The Mentoring Program's Purpose
This program is designed as a system of support and guidance in which Pepperdine School of Law Alumni can share their experience and insight with current law students.
Many law students are faced with the challenges of making major decisions early in their legal education when they know little about the legal profession. Mentors can provide the benefit of their knowledge and experience to help students achieve their educational and professional goals. Alumni mentors gain a sense of accomplishment and pride from having helped a future colleague and member of the Pepperdine family. Students gain a valuable source of advice and guidance while navigating the rigors of law school.
Furthering Our Goals
Starting in August, with the new academic year, the Alumni Mentoring Program will be joining forces with the Student Mentoring Program.
The current Alumni Mentoring Program is organized as a one-on-one structured program. A single student is paired with a single mentor. The current Student Mentoring Program organizes the first-year sections into small groups, and each is assigned an upper division student and faculty mentor. This year an additional mentoring role will be filled by one or more alumni mentors. These small groups of students will meet with their alumni mentor(s) once or twice month in various settings, on or off campus, with the ultimate goal of getting to know each other in a friendly and casual environment.
This year the Mentoring Program will also work closing with the Career Development Office to create more opportunities for alumni to return to campus. While it is important that students find a friend and open ear in their mentors, it is equally important that they learn from their mentors and practice the skills necessary to locating and getting a job. With the help from dedicated mentors, the CDO plans to coordinate specific events designed to help student develop these skills. These events will include a series of Career Days, mock-interviews, and resume building workshops.
While group mentoring is geared toward first-year students, small group mentoring meetings for upper division students will also be organized periodically throughout the year. The one-on-one structure will continue, as it is a great help to 2L and 3L students looking for post-graduate advice, as well as first-year students who may already know what they are looking for and just need an alumnus with the experience to help them achieve their goals.