Welcome to the LSBA's Mentoring Program. The Mentoring Program is an internet-based program, housed on the Louisiana State Bar Association web site. It is designed to connect experienced LSBA lawyers with any lawyer member but especially new or young lawyers-who are seeking assistance with substantive law or the personal and professional demands of practicing.

The purpose of this program is to provide a resource for LSBA members to seek advice and discuss topics including: (1) practice and law office management related issues: (2) issues involving such matters as personnel, escrow or other accounts; (3) substantive areas of law and related procedural issues; (4) appropriate and professional conduct and how to deal with inappropriate conduct; and (5) the importance and means of being involved in Bar and community activities and in developing a support network for a lawyer's practice.

Lawyers utilizing the Mentoring Program are not establishing a lawyer/client relationship. Rather, the purpose of the mentoring relationship is to provide counseling, guidance and an open atmosphere for learning. Participants should not reveal any client confidences to the mentor but rather seek guidance in general areas. Nor should the mentor relationship be used as an employment recruitment tool or a means to establish "of counsel" relationships. Mentors and mentees shall be bound by the conflict provisions of the Rules of professional conduct and shall promptly withdraw from a mentor/mentee relationship after disclosure of a potential or actual conflict of interest.

Qualified mentors sign up and may be accessed by practice area or location, with preferred contact information included. LSBA members seeking assistance may go to the Mentor Program area on the web page, select a mentor, and make the contact.

The initial contact by mentees to potential mentors could involve a single issue or they may seek to establish an ongoing, formal mentoring relationship. Relationship parameters are determined by the preferences of both mentor and mentee.