The WBI Mentorship Program was created to facilitate friendships and discussions beyond the challenges of law school. We hope to bring together students with shared interests or identities and to help students start building their community within Mondale from the very start. Interested students fill out a survey about interests and identities that are important to them, and are placed into small groups with mentors and other students who share their interests and identities! These groups meet at least once a month to check in and spend time connecting away from academics.

Students can sign on as mentees at any stage of their law school career, and mentorship roles are open to all students who have completed at least one year of law school. Mentors and mentees are also eligible for the WBI Transcript Milestones!

While mentorship groups have been formed for the fall, we may form additional groups in the spring based on interest. Feel free to email law-wellbeing@umn.edu if you'd like to receive updates on mentorship program openings.

If you are interested in connecting with WBI graduates that are currently practicing attorneys, please contact law-wellbeing@umn.edu and we would be happy to connect you.

• Early August: mentors will receive a survey asking about interests, backgrounds, and identities that are important to them and for connecting over with other students. These surveys will be used to pair co-mentors and mentees.

• Late August: mentors will attend the law school’s peer leader training. This is required for students in any leadership role at the school—including leadership positions on journals and in clinics. Arrangements are available for students unable to attend.

• Early September: mentors will attend a WBI mentorship training session over a lunch hour. This will be offered multiple times, and will help prepare mentors for their mentorship role.

• Mid-September: mentor and mentee groups will be formed! WBI will host a kickoff event for groups to meet and mingle.

• Once a month: Beginning in mid-September and running through May, groups will meet at least once a month—it could be checking out a new coffee shop, a hike around Minnehaha, a movie night—whatever makes sense for the group!

• Once a semester: WBI will host a mentor lunch where fellow mentors can get together and reflect on their group’s successes and challenges. Throughout the year, WBI will also offer support and resources to mentor/mentee groups—we are committed to doing whatever we can to help!