Prospective Mentees
Current law students and recent graduates with disabilities are invited to complete an application for a mentor, specifying what type of mentor is desired (based on practice area, practice setting, geographical region, and/or type of disability). For privacy reasons, all information submitted is kept confidential with the Commission and the ABA. Note that we have many more applicants than available mentors. You will receive an email if we can identify potential match that fits the specifications set forth by the mentee and mentor.
How We Match You
As soon as we receive an application from a new mentee or mentor, we look at our database to see what available mentees or mentors meet the applicant’s area of interest or expertise. Matches are based on the specifications of the mentee and mentor and we make every attempt to make matches that respect the mentee and mentor’s stated preferences. After an e-mail introduction, how the mentoring relationship progresses is up to mentee and mentor.
Commission staff members are always available to assist our mentors and mentees, in any way possible, in order to nurture and develop the relationship. In fact, staff occasionally monitor the status of the relationships to make sure all are being benefited.
Prospective Mentors
We invite seasoned attorneys, with and without disabilities, to complete our mentor application, specifying what type of mentor experience can be offered. When you complete the mentor online form below we will add your information to the appropriate database. For privacy reasons, all information submitted is kept private with the Commission and the ABA. Whenever a mentee completes the online form, we match his or her answers with our mentor database and develop a list of potential matches. Matches are based on the requests of the mentee, such as the disability involved, common interest areas of the law, and geographical location. We then introduce mentees to potential mentors to see if they would like to enter into a mentee-mentor relationship.
From that point forward, how the mentoring relationship progresses is up to the individuals. Commission staff members are always available to assist our mentors and mentees in order to nurture and develop the relationship. In fact, staff occasionally monitors the status of the relationships to make sure all are being benefited.
As a mentor you can assist one mentee or, if you prefer, several mentees. Mentees typically require guidance regarding advocating for accommodations, finding summer employment or internships, learning about different areas of the law, getting involved with the ABA and other bar associations, studying for the bar exam, and making contacts in the legal profession.
We have a very diverse pool of mentees. They come from both large and small schools across the country, are recent law school graduates, or are considering attending law school. They are interested in finding employment with the government, small and large law firms, businesses, non profit organizations, or other law-related entities. Many of our mentees are interested in very specific areas of the law, while others are unsure and require information and advice.
If you are an attorney we can use you! We always have more mentees that mentors, so sign up and share your experiences with one or more of our mentees. As a mentor you do not need to have a disability to participate; all we ask is that you are willing to share your time and experiences with a student who does have a disability.
If you agree to mentor a student there is no obligation except that we ask you to be available to the student. You are free to end the relationship and exit the Program at any time. We only disseminate the contact information that you, through our form, have given us permission to share.
Enroll
Enroll as a mentee | Enroll as a mentor
If you have any questions about our Mentor Program, please contact Amy Allbright at (202) 662-1575 or Amy.Allbright@americanbar.org.