Mentor Program

An Overview

As a UC Hastings student, you have access to one of the most successful law school mentor programs in the country. Our Alumni Mentor Program (AMP), available to currently enrolled students, offers you unparalleled opportunities to meet Hastings alumni and to explore many career options. The program operates in more than a dozen countries, so students have the opportunity to be matched with both local and geographically distant mentors.

In order to meet individual needs, the program offers considerable flexibility. Many students are not yet sure how they intend to use their law degree and find the program helps them explore a variety of career options. Students who already have plans to specialize in a specific practice area often use the program to meet practitioners in that field and learn more about the "real world" outside of law school. Others consult with mentors for practical advice on the job search process, and use the mentor program as a networking resource.

Mentors are Hastings graduates who have volunteered to answer students' questions, provide career-related advice, and help bridge the gap between the academic environment and the outside professional world. Alumni mentors may vary considerably in their individual approach to mentoring, depending on their experience, time availability, and personality. Therefore, you may wish to meet with more than one mentor in order to derive greater benefit from the program.

Here's how it works:

The Alumni Mentor Program Director, Phil Marshall (Class of 1992), serves as the liaison between Hastings students and alumni. As a Hastings alumnus himself, Phil recruits alumni volunteers into the program and helps students select appropriate mentors. He also counsels students on all aspects of the program. In order to participate, simply attend one of Phil's AMP Orientations.

Hastings alumni who volunteer to mentor students are asked to complete a mentor profile form. Mentor profiles are organized by practice area or specialty, and include the mentor's year of graduation from Hastings, name of the mentor's firm/company/organization, area(s) of specialization or expertise, as well as contact information. Some mentors also provide a résumé or a professional bio.

The mentor profile form offers alumni volunteers the opportunity to indicate whether there are specific communities of students (e.g. African-American, Gay/Lesbian, Parents, LEOP, "Over 30," etc.) to whom they could provide specific additional assistance.

Hastings students interested in taking advantage of the program should attend an Alumni Mentor Program Orientation. After attending an orientation, you may schedule an individual appointment to plan how best to use the program to meet your personal goals.

The "Nuts & Bolts"

• Begin by attending a group AMP Orientation with the Alumni Mentor Program Director. Orientations last one hour and do require that you register online in advance. Orientation schedules are published on HastingsCareersOnline.com and in our weekly "Career Corner."
• After attending an Orientation, you may begin to review mentor profiles in the Mentor Database. Make a list of prospective mentors with whom you may wish to meet.  (If you don't feel that you have time to review mentor profiles in advance, at least think about what you are looking for in a mentor - as far as practice area(s), experience, personality traits, or other characteristics.) 
• Next, schedule an individual appointment with Phil Marshall. Bring your list of prospective mentors - or your mentor criteria, as mentioned above - and a copy of your resume. Phil will help you select specific mentors whose background and experience match your interests. You also will complete a short registration form and sign the "Program Guidelines and Agreement."
• Phil will contact your prospective mentor(s) and will advise you once a mentor offers to meet with you.
• Now it is your responsibility to schedule a meeting with the mentor(s). Please contact the alumni mentor(s) immediately.  In some cases, as with a geographically distant mentor, it may be more practical to speak by telephone or to communicate via e-mail.

Okay, I've chosen a mentor. Now what?

Before meeting with a mentor, take some time to think about what you hope to get out of the experience. Remember, the mentor can't read your mind. Mentors sometimes report that while a student was very likeable or impressive, the mentor wasn't sure what type of help the student sought. It is your job to ask for the information you seek. The Alumni Mentor Program Director can help if you are having difficulty articulating your mentoring objectives.