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The Copyright Society will match one Mentor to two Mentees on the basis of industry and career interests (to the extent practicable) and notify participants by email in late January 2024 Mentors will be provided with Mentee contact information.

  • Once notified of being matched, Mentors should promptly reach out via email to their Mentee to introduce themselves briefly and let their Mentee know whether the Mentor will be attending the Midwinter Meeting virtually. Mentors and Mentees are encouraged, but not required, to virtually attend the Midwinter Meeting. Mentors will provide Mentees with the best contact information and availability.
  • Thereafter, Mentees are generally expected to initiate contact for follow-up by email, phone, or in-person meetings approximately once a month. The nature of the meetings will be at the participants’ discretion.

To facilitate networking with other Copyright Society Members, each Mentor-Mentee pair is expected to attend the following group activities:

  • An in-person or virtual Copyright Society Chapter program** of mutual interest with at least one other Mentor-Mentee pair, followed by an informal, small-group discussion session about the program (at least once a year);
  • attend a local chapter networking event (if available);
  • a career panel featuring two or three Mentors (details TBD);
  • and, a virtual speed-mentoring session (details TBD).

The Copyright Society will reach out to Mentees and Mentors periodically throughout the year for feedback. All participants are encouraged to contact Jennifer McGhee at jmcghee@copyrightsociety.org in case you have any questions or encounter any issues with the program, or if you can no longer participate as a Mentor or Mentee.

**Programs may include CLE webinars and panels, non-CLE events such as the Brace or Meyer lectures, and partner events.

What is expected of MENTORS in the Copyright Society Mentorship Program?

The role of the Mentor is to advise the Mentee on successfully navigating law school and/or the first years of employment, and other professional issues. A Mentor should be a good listener, be accessible, provide feedback to the Mentee, and be willing to share his/her knowledge. As such, a Mentor’s availability and commitment to the program is essential to establish a successful mentoring relationship.

Mentors are expected to:

  1. Reach out to their assigned Mentee for an initial introductory meeting.
  2. Be responsive when your Mentee initiates contact for follow-up meetings.
  3. Commit to being available for about one hour a month.
  4. Coordinate with other Mentors to attend one Copyright Society Chapter program with their Mentees as a group and host a follow up, informal discussion.
  5. Attend other group activities organized by Copyright Society as part of the Mentorship Program.

What is expected of MENTEES in the Copyright Society Mentorship Program?

Mentees can turn to Mentors with questions about navigating the challenges and opportunities they will face throughout their lives as copyright lawyers. The CSUSA has a distinguished, highly- accomplished and collegial membership that deeply values the development of the new generation of copyright lawyers. Our Mentors are committed to getting to know Mentees as both lawyers and people and to establishing long-term relationships that help advance Mentees towards their goals in the copyright field.

Mentees are expected to:

  1. Respond promptly when their Mentor reaches out for an initial introductory meeting.
  2. Initiate contact for follow-up meetings and come prepared for each meeting with questions. Mentors have committed to make themselves available for one hour every month.
  3. Work with your Mentor’s schedule and manage your time to accommodate the opportunities to further the mentoring relationship.
  4. Show up to all scheduled mentoring meetings. If you cannot make a meeting, let your Mentor know ASAP.
  5. Attend one Copyright Society Chapter program with your Mentor and other Mentor-Mentee pairs and participate in a follow up, informal discussion. Feel free to suggest programs to your Mentor and to the organizers. Mentees have mentioned they find it helpful to meet with other Mentees to learn about their peers’ experiences as well and the Program organizers would like to facilitate the relationship between all participants.
  6. Attend other group activities organized by Copyright Society as part of the Mentorship Program.


POSSIBLE TOPICS TO DISCUSS


The topics you can cover in your Mentor-Mentee pair are varied and will change over time as the Mentee progresses in his/her life as an attorney. For instance,

  • Mentor’s career trajectory and experience.
  • Mentee’s career goals and interests.
  • If the Mentee is a law student: class recommendations, bar exam location, clerkship and internship opportunities, resume and cover letter guidance, etc.
  •  If the Mentee is a new or mid-career attorney: finding a job, deciding whether to apply for a position, choosing between multiple job offers, skills you should build to advance towards your goals, asking for assignments you want, salary negotiations, navigating office politics, relocating for a job, work/life balance, etc.
  •  Introductions to other helpful contacts – especially other Copyright Society members.
  • Resources that match the Mentee’s interests (conferences, organization, publications, etc.).

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MENTORSHIP PROGRAM 

How does the Copyright Society match Mentors with Mentees? 

We do the matching based on the information provided on the sign-up forms. Copyright Society tries to accommodate Mentors and Mentees according to the Mentee’s areas of interests and the Mentor’s areas of practice, but the goal is to ensure that each Mentee receives a Mentor. Remember that attorneys practicing in one area of copyright law now may have worked in other areas in the past.

I am interested in being a Mentee but there are no Mentors near where I live. Should I still participate in the Program?

Yes, Copyright Society is a national organization and our members may have connections beyond where they practice. If a Mentor is not available in your geographical area, their advice can help you establish a professional network and jumpstart your career wherever you are or want to go. 

I have been unable to reach my Mentee or Mentor, what can I do? 

You can always reach out to Jennifer McGhee at jmcghee@copyrightsociety.org in case you have any questions or encounter any issues with the program, or if you can no longer commit to being a Mentor or Mentee. The success and impact of the Copyright Society Mentorship Program depends on the members’ commitment. We encourage active participation and hope that all of the mentoring relationships we facilitate are successful. However, if communication fails, Copyright Society will do its best to reassign Mentees and Mentors.