Veta T. Richardson Photo by John Abbott Photography
Help Get a Career Started (or Restarted) on the Right Foot!
These days, the decision to go to law school is not to be made lightly. Pursuing a law degree takes its toll personally and financially. Although many students enter law school believing they will land a plum six-figure salary upon graduation, the average starting salary is closer to $60,000 than $160,000. In this economy, many new law graduates will struggle to land that first job, as many employers cannot afford the expense of hiring and training new lawyers. And attorneys suffer from levels of professional discontent, depression, and alcoholism that are disproportionately higher than other professionals. Not a rosy picture.
A student who enrolls in law school today has to really want it, and I cannot help but respect their optimism and commitment. This issue of Diversity & the Bar® focuses on issues of concern to young lawyers and law students. They are the future of our profession; regardless of how busy or demanding our work lives become, we owe them our support and a helping hand.
Earlier this year, with the financial support of donors to MCCA’s 10x10x10 Campaign, MCCA launched a national mentoring program called KAN-Do! Mentoring. This first-of-its-kind program introduces compatible pairs of mentors and mentees through an online matching service. MCCA has a big push underway to get lots of practicing lawyers to volunteer to serve as mentors. It’s easy, and requires a commitment of only about two hours a month to make a positive difference in a student’s life.
If you would like more information about the MCCA KAN-Do! Mentoring Program and how your diversity committee might get involved, please email peterchin@mcca.com. If you are ready now to fill out a profile and sign up as a mentor, please visit www.mcca.com/mentoring and use group code: 871177. MCCA thanks you in advance on behalf of the students you will help! DB
Veta T. Richardson
From the May/June 2009 issue of Diversity & The Bar®