The Power of Mentorship
When I first started law school, I had no idea how much I would need mentorship. At first, I thought I could manage everything on my own. After all, law school is all about self-reliance, right? You read the cases, write the essays, and learn to navigate the complexity of the law by yourself. But the more I went through the motions of assignments, lectures, and exams, the more I realised that there’s a lot to gain from leaning on others, especially those with more experience.
Mentorship is something that law school doesn’t explicitly teach you about, but it is one of the most valuable resources you can tap into. Whether it's from a senior student, a professor, or a practitioner, having someone who’s been there before can make all the difference in your academic and professional journey.
In my first year, like many others, I participated in Peer Mentoring. Admittedly, I was a little bit sceptical and hesitant about how helpful it would be to listen to older students. I assumed that mentorship was reserved for those with more connections or established career goals. But I quickly realised that having a mentor was an unmissable opportunity to not only learn about law but also navigate university and make the most out of my degree.
I thought it’d be awkward, like I was intruding on their time. But to my surprise, my mentor welcomed the chance to chat. We discussed my goals for law school, shared frustrations about the workload, and talked about how to approach the legal field when starting my career in a way that was both sustainable and meaningful. From that moment, I felt less isolated. I no longer saw challenges as obstacles I had to face alone, but as learning opportunities I could share with someone who understood.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned through mentorship is that law school isn’t just about memorising statutes or analysing case law. It’s about developing critical thinking skills, becoming confident in your abilities and understanding that your worth isn’t determined by your grades alone. A mentor helps you see the bigger picture, whether that’s understanding the trajectory of your legal career or simply offering advice on how to handle stress during exam season.
What’s also crucial about mentorship is that it isn’t one-sided. As a mentee, you gain valuable insights, but as a mentor (even in small moments), you also reinforce your own understanding. Teaching someone else how to approach a legal issue or guiding them through an assignment helps you reflect on your own approach and challenges you to think critically.
For me, mentorship has been more than just academic advice, it’s been support during moments of self-doubt and not knowing what units I want to take or where I want to end up with my career. Whether it's talking through a challenging subject or venting about imposter syndrome, knowing that there’s someone who has been through the same struggles makes all the difference. I’ve learned that the law is complex, but it’s easier to navigate when you don’t have to do it alone.
As law students, we often feel pressured to be independent, but mentorship teaches us that it’s okay to ask for help. It doesn’t make us weaker. It makes us more prepared for the future. Law school is just the beginning of a long journey, and the relationships you build along the way, especially the mentor-mentee ones can dramatically change your future.
Written by Yianni Gianakis