Guidance for Legal Career Success: CEFLER 2018 Mentor Program Student Training

On November 5, 2018, the Center for Ethical Formation and Legal Education Reform (CEFLER) held its annual mentor program training for over 30 students who signed up to be paired with a lawyer or judge mentor in their field.

Regent University School of Law started a mentor program several years ago in which incoming students are paired with practicing lawyers and judges who can serve as professional mentors to students during their time in law school.  The purpose of the program is not for the mentor to help find the student a job; rather it is to help the student develop his or her professional identity by talking with the mentor about the mentor’s area of practice and the ethical and professional development issues the mentor has faced.  The mentorship experience allows participating students to learn from their mentors the character traits and professional development skills the mentors believe are important for the students’ success in the legal profession.

Dean Natt Gantt and Professor Ben Madison, co-founders of CEFLER, discussed expectations of the program, how and how often to contact mentors, and what mentees should discuss with mentors at their first and subsequent meetings. Students learned the characteristics of a successful mentee, mentor activity possibilities, and aspects of a healthy mentor relationship.

Teaching Beyond the Classroom

2L students Corrie Faith Lee and Chris Dunn spoke to students about their first-year experience with their mentors.  Corrie shared how she was able to form a trust-based professional relationship with her assigned mentor early in their relationship. She described how the relationship with her mentor has helped to enhance her professionalism, self-confidence, and legal skills.

Chris also shared important lessons he has learned from his mentorship experience.  He encouraged students to realize that their professional success depends on more than their knowledge of the law and legal skills—that their professional relationships and emotional intelligence matter.

Chris described several “job shadowing experiences” that he had with his mentor that provided many practical and professional “insider” strategies that came as a result of his mentor experience. For example, Chris discussed how his mentor has helped him know how to handle inevitable ethical situations, deal with demanding clients, and navigate the local court system. He also shared that his mentor helped him develop strategies to career plan effectively.

Lastly, CEFLER mentor program coordinator Diane Hess-Hernandez encouraged students to let the mentor-mentee relationship develop organically and to use the support at Regent Law if mentees have questions or any issues arise with trying to connect with a mentor.

About the CEFLER Mentoring Program

Regent Law Center for Ethical Formation and Legal Education Reform (CEFLER) provides current law students with the opportunity to participate in a mentor program which pairs current J.D. and LL.M. students with lawyers and judges throughout the country.

The program is designed to help students develop their professional identity and character formation through lasting relationships with these lawyers and judges. The program aims to pair each participating law student with a legal professional who (1) practices in the state where that law student intends to practice; and (2) specializes in the practice area most aligned with that student’s interests.

The mentorship opportunity provides a uniquely valuable experience for students to glean practical and personal advice from practicing attorneys and judges, and the consensus from the mentors is that the benefit is a mutual one. In a recent study by the American Bar Association, recent law school graduates cited having a mentor as an important driving factor for career satisfaction and also noted the important benefits provided by a mentor program such as advice, guidance, and support.

Since its inception in February 2013, CEFLER has had almost 500 mentors in the program, with 130 attorneys and judges participating in 2016-17 alone. That first academic year, 9% of the law student body participated as mentees compared to 45% of the student body who participated last academic year 2016-17.

Since the beginning of this academic year, CEFLER has received many applications from new students who want to participate in the program.  As we begin the pairing process, we look forward to learning of the positive experiences both mentors and mentees enjoy from the program this year.

Click here to view past mentee testimonies >

Suggested Reading for Incoming Law Students

Law School Study & Writing Skills

• Bridging the Gap Between College and Law School: Strategies for Success, Ruta K. Stropus and Charlotte D. Taylor, Carolina Academic Press, 2001.
• The Eight Secrets of Top Exam Performance in Law School: An Easy to Use, Step-by-Step Program for Achieving Great Grades!, Harcourt Legal & Professional Publications, Inc., 1997.
• How to Read the Bible for All It’s Worth, 3rd edition, Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart, Zondervan, 1993.
• The Elements of Legal Style, 2nd edition, Bryan A. Garner, Oxford University Press, 2002.
• Plain English for Lawyers, 5th edition, Richard C. Wydick, Carolina Academic Press, 1998.
• The Elements of Style, 4th edition, Will Strunk, Jr. and E. B. White, Longman, 1999.
• Fowler's Modern English Usage, 3rd revised edition, R. W. Burchfield, Oxford University Press, 2004.
• One-L: The Turbulent True Story of a First Year at Harvard Law School, reprint edition, Scott Turrow, Penguin Books, 2010.

History & Philosophy of Law

• Defending the Declaration: How the Bible and Christianity Influenced the Writing of the Declaration of Independence, 1st edition, Gary T. Amos, Wolgemuth & Hyatt Publishing, 1989.
• The Federalist Papers, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, Signet Classics, 2003.
• Miracle at Philadelphia: The Story of the Constitutional Convention, May to September 1787, 1st edition, Catherine Drinker Bowen, Back Bay Books, 1986.
• Debate of the Constitution: Federalist and Antifederalist Speeches, Articles & Letters During the Struggle Over Ratification, Part Two: January to August 1788, Edited by Bernard Bailyn, Library of America, 1993.
• No Liberty for License: The Forgotten Logic of the First Amendment, first edition, David Lowenthal, 
• Spence Publishing Company, 1997.
• 50 Questions on the Natural Law: What It Is and Why We Need It, Charles E. Rice, Ignatius Press, 1999. 
• The Lion and the Throne: The Life and Times of Sir Edward Coke, first edition, Catherine D. Bowen, Little Brown & Co., 1990.
• The Tradition of Natural Law: A Philosopher's Reflections, Yves Rene Simon and Vukan Kuic, Fordham University Press, 1999.
• Reason in the Balance: The Case Against Naturalism in Science, Law & Education, Phillip E. Johnson, InterVarsity Press, 1998.
• The Rise of Modern Judicial Review: From Judicial Interpretation to Judge-Made Law, revised edition, Christopher Wolfe, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 1994.

Profession of Law, Ethics, Crime & Justice

• A Nation Under Lawyers: How the Crisis in the Legal Profession Is Transforming American Society, 1st edition, Mary Ann Glendon, Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1994.
• Beyond All Reason: The Radical Assault of Truth in American Law, Daniel Farber and Susanna Sherry, Oxford University Press, 1997.
• The Death of Common Sense: How Law is Suffocating America, Philip K. Howard, Grand Central Publishing, 1996.
• Making Men Moral: Civil Liberties and Public Morality, Robert P. George, Oxford University Press, 1995.
• The Interaction of Law and Religion, Harold J. Berman, Abingdon Press, 1974.
• Crime and Its Victims: What We Can Do, Daniel W. Van Ness, InterVarsity Press, 1986.
• Justice that Restores, Charles W. Colson, Tyndale House Publishers, 2001.
• Restoring Justice, Dan Van Ness and Karen Heetderks Strong, 2nd edition, Anderson Publishing Co., 2001.
• The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict, 3rd edition, Ken C. Sande, Baker Books, 2000.
• In Search of Atticus Finch: A Motivational Book for Lawyers, Mike Papantonio, Seville Publishing, 1998. 

Christian Principles

• Redeeming Law: Christian Calling and the Legal Profession, Michael P. Schutt, InterVarsity Press, 2007.
• Click here to read the author's blog
• Burden of Truth: Defending the Truth in an Age of Unbelief, Charles W. Colson and Anne Morse, Tyndale House Publishers, 1998.
• The Call: Finding and Fulfilling the Central Purpose of Your Life, Os Guinness, Thomas Nelson Publishing, 2003.
• Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis, Harper San Francisco, 2009.
• The Other Six Days: Vocations, Work, and Ministry in Biblical Perspective, R. Paul Stevens, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2000.
• Out of the Saltshaker: Evangelism as a Way of Life, Rebecca Manley Pippert, InterVarsity Press, 1999.
• Postmodern Times: A Christian Guide to Contemporary Thought and Culture, Gene Edward Veith, Jr., Crossway Books, 1994.
• The Sensate Culture, Harold O. J. Brown, Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2007.

Law in Literature

• The Law as Literature, Ephraim London, Simon & Schuster, 1966.
• Les Miserables, Victor Hugo.
• 1984, George Orwell, Signet Classic, 1950.
• To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee, Grand Central Publishing, 1988.
• Witness, Whittaker Chambers, Regnery Publishing, 1987.

Films

• Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Jean Arthur, James Stewart, and Claude Rains, Columbia Tristar, 1939.
• The Oxbow Incident, Anthony Quinn, Henry Fonda, Dana Andrews, and Harry Morgan, Twentieth Century Fox, 1942.
• Young Mr. Lincoln, Henry Fonda and Lamar Trotti, Twentieth Century Fox, 1939.
• Anatomy of a Murder, James Stewart, Lee Remick, Ben Gazarra, Eve Arden, and George C. Scott, Columbia Tristar, 1959.
• Adam's Rib, Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1949.
• Judgment at Nuremburg, Spencer Tracy and Maximillian Schnell, United Artists, 1961.
• Witness for the Prosecution, Tyrone Power, Marlene Dietrich, and Charles Laughton, MGM-Pathe Communications, 1957.
• Breaker Morant, Edward Woodward, Jack Thompson, John Waters, and Bryan Brown, South Australian Film Corp., 1979.
• Twelve Angry Men, Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, United Artists, 1957.
• A Civil Action, John Travolta, Robert Duvall, Stephen Fry, James Gandolfini, Dan Hedaya, Zeljko Ivanek, and John Lithgow, Touchstone Pictures, 1999.

Mentee Testimony: Chris Pocta

Christopher Pocta ('16) was invited to join the Center for Ethical Formation and Legal Education Reform (CEFLER) mentor program by Center Director Professor Natt Gantt.

Chris desired to incorporate ethical and moral components in his own practice and knew the Center for Ethical Formation and Legal Education Reform could help.

In his two years in the  program, he also found unique opportunities to collaborate with and confide in Christian attorneys.

Learn more about the CEFLER Mentoring Program >

Mentee Testimony: Chelsea Mack

Chelsea Mack

Approached by Professor Natt Gantt with the program during 1L orientation in 2014, Chelsea Mack ('17) saw the CEFLER mentorship program as an opportunity to network and learn more about the legal field.  “I didn’t know many lawyers,” Chelsea says.  "It was encouraging to have someone who works in my field to talk to."

Chelsea's mentor, a local judge and Regent Law alumna, is always open and willing to help.

Since its inception in the spring of 2013, the Mentor Program has promoted our student’s individual character formation and professional development through lasting relationships with lawyers and judges from within and beyond the Hampton Roads community.

Learn more about the CEFLER Mentoring Program >

Mentee Testimony: Carter Budwell

My name is Carter Budwell. I am a third year law student at Regent University School of Law, and plan on taking the Virginia bar exam this summer.

Unlike many of my peers who joined the mentor/mentee program as first year law students, I did not join until the fall of my third year. It was just something I did not think that much about. But I decided that having a connection with a practicing attorney can only help me, and cannot hurt me.

I was paired with Mr. Brandon Delfunt, a district attorney near the Atlanta area. He has given me some very solid advice, both in regards to law school and personally. He told me about how crazy everything seemed in law school - all the assignments and the extra-curricular activities that can just pile up. But he told me that, looking back, he is glad that he did it. This was very encouraging for me personally, because I know very well the feeling of being overwhelmed. I know the day will come when I am glad that I did all of the work I did.

He also told me about balancing work and family. This is very important to me, because I desire to have one of my own someday, and I want to be able to appropriately balance my life.

The only regret that I have is that I did not join the program sooner. Advice from a practicing attorney can be very helpful, because when we are in the heat of things, outside advice can help us see things clearer.

Mentee Testimony: Stockton Brown

by Stockton Brown ('15)

“The Regent Mentoring Program has been a great experience both in my law school career and beyond. My mentor is Ashley Warner, and we met at the end of my 1L summer. Ashley provided great insight and encouragement regarding the challenges of law school. We stayed in touch after our initial meeting, and I interned at the same firm where she practiced during the summer after my 2L year. After graduation from Regent Law, I first practiced law at that same firm where I had interned.

During my law school career at Regent and as my career begins, Ashley has been a great encouragement. She has helped me to wrestle with questions of how to grow in Christ-likeness as a lawyer, serving each client and person that I meet with respect and love.
I am very thankful for the Mentoring Program and the ways in which it has brought friends alongside me to help me develop as a lawyer who seeks to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.”