One of the most effective methods of keeping valued staff, promoting advancement opportunities and ensuring a steady influx of talent is establishing a mentoring program. In fact, in a survey commissioned by our company, 94 percent of executives said having a mentor is important for professionals just beginning their careers.

Through mentoring, experienced staff members provide guidance to junior-level and newer employees on the subtleties of office protocol, preferred work methods and interpersonal skills. While mentoring relationships can be formed outside of the workplace, more substantial benefits may be realized by creating an internal program.

The Benefits
Mentoring helps new staff members become acclimated to office operations quickly and efficiently. Additional benefits include:

• Those who have mentors learn preferred procedures and can better implement the department's best practices.
• A mentoring program builds dedication and loyalty among recent hires who appreciate the firm's commitment to their professional development.
• Mentors gain a sense of pride and ownership in contributing to the firm's future. Most will consider it an honor to have their expertise acknowledged and to play such an important role for their colleagues.

Establishing a Program
The first priority when creating a mentoring program is to outline the goals and scope. You will need to decide whether to have an informal or formal policy and how results will be measured. The approach you take will depend on the size of your firm and the resources available. For example, a smaller law firm might assign an office manager the task of developing and implementing the program, while larger firms may ask human resources professionals or legal administrators to coordinate efforts.

Mid- to senior-level legal professionals with strong leadership, communication and technical skills and a healthy, enthusiastic attitude toward their work should be recruited to serve in mentoring roles. You might also consider creating a team of mentors with expertise in specific departments or practice areas. Junior staff members can work with mentors on a rotating basis to learn diverse skills.

With careful planning, your mentoring program will not only lead to increased motivation and loyalty, but will also enhance your employees' skills, enabling them to become more effective and productive members of your firm.