More than five dozen experienced attorneys, new attorneys and
law students met and mingled at the official launch of Mentoring
Circles, the Massachusetts Bar Association's newest networking
program, at the MBA's Boston office Oct. 4.
"The more brains to pick the better," said Julianne M. Parolin,
who recently opened her own practice in Stoughton, the Law Office
of Julianne M. Parolin, and said she is looking forward to learning
from experienced colleagues.
The program will help newer attorneys gain access to more
experienced practitioners while giving established professionals
the opportunity to share their knowledge, foster collegiality and
nurture future bar leaders. The program seeks to give all of the
participants resources to develop and improve their management and
leadership skills.
The individual groups, which were arranged based on geography,
will ideally include two or three senior-level attorneys and five
to eight attorneys who have practiced for 10 years or less.
Now that they have been introduced, members of the individual
groups are free to determine the best method for building and
maintaining their relationships.
Angela L. Rapko, of Masterman, Culbert & Tully LLP in Boston,
is now part of a mentoring circle. "I loved the idea of a group
(dynamic)," said Rapko, who was admitted to the bar in 2005.
Ryan Leonard recently opened a general practice office -- Mikowski
and Leonard LLC in Boston -- with Justin Mikowski. Leonard, who was
admitted to the bar in November 2010, said he decided to join the
program to gain a "wealth of knowledge" and because he believes it
will be a great way to meet experienced attorneys.
Law students were also excited about the new program and its
networking element. "This is an opportunity too good to pass up,"
said Gamal Sakakeeny-Smith, a student at Suffolk University Law
School.