The VBA is planning to offer a “Vermont Mentor Advice Program” to new lawyers in Vermont, pairing experienced Vermont lawyers with new lawyers. We hope that it will be a helpful way to welcome new lawyers to the Vermont legal community, and for experienced lawyers to be able to share their knowledge and experience with new Vermont lawyers.
Materials that have been developed to launch the program include the linked VMAP Mentor Advice Program FAQs and the linked Mentor Application Form . The Form includes a Participation Agreement. Once a Mentor and Advisee are matched based on practice areas, size and type of firm or other legal employer, geographic location and common interests, they decide upon the frequency and method of contact for a six-month period. (The six-month period can continue for up to three additional six-month periods if both parties wish.) The Participation Agreement spells out other details of the program.
The VMAP is separate from the Attorney Licensing Mentorship Requirements for First-Year Admittees, although a VMAP Mentor may concurrently serve as a supervising mentor for the First-Year Admittees if the VMAP mentor wishes. Here is a LINK to more information about the First-Year Requirements for Newly Admitted Attorneys on the Attorney Licensing webpage.
We’re in the stage of soliciting potential mentors for the program. If you’re willing to be considered, please complete the Mentor Application Form and submit it on-line. If you have questions or need more information in order to respond, or if you would like to recommend an experienced attorney to be a mentor, please email Teri Corsones at tcorsones@vtbar.org . Thanks very much for considering this form of service to the profession!
