Books

This book explains what law firms must do to retain talented women lawyers and help them become the effective leaders firms need them to be.

This comprehensive guide offers a wealth of practical information about all aspects of professional development, including performance evaluations, training, mentoring, work assignments, and much, much more. 

The rapid growth of law firms and fierce competition for top legal talent have combined to convince successful law firms of the need for increased emhasis on attorney professional development. This compilation of articles by Ida Abbott addresses key facets of professional development. Numerous examples of innovative "best practices" complement the author's analyses of attorney professional development needs in law firms today.

The Lawyer's Guide to Mentoring is directed to every lawyer interested in being a mentor or having a mentor – and to every law office wishing to make mentoring available in the workplace. It unlocks the secrets to finding multiple mentoring relationships that support professional development and success at all stages of a career.

Effective mentoring is one of the most important contributions experienced lawyers can make to the future of their firm, and this 32-page booklet is an ideal quick-read resource for busy lawyers. Include a wide range of tips organized under subheadings — from tips for the first meeting to tips for setting the mentee’s goals, promoting effective communication, facilitating learning, integrating the mentee into the firm, building the mentee’s confidence, mentoring members of minority groups, enriching the mentoring process, and concluding the mentoring relationship.

Effective mentoring is a two-way process, and this brochure geared to mentees offers tips for success in such areas as forming a mentoring mindset, preparing for the first meeting, setting goals, facilitating one’s own learning and development, showing consideration for a mentor, and concluding the mentoring relationship. This is an ideal handout for new associates or summer associates, either on its own or used in conjunction with the 32-page booklet entitled Being an Effective Mentor. Sized to fit in a standard business envelope.

Studies of the legal profession consistently show that one of the significant barriers to the advancement of women and minority lawyers is the inability of these lawyers to find mentors. This study, conducted by Ida Abbott and Dr. Rita Boags for the Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA), looked at women and minority lawyers in law firms and corporate law departments who had successful mentoring relationships.