How UIC Law Uses the Commission’s Mentoring Program to Benefit Alumni

uic law mentoring programDid you know that more than 100 legal organizations across Illinois use the Commission on Professionalism’s Lawyer-to-Lawyer Mentoring Curriculum to support their attorneys?

This includes big and small law firms, bar associations, government offices, court districts, corporations, and law schools.

The Commission’s unique mentoring curriculum blends practical teaching on the skillsets of a successful lawyer with a focus on navigating the contentious legal profession civilly and ethically, all of which are critical for a thriving career.

Visit our website to see if your employer, law school, or bar association uses our curriculum and for information on how to get involved. Organizations interested in applying our curriculum in their mentoring program can apply here.

Mentors and mentees who complete the program earn 6 hours of professional responsibility CLE credit, including 1 hour of diversity and inclusion CLE and 1 hour of mental health and substance abuse CLE.

uic law mentoring justice frossard

Mentoring Spotlight: UIC Law

In honor of National Mentoring Month, we spoke to Justice Margaret O’Mara Frossard (Ret.), who currently serves as Associate Dean for Professionalism & Career Strategy at the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law and administers its mentoring program.

All nine Illinois law schools—including UIC Law—use our mentoring curriculum in their programs. Alumni from each of these schools are eligible to participate in the programs.

1. How are you involved in UIC Law’s Lawyer-to-Lawyer Mentoring Program?

I have supervised the Lawyer-to-Lawyer Mentoring Program at UIC Law School, formerly The John Marshall Law School, since its inception in October 2011.

We were the first law school in the State of Illinois to be approved by the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism to offer this program to newer admittees.

2. Why is mentoring important for lawyers, especially newer admittees?

Mentoring helps newer admittees navigate the challenges of the legal profession, continue to develop a strong professional identity, and begin to build a robust professional network.

Mentors reinforce the need for newer admittees to be aware of how they appear in the public eye, as the public views attorneys as inexorably part of the justice system and courts.

3. What are the benefits you’ve seen in mentors and mentees?

Mentors reenergize their practice by developing a lasting relationship with their mentees who are excited about entering the legal profession.

Mentees benefit as mentors help their mentees build careers based not only on substantive legal education but also on integrity and professionalism dedicated to delivering fair and equitable justice.

I have been involved in various mentoring programs and what distinguishes this program is that it offers a very concrete yet flexible curriculum to mentees.

4. How has the mentoring program benefited UIC Law?

The mentoring program has been a benefit to UIC Law by helping new admittees learn to maintain civility in challenging environments, learn to support diversity in the context of the legal profession, and learn to ethically develop new business.

5. How can UIC Law grads get involved?

UIC Law grads who are interested in being mentored can contact me, Associate Dean Frossard, at mfrossar@uic.edu.

More experienced attorneys interested in mentoring a recent graduate can also contact me at the same email address.

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