BALIF New Lawyers Committee Mentorship Program

Geographic Scope: Bay Area

Focus Areas: Professional mentorship and career development for LGBTQI+ legal professionals

Purpose: To provide mentorship opportunities for law students, post-bar graduates, and lawyers of all experience levels from a wide array of legal backgrounds and life experiences.

Eligibility

Mentee Eligibility:

• Law students
• Post-bar graduates
• Early-career lawyers
• Open to all applicants interested in receiving mentorship

Mentor Eligibility:

• Practicing lawyers of any experience level
• Interested in providing mentorship

Program Details

• Format: Individual mentee-mentor pairings
• Duration: Not specified
• Application: Confidential (all responses are confidential)
• Application Time: Can be completed in 5 minutes
• Pairing Announcement: Released at BALIF's Annual Mentor/Mentee Happy Hour (typically October)

Contact

• Monica Valencia: newlawyers@balif.org
• Myell Mergaert: newlawyers@balif.org
• Mailing Address: P.O. Box 193383, San Francisco, CA 94119

Updates

• Check email and BALIF newsletter for program updates

Application Process

1. Application Type:
   • Separate applications for mentees and mentors
   • Both roles available simultaneously (practicing lawyers can apply as both mentee and mentor)
2. Application Submission:
   • Click link for Mentee Application
   • Click link for Mentor Application
   • All responses are confidential
3. Application Duration:
   • Entire application can be completed in 5 minutes
4. Required Materials:
   • Specific materials not detailed in provided text
   • Check application portal for complete requirements

Timeline

• Application Deadline: Thursday, September 30 (annually, based on 2021-2022 program)
• Pairing Announcement: October (Annual Mentor/Mentee Happy Hour)
• Program Frequency: Annual

Contact for Questions

• Monica Valencia: newlawyers@balif.org
• Myell Mergaert: newlawyers@balif.org