1L Mentoring Program
Program Overview
The Law School is excited to facilitate 1:1 mentoring relationships between 1L students and UChicago Law alumni in the 2026-27 year. Our program pairs first-year students with alumni mentors to help students navigate the beginning of their law career. The program is open to all first-year JD students interested in being mentored by a UChicago alumnus/alumna and will run from late October 2026 until late June 2027.
The 1L Mentoring Program is designed to provide students with valuable guidance, support, and networking opportunities. The program is not intended to provide practice-area-specific mentorship or facilitate job opportunities. Instead, the program focuses on helping students build meaningful connections with alumni.
Through their mentoring relationship, we hope first-year students will:
- Expand their professional network
- Build confidence and practical skills to support the recruitment cycle
- Receive guidance on course selection
- Learn about the nuances of the legal field
- Understand and utilize Law School resources
- Understand various career pathways
- Understand post-graduation life
The mentoring program includes both Chicago-area and virtual mentorships. For more details and to sign up as a mentor or mentee, please see the information below.
Please contact Kari Nimox, Assistant Director of Alumni Relations, at klnimox@uchicago.edu with any questions.
Mentoring Program FAQs
Who participates in the program?
The mentoring program is open to all first-year JD students interested in being mentored by a UChicago alumnus/alumna. Mentors are recruited by the Office of External Affairs.
What is expected of me as a mentee / mentor?
The 2026-27 1L Mentoring Program runs from autumn through spring quarters. Therefore, we ask that all mentees and mentors commit to being involved in the program from late October 2026 through June 2027.
Your level of involvement is entirely up to your pair. We hope that at a minimum you will:
- Identify 3-5 goals you hope to accomplish over the course of the relationship
- Meet in person or virtually with each other once per quarter
- Communicate via email, phone, or Zoom periodically as agreed upon by both parties
While this program is designed for the school year, we hope your mentoring relationship continues past the student's 1L year.
Please review our How to Make the Most of Your Mentoring Relationship webpage to find out more specific information about expectations, communication, and relationship building, as well as suggested discussion topics during initial meetings.
Mentees
Please remember that alumni mentors have very busy schedules and that their time is valuable. During your first meeting, we expect you to discuss your expectations for the year, including meeting/discussion frequency, meeting location, and medium for communication.
Be respectful of the time commitment required of mentors and make sure to respond promptly to communications, be punctual to events, and honor all commitments. This is the beginning of your professional legal career. Make sure to represent yourself well.
Mentors
We are aware that your schedule is busy, and your time is valuable. Your active participation is crucial to your mentee's experience. We expect that you will provide feedback, guidance, and encouragement.
How are mentees and mentors matched?
Our matching process weighs geographic location, employer type, student groups or activities most heavily, then identify alumni who fit those criteria. We then review each student's preferred areas of mentor support. Depending on alumni availability, students may be matched with a mentor who meets some but not all of their preferred criteria.
Because most 1Ls are still exploring their options and mentors can speak broadly to law school and early career questions, practice area is not a matching criterion.
How do I sign up?
Mentee Sign-Up Form: Mentees: 1L Mentoring Program Sign-Up (2026) | University of Chicago Law School
Alumni Mentor Sign-Up Form: Mentors: 1L Mentoring Program Sign-Up (2026) | University of Chicago Law School
I'm an alum who is interested in serving as a resource to students, but can't commit to a 1:1 pairing. Is there a way for me to get involved?
Yes! There is a place on the Mentor Sign-Up Form under the "How would you like to connect with students?" question to note you are willing to be included in an alumni outreach list.
Who should I contact with additional questions?
Please contact Kari Nimox, Assistant Director of Alumni Relations, at klnimox@uchicago.edu.
Can I sign-up if I already have/ will receive a mentor in a different program?
Yes, this program is open to all 1Ls regardless of participation in other programming. For example, if you are a Doctoroff student and you sign up, you will receive a mentor for this program and another mentor for Doctoroff.