Mentorship Programs and Opportunities for Law Students in Texas

Whether you're deep into your 1L year or are ready to graduate from law school, it's crucial to find a mentor. Not only can mentorship provide law students with real-world guidance and insight into the industry, but it can also help you tackle career goals, navigate a job search, maintain a positive work-life balance, and more.

As TYLA president Hisham Masri said in the March edition of the Texas Bar Journal, "mentorship is a cornerstone of professional growth in the legal field." One rule of thumb is to find a mentor before you absolutely need one: this way, you'll build a positive relationship that isn't based solely on gaining professional insight. Masri further explains that "finding the right mentor can be a career-defining moment...unlocking new levels of skill, confidence, and professional opportunity." But finding a mentor may feel like yet another stressful challenge for law students.

To make things a bit easier, we've compiled a handful of mentorship programs and opportunities for Texas law students.

Please note that apart from the mentorship opportunities provided by the State Bar of Texas, the resources listed below are not endorsed by the State Bar of Texas. This blog post is simply a compilation of available mentorship opportunities. If a program stands out to you, please research it further to make sure it's the right fit for you and your needs.

State Bar of Texas Mentorship Programs

Free Section Memberships for Law Students

From administrative law to workers' compensation and everything in between, the State Bar of Texas sections run the gamut when it comes to legal specialties. Each section is comprised of lawyers who practice in similar areas or that have other similar affinities, offering closer association between attorneys engaged in specialized fields of law. As such, sections provide opportunities to share professional experiences.

Joining one or more sections is an excellent first step for law students. In general, dues are required when joining a section, but law students can join up to five sections per year for free. Free sections for law students include but are not limited to the following:

• African American Lawyers
• Business Law
• Computer & Technology
• Environmental and Natural Resources
• Family Law
• Hispanic Issues
• Immigration & Nationality Law
• International Law
• Real Estate, Probate, & Trust
• Women and the Law

Click here to download the application and see which sections offer free membership for law students.

Law Student Division Membership

The State Bar of Texas' Law Student Division Membership gives law students the opportunity to interact with local attorneys in their communities. The cost of joining the Law Student Division is $15 per year. Member benefits include scholarships, discounts, publications, and more.

Texas Young Lawyers Association

TYLA (Texas Young Lawyers Association) has various resources available for law students in Texas, including pamphlets and toolkits. Click here to take a look at all the resources TYLA has to offer.

TYLA also offers podcasts targeted at law students and young lawyers, including:

• Ten Minute Mentor: This short-form podcast features useful topics for newly licensed Texas lawyers and law students.
• Young Gunners: In this podcast, TYLA directors talk with experienced practitioners about a variety of topics including demand letters, going to court, social media, and work/life balance.
• Shero: A podcast celebrating women in the legal profession, focusing on the issues and challenges that women in the law face.

If you would like to learn more about TYLA, contact them at (512) 427-1529 or send them a message here.

State Bar of Texas – Disability Issues Committee Mentorship Opportunities

The mentorship program from the Disability Issues Committee of the State Bar of Texas provides law students with disabilities a one-on-one resource for information, guidance, and support. Through this mentorship opportunity, licensed Texas attorneys are paired with students with disabilities. The Disability Issues Committee encourages attorneys with disabilities to volunteer and share their experiences with mentees.

If you are interested in enrolling as a mentee, please complete this online form.

State Bar of Texas – Transition to Practice Mentorship

While this mentorship opportunity may be better suited for recent law school graduates and newly licensed lawyers, it is still beneficial for law students to be aware of it. The Transition to Practice mentorship matches newly licensed lawyers with experienced attorneys. Mentoring covers many areas, including law practice management, effective client representation, career development, and pro bono opportunities. All participants meet every other month for a program planned around one or more specific mentoring topics. In the alternate months, mentors and mentees meet in small groups or one-on-one.

Click here to learn more about the Transition to Practice mentorship.

Texas-Based Mentorship Opportunities

• Austin Bar Association Mentoring Program
• Travis County Women Lawyers’ Association Mentoring Program
• Houston Bar Association Mentor Mentee Program

Mentorship Opportunities Provided by Texas Law Schools

The University of Texas at Austin School of Law – Texas Law Mentoring Programs

Take a look at the Texas Law Mentoring Program from the University of Texas at Austin School of Law. UT Austin mentoring opportunities include the following:

• 1L Alumni Mentoring Program
• 2L/3L Mentoring Program
• Transfer Student Mentoring Program
• Summer Mentoring Program

Baylor University

• Transactional Law Mentorship Program

Other Mentorship Opportunities

• American Bar Association Mentoring Program
• Legal Mentor Network
• Lawline Mentorship CLE Courses
• Copyright Society Mentorship Program

Start Your Mentorship Journey Today!

As you can see, there are quite a few mentorship opportunities available for Texas law students. Some may seem general while others can be very specific and singular. If none of the programs listed above piqued your interest, don't worry. Take an evening to research mentorship programs. Reach out to friends and classmates to see if they have mentors. Once you find your mentor, you'll begin paving the way for a successful legal career.

While Texas Bar Practice doesn't offer its own mentorship program, we do provide law students with free digital and online resources. You can gain free access to the publications Texas lawyers and judges use on a daily basis. Consider this a self-guided mentorship. Remember, we're here to help you practice well!