The FACL BC Mentorship Program also offers mentee-registrants the option to participate in peer mentorship pairings if there are not enough senior mentors available to match with mentees.

Peer Mentoring is a mentorship relationship involving participants who are at the same or similar years of call or career stages. Peer mentors foster a relationship of trust and connection, as participants may feel more comfortable discussing certain topics with a peer. They can also support each other in identifying and achieving goals, and sharing experiences, perspectives and resources.

Peer mentorship pairs will follow similar guidelines as the standard mentor-mentee relationship and are encouraged to establish clear expectations and goals together. Through a structured initial meeting, peers establish their preferred meeting frequency, communication methods, and identify specific professional development goals relevant to their legal career stages. The relationship is built on mutual trust, confidentiality, and a shared commitment to professional growth within the legal community.

The program highly recommends a commitment of one hour per month, in-person or virtually. Scheduling meetings in advance will help ensure that time is dedicated to build and foster the mentorship relationship. Mentors and mentees are encouraged to coordinate and schedule their own meeting times.

The term of the FACL BC mentorship relationship formally ends on February 1, 2026. The parties may agree to end it sooner. Parties are free to continue their mentorship relationships beyond the calendar year if they choose.

The FACL BC Mentorship Committee recognizes the demands on lawyers’ busy schedules and understands that consistent meeting times may be challenging. The FACL BC Mentorship Committee will organize events throughout the year, offering mentor-mentee pairs opportunities to stay connected and to network with other mentorship pairings.

The FACL BC Mentorship Committee also acknowledges that mentoring relationships may continue indefinitely, evolve over time or even come to a natural close. It is important for the mentorship pair to recognize this natural progression and to periodically assess and re-define their relationship as needed.

Spots are limited and pairings will be done on a first-come, first-served basis.

The FACL BC Mentorship Committee will make every effort to match pairings based on the information provided in the registration form.

The Committee is mindful that students attending law schools outside of BC may plan to work in BC after graduation. Based on past experiences in the program and in a post-COVID world, we believe mentorship relationships can thrive through different connection channels such as phone and Zoom. We strongly encourage interested mentors to consider this flexibility.

For the 2025 Mentorship year, the registration period is open between November 15-December 15, 2024 for mentees and between November 15-December 31, 2024 for mentors. Pairing results will be announced to registrants mid-January 2025. We will do our best to keep registrants informed about: 1) receipt of applications, and 2) any potential delays in the pairing process.

Mentorship Committee

The FACL BC Mentorship Committee facilitates meaningful mentorship connections within the legal community by carefully reviewing applications, coordinating matches based on stated preferences and professional goals, and providing ongoing support throughout the program. The Committee will maintain regular communication with participants and host events throughout the year to encourage gatherings among pairings. We welcome feedback to continuously enhance the program's effectiveness.

Mentee

Mentees take an active role in their mentoring relationship by maintaining regular contact with their mentor and being prepared for discussions. They approach the relationship with clear goals, respect for their mentor's time, and openness to guidance and feedback. Mentees are encouraged to reflect on their professional development objectives and engage in opportunities for growth throughout the program.

• Take Initiative: Reach out to your mentor and schedule regular check-ins to make the most of the relationship.
• Be Open and Honest: Share your goals, challenges, and questions so your mentor can understand how to best support you.
• Set Clear Goals: Work with your mentor to identify what you hope to achieve during the program and track your progress.
• Stay Engaged: Come to meetings prepared with topics or questions to discuss, and be open to feedback and advice.
• Be Respectful of Your Mentor’s Time: Plan meetings in advance, honor commitments, and be mindful that their time is valuable.
• Focus on Professional Growth: Seek guidance, advice, and insights, but avoid asking your mentor for a job or work opportunities.
• Embrace Opportunities for Growth: Be willing to step out of your comfort zone, try new approaches, and act on your mentor’s suggestions.
• Keep Things Confidential: Respect the trust between you and your mentor by keeping conversations private unless agreed otherwise.
• Be Open to Different Perspectives: Your mentor’s experiences may differ from your own—embrace these differences as valuable learning opportunities.
• Engage with the Program: Attend events, meet other participants, and share feedback to help improve the mentorship experience.

Mentor

• Share Your Experience: Offer your knowledge, insights, and advice to help your mentee navigate their career path and grow professionally.
• Create a Safe Space: Foster open and honest communication, making sure your mentee feels comfortable sharing their goals, challenges, and questions.
• Set Goals Together: Work with your mentee to outline what they hope to achieve during the mentorship and check in on progress as you go.
• Be Available: Aim to meet regularly (e.g., once a month) and be approachable if your mentee reaches out.
• Provide Encouraging Feedback: Share constructive advice in a supportive and positive way to help your mentee build confidence.
• Support Their Growth: Help your mentee identify opportunities for skill-building, networking, or advancing their career.
• Keep Things Confidential: Respect your mentee’s privacy and keep your conversations private unless agreed otherwise.
• Be a Role Model: Show professionalism and kindness in all interactions, and create a welcoming and inclusive environment.
• Be Flexible: Stay open to connecting in ways that work best for you both, whether in person, by phone, or online.
• Engage with the Program: Join program events and share your feedback to help us make the mentorship experience even better!

We encourage mentees to take the lead in connecting with their mentors. Reaching out first helps set a positive tone for a collaborative and enriching mentorship experience. To make it easier, the Mentorship Committee will provide you with a template email to use when reaching out.

During your first meeting, we strongly recommend that both mentors and mentees discuss their mutual objectives and expectations for the mentorship relationship. This initial discussion will help ensure a shared understanding and set the stage for a productive partnership.

For the mentee, we encourage you to consider and relay to your mentor:

• Your Goals: What you hope to achieve through the mentorship, including key takeaways or insights you’re seeking.
• Practice Areas of Interest: Any areas of law you’re particularly interested in exploring.
• Scope of Professional Interests: Whether your interests are broad or focused at this stage in your career.
• Skills Development: Specific technical or professional skills you’d like to develop.
• Career Pathway Support: Guidance you’re seeking in navigating or pursuing a particular career path.
• Resources or Contributions: How you plan to engage and contribute to the mentorship relationship, if applicable.

For the mentor, we encourage you to consider discussing the following with your mentee:

• Career Guidance, Not Job Offers: Clarify that while you may offer career advice and guidance, you are not in a position to provide job opportunities through the FACL BC Mentorship Program.
• Experience and Expertise: Share the areas of law or skills in which you have the most experience.
• Availability: Set clear expectations regarding your availability and preferred methods of communication.
• Follow-Up: Emphasize the importance of actionable takeaways or next steps after each meeting.
• Scope of Mentorship: Clarify that you are not qualified to provide medical, therapeutic, or counseling advice and will focus on professional and career-related guidance.
• Referral Resources: Offer to refer your mentee to other resources or professionals if their questions or needs extend beyond your expertise or ethical boundaries.

By addressing these topics early, both mentors and mentees can build a strong foundation for a meaningful and impactful mentorship relationship.

Either party in the mentorship pair may choose to terminate the mentorship relationship at any time before the end of the mentorship period, for any reason.

At the conclusion of the relationship, we encourage both mentors and mentees to provide constructive feedback and reflect on opportunities to reconnect in the future.

If a mentor decides to end the relationship early, they are encouraged to consider referring the mentee to another mentor within their professional network who may be a better fit.

Additionally, either party may request an alternative pairing by submitting a written request to the FACL BC Mentorship Committee. The Committee will make every effort to facilitate a new pairing, subject to availability and compatibility.

Trust, honesty, and confidentiality are essential to a successful mentor-mentee relationship. Your participation in the FACL BC Mentorship Program is voluntary; however, given the confidential information that may be shared between the mentor and mentee, both parties are encouraged to have a candid discussion at the beginning of their relationship about maintaining confidentiality so that mentees feel free to share openly and ask questions.

The parties understand that all matters discussed in the course of the mentorship are to remain confidential unless both parties agree otherwise. Each party should clearly communicate any boundaries they wish to establish regarding information that is shared. This commitment to confidentiality extends beyond the formal mentorship period.

As responsible legal professionals, we respect the rules of conduct guiding the legal profession and acknowledge the professional standards established by the Law Society of British Columbia’s Code of Conduct. A lawyer’s conduct toward other lawyers should be characterized by courtesy and good faith. Further, lawyers are expected to respect the dignity and worth of all persons. A lawyer should foster a professional environment that is respectful, accessible, and inclusive.