Mentor–Mentee Perks Flow Both Ways
By Kim M. Keenan

It was a beautiful Monday morning, and I was standing at the podium in the Ceremonial Courtroom of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia preparing to give remarks for the Naturalization Ceremony. Given the gravity of the occasion and the import to the 123 individuals from all over the world who were waiting to become United States citizens, I probably should have been more nervous. As I stood in the well of the court, I looked to my right, and there was a portrait of the late Judge John Garrett Penn holding the reporter containing the Brown v. Board of Education decision. In an instant, I remembered all of the wonderful proceedings I had witnessed in this very courtroom.

My memory flashed to the number of occasions where, as his law clerk, I had watched him preside over this very ceremony. Each time he remarked what an honor it was to preside over this important civic event. Finally, it was also clear to me how mentoring also transcends the life of the mentor. Even though Judge Penn is no longer with us, his philosophy, his temperament, and his very spirit live on in all of us who had the opportunity to share his insights and hear his advice. Three of my mentors, Judge Penn; Mabel Haden, a prominent African American solo practitioner in the District of Columbia; and Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones, have passed away in recent years. Each loss has reminded me of the importance of both having and serving as a mentor.

When the Mentoring Committee of the Women’s Bar Association of the District of Columbia invited me to participate in a speed mentoring reception—an event which borrows from the speed dating formula—I wondered how it would work. Mentoring Committee Cochair Yvonne M. Williams oversaw the event, which invited senior lawyers to provide advice to new lawyers in three, seven-minute rounds. After seeing the breadth and caliber of the lawyers who came to mentor, I was tempted to ask for advice, too! By the end of the third round, the new lawyers came away with timely advice on problems as old as the profession and as new as their licenses. It was exhilarating to share views that took decades to formulate with people who would have more time to use the advice and ultimately spin it off in ways that can only be described as bigger, better, and faster.

Mentoring is not just about bringing together senior lawyers and less experienced lawyers, it is also about developing an environment of collegiality among people who already share a deep commitment to the legal profession. For example, it took thirtysomething lawyers to convince me that a BlackBerry device was not just another high-tech gadget, but rather a tool that could improve my effectiveness. I can vouch that every bar leader needs a device to make them more efficient. Sometimes, the mentoring relationship is bottom up, rather than top down.

Whether you participate in a speed mentoring event or serve as a mentor for one or more individuals, you have the opportunity to share a perspective that can transcend gender or background and lead to friendship. As a first-year student at the University of Virginia School of Law, I did not know a single lawyer in the Washington Metropolitan area. I suspect the term mentor was not even in my vocabulary at that point. But on a friend’s suggestion, I called Deborah M. Royster, a total stranger, lawyer, and also a graduate of the University of Virginia’s law school who currently serves as deputy general counsel at Pepco Holdings, Inc. Throughout law school she took my calls, listened to my travails, and helped plot my future. Somewhere along the way, we evolved into friends. Best of all, we continue to support each other. We share common values and a mutual love for the legal profession.

For those who are seeking mentors, I offer some friendly advice: First, get to know the prospective mentor and give them the opportunity to know you before pouncing on them with the notion that you have “chosen” them to serve as your mentor. Flattering as this may be, mentoring is a form of friendship, so both parties have to agree to participate. Second, try to use the mentor’s time effectively, both in terms of quality and quantity. For example, it may help to prepare a few well-thought-out questions before making contact. Once, a third-year law student called me to ask what she should do with her career. I told her that if I had that answer, I would write a book and retire to an island. A good mentor can only help if you have reflected on your goals. The mentor’s role is to provide insight and direction because there often is more than one route to a goal. Finally, it is always nice when a mentee reports on his or her progress, rather than calling only when he or she needs more advice.

For those of you who are not participating in some form of mentoring, you are missing out on an opportunity to serve as a trusted counselor or influential sponsor. Ultimately, you could broaden your relationships within the profession. Mentoring is like adding your perspective to posterity. I can still visualize Congresswoman Tubbs Jones’ optimism in the face of great adversity and Mabel Haden’s tenacity, combined with generosity, all while wearing red.

The time we share with each other may be finite, but sharing those gifts is timeless. If this notion is too esoteric for the pragmatist in you, think of it as a way of repaying your mentors for their generosity.

After all, at the end of the day, everyone could use a little push in the right direction.

Kim M. Keenan can be reached at kkeenan@dcbar.org.