Mentor Program

As part of its ongoing efforts to promote diversity in the legal profession, UMBA has established a mentor program for minority law students at the University of Utah and Brigham Young University. Many minority law students are the first in their families to attend law school or even college. This places such students at a disadvantage in learning how to get the best experience from law school and, in turn, how to be successful after law school.

UMBA members participate by sharing their experiences and advice with minority law students in various areas, including: advice about law school courses and which ones will benefit them related to their particular interests, insight into student and legal organizations that will help law students gain valuable experience and networking skills; assistance with job-seeking advice and providing information about the Utah legal market.

The principal means of fostering mentoring relationships is through periodic "Mentor Socials" where law students can meet and mingle with attorneys and judges. At these socials, law students can network and meet attorneys in various areas. In this way, students can learn what types of jobs are available after law school and what different practices areas are like in the "real world." These initial meetings can and do lead to more meaningful one-on-one mentor relationships.

March 2005 Mentor Social Photos

In addition, law students or young attorneys who want to talk to experienced attorneys about specific areas of law, specific employers, or any other area of interest are invited to contact an UMBA officer. We will seek out UMBA members and/or other attorneys in that particular area willing to meet or talk.



Utah Minority Bar Association
c/o Utah State Bar, Law & Justice Center
645 South 200 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84111-3834
mailto: umbalaw@utahbar.org