A Mentorship Journey
Jasmine Toh and Wong Pei Yee are a mentor-mentee pair who participated in the Law Society’s Mentorship Scheme. They share about their experiences as mentor and mentee, and how the process of mentoring can be mutually meaningful and enriching. Find out more about our Mentorship Scheme and how you can participate below.
Jasmine Toh, Mentor
Please tell us about yourself.
I was living the life of a corporate communications practitioner before I took a leap of faith to navigate legal labyrinths and the fascinating realms of intellectual property and technology law, litigation and mediation. More recently, I left private practice and joined a technology company as their in-house legal counsel. I am also married with a two year old who is now the master negotiator in the family.
Why did you decide to become a mentor?
I have been blessed with good seniors and mentors in my life. As clichéd as it sounds, I want to pay it forward and help the juniors navigate the challenges of legal practice and learn to succeed. Also for self-serving reasons, I do enjoy expanding my network as well as exchanging ideas and experiences with my mentees and learning from them. Mentorship can be a two-way street, if you allow it.
How did you prepare yourself to take on the role of mentor?
I pretty much learned on the job.
How did you go about engaging with your mentee and how did you nurture the mentor-mentee relationship?
Always follow up on issues discussed in the previous mentoring session(s). Create a safe environment for the mentees to share their concerns and views by (a) listening (and not just hearing); (b) not judging; and (c) not undermining. No issue is trivial and no question is stupid.
What does it take to be a good mentor?
Be humble – in sharing experiences and learning from the mentees. Be disciplined and deliberate in setting aside time and creating reminders to check in with the mentees. Be mindful – when arranging meetings with the mentees (their schedules matter too). Be curious about the mentees as unique individuals – check out their LinkedIn profiles and law firm profiles, or simply ask the mentees.
What are some of the issues that young lawyers commonly face in practice and what can a mentor do to help/support them?
Studying the law is not the same as practising the law. The transition may be daunting. A mentor can be more empathetic and less quick to judge. A mentor can try to give more practical and specific suggestions. Do not forget to offer the mentee choices and allow them to own their choices.
Any advice for lawyers who are considering being either a mentor or mentee?
Mentor – While we can impart and emphasise certain core values of our profession that do not change with time, we have to remember that every generation of lawyers practises differently and they have different priorities, needs and concerns. We are there to guide, not dictate.
Mentee – Be invested, be present, be prepared, be curious and be eager. You will learn as much as you want to (or not).
Wong Pei Yee, Mentee
Associate, Cairnhill Law LLC
Wong Pei Yee
Tell us about yourself.
Lawyering is my second career and I have pursued this calling at an unusual time in life as a mother to two amazing children under five years old. Law school was not a walk in the park but it was an insulated space with few real-world consequences. Trying to make good as a professional in a new career with a fairly steep learning curve, and holding yourself to the standards expected of you by several different stakeholders who are all important in different ways, is a serious challenge any day. I was not only in need of a listening ear but also sound advice.
How and why did you decide to participate in the Mentorship Scheme?
The email to sign up for the Law Society’s Mentorship Scheme could not be more timely. When the email landed in my inbox about a month after getting called to the Bar, I was neck-deep in first-year associate work and acclimatising to office life (once again) whilst trying to maintain some semblance of work-life balance. I’m sure many can relate whether you are a fresh graduate or switching careers like me.
The Law Society Mentorship Scheme felt like a lifeline. It was more affordable than therapy ($20 which probably went to catering the buffet at the welcome and closing events and I’m half-joking about therapy), and legal industry-specific. With a mentor, I wouldn’t be confined to well-meaning advice from family and friends and risk trapping myself in an echo chamber, or potentially stay stuck in a sad loop of commiserating with colleagues and peers about how unforgiving the practice of law can be. The need for guidance and advice from a senior who knew better would also be met outside of the workplace (where I feel it would be prudent to keep communications as professional as possible).
How was the process of being assigned a mentor?
I specifically requested for a lawyer who is also a mother and who would be in a position to give me realistic and practical advice. I sincerely believe that a lot of thought was put into assigning Ms Jasmine Toh as my mentor as she had a very good understanding of what stage of life I was at.
Jasmine set the pace for our time as mentor and mentee and organised three in-person meetings at the start, mid-point, and towards the end of the programme. She also made it clear I could reach her by email as and when I needed. This arrangement worked well for me. I did not have to worry about when and whether I should reach out to my mentor, and what was a good time to do so.
How did you prepare for your role as a mentee?
I prepared by clarifying on my own what issues or topics I hoped to receive advice and mentorship on, especially before the in-person meetings. These can include the broad topics of how to juggle a young family and work, and the many directions one’s career can take; newly-minted lawyer dilemmas about how to deal with mistakes, billable hours, managing clients and colleagues, how to run a case, the ethics of practising law etc.; or very specific scenarios one faces at work. During the course of the programme, I also kept rough notes of what topics and/or scenarios I hoped to pick Jasmine’s brain on at our next in-person meeting.
How was your overall experience?
Jasmine was an objective, kind and practical mentor. She sympathised but did not sugarcoat her advice. She understood my point of view but also offered her understanding of the matter from an experienced practitioner’s perspective to help me “see the big picture”. I felt seen, understood and heard by Jasmine and was armed with small practical tips to take on this thing called lawyering whilst grappling with life itself. Meeting a suitable mentor for the various areas of our lives and/or at different stages of life is quite often a matter of timing, luck and effort, and I am grateful to the Law Society for the thoughtful facilitation of the process, and to Jasmine for her time.
Join the Law Society Mentorship Scheme
Dear learned friend,
The Law Society congratulates you on getting called to the Bar! This is a significant milestone in your life, and we are excited to see each of you grow as legal professionals in the years to come.
Are you keen to launch your career with guidance from experienced lawyers? The Law Society introduced the Law Society Mentorship Scheme in 2023, with the vision of facilitating growth and fostering strong relationships between members of the Bar.
The Mentorship Scheme is a nine-month structured programme running from October 2024 to June 2025. It will connect you with a diverse pool of volunteer mentors beyond your immediate network. You will have the opportunity to engage in confidential discussions on a range of topics, including ethical dilemmas, practice-area challenges, mental well-being and career development. The first run of the programme was completed this year and we have received very positive feedback.
If you are a newly qualified lawyer and would like to benefit from the Mentorship Scheme, sign up with us! We are extending an exclusive offer just for newly qualified lawyers: Register by 27 August 2024 to enjoy a special registration fee of $25 (usual fee is $50). Click the link below to secure your spot!
Welcome to the Bar!
Mentorship Scheme 2024 – Click here to register
If you have questions about the Mentorship Scheme, please connect with us at [email protected]
