Alumni Mentor Program
The MSU College of Law Alumni Association and the Office of Student Affairs have partnered to create an Alumni Mentor Program. This is a program that pairs current students with alumnus of MSU College of Law for the purpose of providing support, encouragement, and guidance to students. This program enhances the student services offered by Career Services, Student Affairs and the other departments at the College of Law.
Since the launch of the Alumni Mentor program in 2007, more than 450 students and alumni have participated.
The reception was held on September 22, 2009, in the Castle Board Room at the Law College. Dean Joan W. Howarth spoke about the benefits of the program; new this year, we held a panel discussion by previous mentors about what works and tips for enhancing the process. You can view the video of the panel as well as Dean W. Howarth's introduction here.
For more information on what is expected of our Alumni mentors, please check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The following are some of our success stories of the Alumni Mentor Program.
Bonding over Interests
Rosemary Ebner Pomeroy, '86, had the pleasure of mentoring Ellie Satz during Satz's third year at MSU Law. "Ellie had some interest in adoption law and that area is about 40 percent of my practice," Pomeroy explains. The two met, e-mailed, and spoke on the phone throughout the year. Most recently Pomeroy shared some of her thoughts on the bar exam via their friendship on Facebook.
Pomeroy acknowledges that, "As an out-of-state alumna, I initially didn't think I would be able to be an effective mentor and am glad to say that I think it has been a great opportunity for both of us." Pomeroy continues: "As the law school looks to create a more national presence, out-of-state alumni could help by participating in the mentoring program."
Providing Support
Second-year student Megan Hard went to her mentor, Jason Jones, '05, for support to help her get through the everyday demands of law school. "Law school is both a rigorous and rewarding experience, and at times, that experience can get pretty daunting," Hard explains. "But having a helping hand to reach out to, someone who has been through the same experience and can tell you that you will survive, makes the end seem much more reachable." The Student/Alumni Mentor Program has been her "rock" throughout law school. "The true benefit of the Program has been having a reliable contact, just an e-mail or call away, who can answer questions and help guide you along the way," Hard says.
Jones says he's also benefited from his opportunity to mentor Hard. "Not only have I been able to help her navigate law school and her career opportunities, but her questions and curiosity have challenged me with the responsibility of providing advice to a future, fellow member of the bar," he says. "In determining which advice to give Megan, I am forced to evaluate the decisions I've made and also, am given the chance to take a fresh look at decisions I will make." Jones says that because of his role as a mentor, he'll "revisit the perspective of a student when faced with the decisions of a professional."