The AALL Mentor Project provides an informal, personal source of information for newer members, provides an avenue by which experienced law librarians may meet promising new members of the profession, and provides a network for members who are contemplating a move to another type of library

Who should participate?
All experienced law librarians willing to share their time and wisdom; all enthusiastic newer members; AALL members considering a move to another type of library.
Comments from the 2003 mentee survey:

It was a wonderful opportunity to meet an interesting and enjoyable person in the profession.
I feel that [my mentor] will be a good resource in the future.
I was delighted to have [my mentor] and think he was just the perfect match.
Overall, spending time with my mentor was one of the highlights of the AALL convention.

FCIL members who served as mentors in 2003 recommend the experience:

For the past two years, I have had wonderful mentees who are interested in foreign, comparative and international law librarianship. As, many times, a newer FCIL librarian is the only subject specialist at his or her workplace, a mentor and professional connections are vital. – Stephanie Burke, Senior Reference and International Law Librarian, Pappas Law Library, Boston University School of Law

I volunteered as a mentor because I’ve learned the value of advice and support from more experienced colleagues. Whoever matched me with my mentee must have really done their homework: We both went to school in Madison, WI; worked for a while at West; lived in Chicago; and have yellow labrador retrievers! I’ve really enjoyed getting to know my mentee via email and in person. – Mary Rumsey, Foreign, Comparative & International Law Librarian, University of Minnesota Law Library

Working as a mentor provides an opportunity for reflection and analysis about what’s going on in law libraries and it makes you appreciate how much you have learned in your own career path. It’s not rocket science and there’s no right or wrong way to make it work. Even if your only time together is at the annual meeting, you have nothing to lose by trying it but, potentially, a lot to gain. – Suzanne Thorpe, Associate Director for Faculty, Research, and Instructional Services, University of Minnesota Law Library

How can you join the Mentor Project?

To learn more about the AALL Mentor Project and to become a mentor or mentee, visit the Project's website.

Mentors and mentees will be matched as closely as possible based on submitted applications.