Oregon State Bar Mentoring Program Aims to Help New Lawyers Acquire Skills to Build Solo Practices
In an effort to address the surging number of new lawyers launching solo practices, the Oregon State Bar is launching a new statewide mentoring program to pair the freshly minted graduates with experienced mentors.
The Practical Skills Through Public Service program, an initiative of the Oregon New Lawyers Division, places volunteer lawyers with partnering legal service providers like the Juvenile Rights Project or Legal Aid Services of Oregon, to assist young lawyers fearful of acquiring the necessary legal and business skills to build successful practices in a tough market, the Oregonian reports.
“Traditionally, new lawyers would start at law firms and be able to ask questions to partners or other associates and learn the practice,” said David Eder, of the Oregon New Lawyers Division. “In today’s legal market, firms are downsizing or they aren’t hiring, so young lawyers, or newer lawyers, are forced to open up their own practices or they’re on their own to learn how to practice the law, which can be a scary proposition.”
The response to the program has been overwhelming since its announcement last month, according to the report.
