Guest post by Nikki Edwards, immediate past president of the London Solicitors Litigation Association and a partner at Fox & Partners
Edwards: Mentoring is not just career guidance
As my two-year term as president of the London Solicitors Litigation Association (LSLA) drew to a close last month, I spent some time reflecting on the progress that the association has made in that time and the value that it offers to its members. One initiative that I am especially pleased we got off the ground is the LSLA mentoring programme.
As a female lawyer, from the North, with a state school education, I understand the value of sharing perspectives, experiences and contacts.
It was notable to me as a junior lawyer that there were a lot of things that others seemed to know about, which weren’t taught as part of my law degree or legal practice course. I realised I was unlikely to succeed without the generosity of others, sharing their time, experience and knowledge.
I also realised that my perspective and lived experience was just as valuable and I was committed to sharing that. Sometimes it was welcome, sometimes less so, but I figured those who resisted were usually the people who needed it the most.
Whilst most of the big law firms have in-house mentor programmes, not every lawyer has access to a mentor. As part of its commitment to supporting litigators working in London, we felt this was something the LSLA could and should help with.
We wanted to create something that went beyond the mentoring schemes available in law firms, a programme where mentees could feel free to ask questions and explore issues with someone outside their immediate workplace.
The programme is open to members at all stages of their career and that is deliberate. This isn’t just for young lawyers, it’s for anyone who wants to develop, reflect or broaden their perspective.
There is plenty that can be learned from the new generation of qualified lawyers. Whilst most mentor pairings have a senior lawyer as the mentor and a junior lawyer as the mentee, this isn’t always the case, it depends what applicants are looking for.
We have embraced the fact that acting as a mentor can be as rewarding as being a mentee. It gives you the chance to share your experience, shape someone else’s career, and in doing so reflect on your own practice and perhaps see things in a new light.
It’s a two-way street. In my experience of acting as a mentor, I have always been struck by how much I have personally gained from these relationships.
As we wanted this to be a scheme that offered additional value to our members, mentees must be a member of the LSLA. However, recognising that the needs of mentees are broad, we decided that mentors can come from across the profession, from solicitors to barristers, in-house counsel and even members of the judiciary.
In our first round, which was soft launched in March, we had over 50 applications from mentees, which shows the appetite for this type of support and connection.
So far, we have matched 26 participants and there are still opportunities for more mentors to join. I encourage anyone who can to get involved. Everyone has something to offer.
This programme is an opportunity for the LSLA to offer support in respect of some of the challenges we know litigators face.
Early-career solicitors often work in demanding environments with limited support and networks. More experienced lawyers can lack opportunities to reflect, share and support others outside their firm. The mentoring programme gives both groups the chance to engage in a structured, supportive way, building relationships that foster professional growth, collaboration, and confidence.
We also hope that it will strengthen the legal community more broadly. Not every pairing will be success but those that are will no doubt result in relationships that continue beyond the assigned roles.
By connecting people across firms, sectors and roles, the programme encourages knowledge-sharing and collaboration. It reminds us that we are part of a wider community and that supporting one another is not just nice, it’s vital for progress.
Seeing the LSLA mentoring programme launch has been one of the highlights of my tenure because it reflects so much that I care about: supporting others, sharing experience, building connections, and helping the next generation thrive.
Mentoring is not just career guidance, it’s about building relationships and broadening perspectives in a profession that is evolving in so many ways right now.
The new generation of lawyers is very different to those who are running the law firms – they have a different outlook and attitude. The technology we use as litigators is evolving at an unprecedented rate and no one is yet an expert.
It is important that we find a way to capitalise on these changes and see them as progress rather than something to complain about.