The Law Society of Saskatchewan offers a mentorship program yearly from May to August. The program supports development as a legal professional. All members are encouraged to participate and members of equity-seeking / equity-deserving groups are especially encouraged to participate to reinforce a diverse and inclusive profession.
Mentors require more than five years of practice experience and mentees can include students-at-law and any member wishing to participate. Internationally or locally trained individuals with a completed law degree who are not yet members or students-at-law are also eligible to participate if they: (i) reside in Saskatchewan; and (ii) confirm their intention to pursue their legal career in Saskatchewan.
The program allows mentees and mentors to connect online and then meet in-person or virtually for one-hour sessions. Mentors register a profile and mentees browse an online listing of mentors and choose sessions with mentors they are interested in meeting. The self-match system allows mentees to seek guidance and insight relevant to their own career development with a variety of mentors in different work settings.
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 lawyers. 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:
Lawyers who have practiced for at least five years 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:
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 Code 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 Code of Professional Conduct that raise a substantial question about honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as a lawyer. Sections 3.3 and 7.1 in the Code provide guidance. If in doubt, contact a Practice Advisor at the Law Society for confidential assistance.