Mentoring is important in any profession. This is especially
true in the legal profession because there are specific sectors and
practice areas that have unique politics, issues, and norms. I am
happy to learn from anyone who wants share their insights, but I
also find it important to learn from professionals who have an
interest in or a relation to the affinity group(s) that I identify
with. This is important because law students have to deal with more
than exams and making the best of internship opportunities. There
are specific issues facing law students who are of color, women,
part of the LGBTQIA community, of various faiths, or any
combination of the above. Being able to talk candidly with
professionals who understand your scenario at a level past empathy
forges pathways to a sense of belonging and community.
It is important for attorneys that are members of affinity
groups to make themselves available not only to help law students
understand the profession, but also help them learn about and form
strategies for the realities they will face when they become
attorneys. Law students are less likely to leave the region if they
can see what they are getting into in a given market. Advice
combined with having an idea of the potential peaks and valleys of
being a lawyer in Boston is beneficial because it lessens
professional uncertainty and allows room for good will to build in
the legal community.
Mentors also benefit from this because they are increasing their
own demographic and diversifying the profession in the Greater
Boston Area. I am lucky to have mentors that are like me and able
to help me, and I am attempting to do my part by mentoring three
1Ls through the Black Law Student Association at Northeastern. One
of my mentees, who is not struggling academically, contemplated
leaving Boston because of the lack of diversity. She later told me
that my advice (along with the advice of others) on where to seek
community helped decide to stay Boston.
Boston law firm diversity and inclusion demographics from the
NALP Directory suggests it may be difficult to place attorneys that
are part of an affinity group with every law student that is open
to their guidance. That is why it is important for attorneys who
may not identify with a specific group to find a way to support
diversity and inclusion efforts at their firm or company. Take the
time to become educated ("get woke") on the affinity group specific
needs and situations. Take that knowledge and become a resource
and, as a result, a legal community builder. Think about the
intersection of these groups. Everyone can benefit from a mentor,
but the legal community can reach its diversity and inclusion goals
if everyone steps up and helps to forge a path for their future
colleagues.
Alvin Benjamin Carter III is a second year law
student at Northeastern University School of Law, Co-chair of the
MBA Law Student Section Council, First Circuit Executive Lt.
Governor for the ABA Law Student Division, Innovation Director at
Hiphop Archive and Research Institute at Harvard University, and an
independent museum and gallery consultant. He is currently on
winter co-op at Sennott & Williams in Boston.