Affinity Mentoring Programs

Program Overview

The Law School is excited to facilitate mentoring relationships between 1L students and UChicago Law alumni. Our programs pair first-year students with alumni mentors to help them navigate their legal careers and connect with professionals in specific affinity groups.

These mentoring programs are designed to provide students with valuable resources and networking opportunities within the legal community. Please note, this year we are extending our mentoring programs to include virtual mentorships with alumni located outside of Chicago.

For more details and to sign up as a mentor or mentee, please see the information below. Recruitment for the 2024-2025 programs will begin in September 2024.

Please contact Anna Jenkins, Assistant Director of Alumni Relations, at annajenkins274@uchicago.edu with any questions.

Who participates in the program?

Mentoring programs are open to all first-year JD students interested in being mentored by a UChicago alumnus/alumna. Mentors are recruited by the sponsoring affinity group student organizations and the Office of External Affairs.

What is expected of me as a mentee?

The mentoring programs span the length of the academic year. Therefore, we ask that all mentees to commit to being involved in the program from November 2024 through June 2025.

Your level of involvement with your mentor is entirely up to you and your mentor. Please remember that mentors have very busy schedules and that their time is valuable. During your first meeting, we encourage you and your mentor to discuss your expectations for the year with each other, including meeting/discussion frequency, meeting location, and medium for communication. The Law School will provide more information to guide your mentorship.

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. We hope that at a minimum you will:

  • Come up with 3-5 goals you hope to accomplish with the help of your mentor
  • Meet in person or virtually with your mentor once per quarter
  • Communicate with your mentor via email, phone, or Zoom periodically as agreed upon by you and your mentor

While this program is designed for one academic year, we hope your mentoring relationship continues past your 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.

What is expected of me as a mentor?

The Affinity Mentoring Programs span the length of the academic year. Therefore, we ask that mentors commit to being involved in the program from November 2024 to June 2025.

Your level of involvement with your mentee is to be determined by you and your mentee. We are aware that your schedule is busy, and your time is valuable. We hope that at a minimum you will:

  • Meet in person or virtually with your mentee once per quarter
  • Communicate with your mentee via email or phone periodically as agreed upon by you and your mentee, and
  • Provide feedback, guidance, and encouragement to your mentee.

If you are unable to commit to being a mentor for the full academic year but would still like to be involved, please email Anna Jenkins at annajenkins274@uchicago.edu.

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.

Can I participate in more than one mentoring program?

In order to ensure the best experience for both student mentees and alumni mentors, students may only participate in one of the Affinity Mentoring Programs. We have found that student mentees tend to have a more enriching experience when they are able to work with one mentor and do not have to divide their focus between multiple programs.

The Law School Big/Little Sibling program is not included in this limitation.

Are there program-sponsored events?

In place of the Affinity Mentoring Program Kickoff event and the small cohort dinners this year, we will be providing a stipend to 1L Mentees for a coffee or lunch with their mentors. This change is designed to foster more meaningful, one-on-one interactions between students and their mentors. By facilitating these personalized meetings, we aim to enhance engagement and support throughout the mentoring process. We strongly encourage mentees to take the initiative in scheduling these meetings, as we believe that a student-driven approach will further enrich the mentoring relationship and ensure that it meets their unique needs. We are confident that this tailored interaction will better serve our mentees and strengthen their overall experience.

How do I sign up?

Affinity Mentoring Program sign-ups will open on September 23rd for the 2024-2025 academic year.

Important Dates

Please see below for important deadlines and upcoming events for the 2024-2025 Affinity Mentoring Program:

  • September 23 - Sign-up form opens for alumni volunteers
  • September 23 - Sign-up form opens for 1Ls
  • September 30 - First day of classes
  • October 11 – Deadline to sign-up as either a mentor or mentee
  • Late October – Mentors and Mentees will be matched via email
  • June 27 - Program conclusion

Who should I contact with additional questions?

Please contact the Office of External Affairs at alumni@law.uchicago.edu or Anna Jenkins, Assistant Director of Alumni Relations at annajenkins274@uchicago.edu.