Mentoring

New Criminal Lawyer Mentoring Tool Kit

Purpose:

The practice of Criminal law is a dynamic, fast-paced, and intense area of law within which to practice. As new counsel it can be a very difficult to navigate without a strong support network and meaningful mentors to assist in the process. Criminal lawyers tend to practice as sole practioners or in small associations with other lawyers, not generally in big firms with formal and established mentoring programs, as in the case in other areas of the law.

The Criminal Lawyers’ Association (herein after referred to as “CLA”), identified the need for an established mentorship program to assist newly called lawyers in being paired with senior counsel to improve the quality of the representation and professionalism of young counsel.

These materials outline the scope of this mentoring project and include support materials to aid others in the development and implementation of mentoring programs.

Program Description:

The objective of the project is to establish an ongoing mentoring program for new lawyers in the criminal bar. The program matches selected group of 10 new criminal lawyers in sole and small practice with senior and mid-career practitioners for one-on-one mentoring to ensure that they are competent and capable of running their practices with the requisite knowledge, skill and professionalism. The mentoring relationship would continue for a period of 6-12 months, corresponding with the average length of time required to manage a criminal law file from start to finish. A 12 month period is recommended. This mentoring activity should be supplemented by CLE programming.

Recommended Program Work Plan:

Time Frame	Activity	Responsibility
1 – 3 weeks	Formation of committees; roles and responsibilities, financial management policies and procedures, decision-making and approval processes confirmed and implement; establish success measurement criterion.	Project Manager Steering Committee Chair Sub-Committee Chair
3 – 8 weeks	Completion of terms of reference and work plans for all committees/roles Creation of project identity and communications plan	Project Manger Steering Committee
8 – 12 weeks	Establish applicant criteria Establish applicant evaluation matrix Develop terms of reference for mentee Release call for applicants	Young Lawyer Oversight Committee
8 – 12 weeks	Establish mentor criteria Establish mentor applicant evaluation matrix Develop terms of reference for mentors Release call for mentors	Mentor Oversight Committee
12 – 16 weeks	Call for mentors and applicants in circulation	Applicants
Week 14	Preparation of quarterly status report for management	Project Manager
16 – 18 weeks	Review, interview and select applicants	Young Lawyer Oversight Committee
16 – 18 weeks	Review, interview and select mentors	Mentors Oversight Committee
Week 19	Match mentors with applicants Orientation meeting with all participants -	Both Oversight Committees
18 – 48 months	Project Live	All participants
18 – 48 months	Monthly review and reporting meetings	All participants
Weeks 22, 30, 38, 44	Status progress reports due from mentees	Mentees
18 – 40 months	Create evaluation matrix of the pilot project for mentees to complete	Young Lawyer Oversight Committee
18 – 40 months	Create evaluation matrix of the pilot project for mentors to complete	Mentors Oversight Committee
Weeks 26 and 40	2nd and 3rd quarter status reports for management	Project Manager
Week 48	Full participant meeting to review projects, seek feedback, develop recommendation for future mentoring model	All participants
48 – 51 months	Preparation of all evaluations, writing evaluation report and development of recommendations for future models	All participants

Roles and Responsibilities:

Committee Name	Committee Scope
Steering Committee: Composition Chair: Project Manager: Young Lawyer Oversight Committee Chair Mentoring Oversight Committee Chair Academic Advisor:	Overall management committee to steer the project from funding approval to final evaluation and recommendations report.
Young Lawyer Oversight Committee	Committee mandate is to: Establish applicant criteria (include mechanisms to ensure geographic and diversity representation) Establish applicant evaluation matrix Release call for applicants Review and select applicants Develop terms of reference for mentee including roles and responsibility, reporting matrix and evaluation matrix of mentor Match mentors with applicants Establish reporting frequency for mentee and coordinate monthly review meetings. Create evaluation matrix of the pilot project for mentees to complete Compile a summary report of process with recommendation for future models
Mentoring Oversight Committee	Committee mandate is to: Establish mentor criteria (include mechanisms to ensure geographic and diversity representation) Establish mentor applicant evaluation matrix Develop terms of reference for mentors including roles and responsibility, reporting matrix and evaluation matrix of mentees Release call for mentors Review and select mentors Match mentors with applicants Establish reporting frequency for mentors and coordinate monthly review meetings. Create evaluation matrix of the pilot project for mentors to complete Compile a summary report

Program Delivery:

To support the program delivery the following sample materials are available:

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ABOUT CLA

The Criminal Lawyers' Association (CLA) is one of the largest specialty legal organizations in Canada, with more than 1,000 members. We are a voice for criminal justice and civil liberties in Canada. Our advice and perspective is sought by all levels of government and the judiciary on issues relating to legislation and the administration of criminal justice. We also assist our members in every aspect of the practice of criminal litigation.