Mentorship can result in personal and career benefits for both mentees and mentors, as well as benefits to employers. With a wide range of practice settings and areas of law, this is particularly meaningful for legal professionals. A mentoring relationship can help leverage the experience of others to develop key competencies and support equity, diversity, and inclusion within the profession.

The mentoring program runs from May to August annually.

A mentor’s time commitment is limited to one-hour meetings spread over several months with several mentees. Mentors are asked to commit to a minimum of two one-hour meetings during the mentorship program but are welcome to participate in more sessions if they wish.

To sign-up as a mentor:

• Complete the online form and acknowledgement.
• Once approved, fill out a short online profile about yourself with a photo and provide placeholders for dates when you would be available to meet mentees.
• As part of your profile, select specific tags to better describe the perspectives you can offer (personal attributes, discussion topics (areas of practice / practice issues / career development), geographical area).
• Respond to mentee meeting requests by logging in and viewing the “My Sessions” page.

Lawyers and limited licensees who have practiced for at least five years (at least two years of which need to have been as a licensed member in Canada) and have no disciplinary proceedings pending are eligible as a mentor, subject to a review of their discipline history. Outside of a suspension for disciplinary reasons, disbarment, or resignation in the face of discipline, a discipline history is not a barrier to becoming a mentor. All circumstances will be taken into account in determining eligibility as a mentor, including the seriousness, frequency and recency of disciplinary matters.

Mentees match themselves with the mentors they want to meet. The self-match system allows for guidance and insights relevant to particular career development and interests. To sign-up as a mentee:

• Complete the online form and acknowledgement.
• Once approved, you will be sent a link to access the mentorship platform.
• Visit the mentor gallery to see who is available and the dates you might meet them in person or virtually.
• Book meetings with your preferred mentors by clicking on the meeting dates listed on mentors’ profiles.
• Login to the “My Sessions” page to see which mentor sessions are successfully booked and the mentor contact information.
• Mentees are responsible for contacting their mentors to confirm when and where they will meet and to make any changes if needed.

Yes. Applicants that meet mentor eligibility requirements may participate as a mentor and a mentee. Two unique email addresses are required to participate as both a mentor and a mentee.  

If both parties are willing, additional meetings can be arranged by the parties outside of the mentorship program. The mentorship program supports one meeting with each other.

The provisions of the Codes of Professional Conduct always apply. Take care to avoid disclosing confidential information. Be aware of the potential for conflicts of interest. There is no solicitor-client privilege for communications between a mentor and a mentee.

Mentors and mentees are required to report serious ethical violations of the Codes of Professional Conduct that raise a substantial question about honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as a legal professional. Sections 3.3 and 7.1 in the Codes provide guidance. If in doubt, contact a Practice Advisor at the Law Society for confidential assistance.

Yes. The application form will be reviewed to determine that there are no changes to eligibility as a mentor or mentee. In most instances, individuals who participated previously as a mentor or mentee will not be required to complete a new profile, however, your profile will need to be reviewed and updated as necessary.