FAQs For Mentors
FAQs for Mentees
How are Mentors and Mentees matched?
Members must first enroll as a Mentor or Mentee. During the enrollment process, members will select preferences for various demographics (including Mentoring Venue and Mentoring Topics) to establish their personal criteria.
A registered Mentee will visit the “Find a Mentor” page and fill in their search criteria to search for possible Mentors. The Mentee will click the names of the potential Mentors to view their profiles. Once the Mentee has decided on a Mentor, they will click on the Mentor badge (seen below the registered Mentor's profile picture) to request that person as their Mentor. An e-mail will be sent to the Mentor alerting them that they have been requested to be a Mentor. The Mentor will be able to accept or decline the request.
A registered Mentor will visit the “Find a Mentee” page and fill in their search criteria to search for possible Mentees. The Mentor will click the names of the potential Mentees to view their profiles. Once the Mentor has decided on a Mentee, they will click on the Mentee badge (seen below the registered Mentee's profile picture) to request that person as their Mentee. An e-mail will be sent to the Mentee alerting them that they have been requested to be a Mentee. The Mentee will be able to accept or decline the request.
FOR MENTORS
How do I become a Mentor?
Mentors must be members of the South Carolina Bar who have been admitted under Rule 402, SCACR. A person may not serve as a mentor if the person has been an inactive or retired member of the South Carolina Bar for more than two years, or if the person is not a member in good standing under Rule 410, SCACR. Mentors must have at least five years' experience in the active practice of law. It is preferable that mentors have experience with the court system, although it is understood that not all mentors will have litigation experience. A lawyer without such litigation experience may nevertheless be an appropriate mentor if that lawyer has otherwise developed an understanding of appropriate behavior in a lawyer's relationship with the court.
If you meet the general qualifications, click here to enroll as a Mentor. You will be instructed to choose your preferences for various demographics and also to complete your member profile.
Do I have to enroll as a Mentor here if I have already applied on the old mentoring page?
Yes, you are required to enroll on the new mentor matching page.
Who are the Mentees?
Mentees are members of the South Carolina Bar who are entering into their first year of practice or have been practicing in another jurisdiction for less than two years.
Can I have more than one Mentee?
Yes, each Mentor may have up to three Mentees. However, it is important to note that a Mentor will not receive additional CLE credit for mentoring more than one lawyer in the same reporting period.
How do I find Mentees?
Once you have enrolled as a Mentor, go the "Find a Mentee" page and select the criteria you want to use for your Mentee search. Click on the Mentees'' names to view their profiles. Once you have found a good match, click on the Mentee badge (seen below the Mentee's profile image) to send the Mentee an email request.
How will I know if a Mentee has selected me as their Mentor?
You will receive an e-mail from the Mentee requesting you to be their Mentor. You will be prompted to accept or reject the request.
Is it okay to reject a request?
Yes, but there should be a good reason to do so. We encourage you to at least have an initial conversation to explore whether the relationship would be mutually fulfilling. If a potential Mentee has misinterpreted information in your profile, you may find him/her to be an inappropriate match. If you want to decline a request, go to the "My Mentoring Relationships" page and check the “decline” button next to the specific request.
What if I’m going to be on vacation or unavailable for a period of time?
Go to the "Mentor Enrollment" page, click the “Mentor Status” link then click on the check-box next to “Temporarily Not Participating.” Doing this will indicate that you are not accepting any Mentee requests at the moment, and your mentoring profile will not be included in a Mentee’s search for a Mentor. It is your responsibility to communicate your availability to your existing Mentees.
How do I end a mentoring relationship?
If the mentoring relationship is complete, go to the "My Mentoring Relationships" page and mark the relationship as “completed.”
If the mentoring relationship isn't working out, please kindly discuss your decision to end the relationship with your Mentee and with the Program Administrator. Go to the "My Mentoring Relationships" page and mark the relationship as “completed.”
What are the expectations for participating Mentors?
We expect that you will fulfill your commitment to develop at least one mentoring relationship. We expect you to respond to initial requests from Mentees in a timely manner, and that you communicate with your Mentees as agreed upon by both you and your Mentees.
How much time will I need to invest as a Mentor?
We recommend that you and your Mentees agree on a schedule that works best for both of you. The most important thing is to discuss your mutual expectations about time and communication at the start of your relationship. Keep in mind that mentoring doesn’t necessarily require large amounts of your time. Even brief phone calls or e-mail exchanges with you can make a big difference to your Mentees.
What benefits do I receive from the South Carolina Bar if I participate as a Mentor in the program?
During any MCLE compliance reporting period in which a lawyer completes a full year as a mentor for one or more new lawyers, the mentor shall be deemed to have completed 4.00 hours of CLE credit, of which 2.00 hours shall constitute ethics CLE credit. In addition, the South Carolina Bar will provide at least annually a voluntary mentor orientation program that will qualify for ethics MCLE credit.
FOR MENTEES
How do I become a Mentee?
The mentoring program is mandatory for all qualifying lawyers. A qualifying lawyer is any lawyer admitted under Rule 402, SCACR, on or after April 1, 2012, if that lawyer (1) is a resident of the State of South Carolina or practices law in an office located in South Carolina on more than a temporary basis; and (2) has not previously practiced law actively in another jurisdiction for more than two years. If you are a qualifying lawyer, click here to enroll as a Mentee. You will be instructed to choose your preferences for various demographics and also to complete your member profile.
Who are the Mentors?
Mentors are other members of the South Carolina Bar, with at least five years of experience, who have volunteered their time to support new lawyers as they begin their legal careers.
Can I have more than one Mentor?
No, Mentees may only have one Mentor under this program.
What if I already have a Mentor?
Your Mentor is must enroll through the new mentor matching page. After your Mentor has enrolled, you will need to click on the "Request As Mentor" tab by your Mentor's name so you will be connected as Mentor and Mentee in the new mentor matching system.
How do I find a Mentor?
Once you have enrolled as a Mentee, go the the "Find a Mentor" page and select the criteria you want to use for your Mentor search. Click on the Mentors' names to view their profiles. Once you have found a good match, click on the Mentor badge (seen below the Mentor's profile image) to send the Mentor an email request.
What should I do if I don’t hear from the Mentor I requested?
If you don’t hear from the Mentor within one or two weeks, feel free to contact them using the contact information found on their profile page.
What if the Mentor isn’t the right “fit” for my needs?
Sometimes, regardless of the information provided, Mentors and Mentees don’t always "fit." If this happens, immediately notify the Program Administrator.
Where can I meet with my Mentor?
It is up to you and your Mentor to decide how, when and where you want to pursue your mentoring relationship. It is likely that most of your communication will occur by phone or electronically.
How long does the mentoring relationship last?
The mentoring relationship lasts for one year.