A “mentor” is defined as a “trusted counselor or guide.” Young attorneys, from the first day of law school forward, are urged to find a mentor to help steer their career paths. For the diverse/minority associate, finding a mentor seems fraught with complications. How does a diverse associate find common ground with a partner who is generally not of the same age, race or background? This is especially difficult because young associates are naturally inclined to seek out mentors from similar backgrounds.
I have been lucky. At my previous firm in Atlanta and my current firm here in Philadelphia, I have benefited from exceptional mentors. Despite attempting to find a mentor with a similar background, neither of my mentors looks like me. On paper, we have few similarities. We are not the same age, our family obligations are different (I have far fewer obligations), and neither of my mentors are Asian-American with immigrant backgrounds. Rather, my Atlanta mentor, a partner at a 150-plus-attorney firm, is an African-American wife and mother of three who, in addition to her practice, holds leadership positions with several community-based organizations. My mentor in Philadelphia, a partner at a similarly sized firm, is a Caucasian father of three who resides on the Main Line.
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