you with your mentor, they may not always have the answer to every question. If your peer mentor can’t help you with a challenge you are facing, don’t be afraid to ask them if they can connect you with someone who can.
4. The relationship doesn’t have to end after 1L.
Just because the “official” peer mentor relationship is over, this doesn’t mean you aren’t allowed to reach out to your mentor anymore. Your peer mentor can still be a great resource or sounding board when you are navigating experiences beyond 1L, such as OCIs, preparing for a moot, or deciding on which upper-year opportunities to pursue.
If your peer mentor can’t help you with a challenge you are facing, don’t be afraid to ask them if they can connect you with someone who can.
Peer Mental Health Support Program (PMHSP)
1. The PMHSP can be a good first line in figuring out what kind of help you need.
Mental health mentors are trained to help you navigate the support programs available to students through the university and the community. If the PMHSP isn’t cutting it as a first line, students also have access to a counselor provided by the school.
2. Be proactive in developing a relationship.
Even if you are feeling good and don’t think you currently need of the program, it is good to have a peer mentor in place for those “not so great” days. Law chats can include good mental health days and positive emotions too.
3. The PMHSP helps with more than just exam stress.
Feeling like you might have a case of imposter syndrome? Do you need help sleeping well or eating better? The PMHSP helps with a lot more than nerves—mentors can help with whatever a law student might be dealing with in their life, even outside academics.
4. Go with a friend.
Often, if students are worried about the stigma of seeking mental health support, it can help to take a friend along to meet a peer mentor or to one of the PMHSP drop-in chats. Having a friend with you can go a long way towards making the environment as comfortable as possible.
5. Only share what you are comfortable sharing. You are in control of the discussion with your peer mental health mentor. While you are encouraged to talk about the things in your life that are impacting your mental health, your PMHSP mentor will never ask you to talk about something that you aren’t comfortable or ready to share.
