Before your first meeting, take some time to consider what you would like to get out of your mentoring partnership. These resources are here to help you prepare for your first meeting - and all the others that follow!
Getting started
Guidelines
Mentoring Program Guidelines 2026
Program overview, eligibility, code of conduct and everything you need to know about participating.
For mentees
Prepare for your first meeting
What to think about before meeting your mentor, how to set goals, and what to bring to your first conversation.
For mentees and mentors
FAQs for program participants
Common questions about matching, communication, the code of conduct and what to do if things are not going as expected.
During the program
For mentees and mentors
Session guide: getting the most out of your meetings
How to structure your meetings from the first conversation through to the final session, with suggestions for each stage.
For mentees and mentors
Questions to help guide your meeting
A curated set of questions covering career, goals, experience and industry -- useful for any meeting, not just the first.
For mentees and mentors
Virtual mentoring: let's make this work
Practical tips for making online meetings work well for both parties.
External resource
A LinkedIn Learning online course covering the fundamentals of effective mentoring.
Articles
For mentees
Making the most of your mentoring year: a practical guide for mentees
Goals to set, questions to ask, how to reflect after each session and what to do at the end of the year. By Louise McManamon.
For mentors
How to be a great mentor: a practical guide for SoCLA mentoring program mentors
What your mentee probably needs, questions that open up genuine conversations, how to share your experience honestly, and how to reflect at the end of the year. By Louise McManamon.
For mentees and mentors
Distance is not a barrier: the case for virtual, interstate and international mentoring
Why some of the program's most successful relationships have been across state lines -- and how to make distance work for you. By Louise McManamon.
In the press
What makes an award-winning barrister? →
Lawyers Weekly interviews SoCLA Chair Laina Chan on mentoring, career development and the qualities that define exceptional practitioners.
External article
Mentoring for the first time? 14 tips to start off on the right foot →
Being asked to mentor someone can feel like an honour, and also overwhelming. Forbes Coaches Council on how to approach it with confidence.
Frequently asked questions
Questions from current program participants. If your question is not answered here, contact mentoring@scl.org.au.
My mentor or mentee is not replying to me
There are often legitimate reasons someone goes quiet -- workload, travel, personal circumstances. We recommend:
- Try sending another message. Our members are busy professionals and a gentle follow-up is always appropriate.
- Send a LinkedIn connection request. Sometimes contact details change when someone moves organisation.
- If neither works, contact Louise at mentoring@scl.org.au and we will help.
I am not sure my match is right for me
Every pairing is made personally and carefully, but we cannot always meet every preference. It depends on who applies, where participants are located and the number of mentors available in any given year.
Our strong advice is to give it a genuine try. In our experience, pairings that initially seem unexpected often turn out to be the most valuable. Exposure to a different sector, area of practice or way of thinking is frequently exactly what a mentee needs.
If after a few meetings you genuinely believe the match is inappropriate -- because of a conflict of interest, a competitive relationship or a direct reporting line -- please contact mentoring@scl.org.au.
Where can I find the Mentoring Program Guidelines?
What is the Participant Code of Conduct?
SoCLA expects all participants to behave ethically and professionally at all times, treat their mentor or mentee with respect and courtesy, comply with relevant laws, maintain confidentiality, and not use the program to gain a financial advantage or cause detriment to another participant.
The full Code of Conduct is in the Mentoring Program Guidelines.
How can I get the most out of my meetings?
Read our Session Guide: Meeting Structure (PDF), and our new articles above -- one for mentees and one for mentors -- which include specific goals, questions and a reflection framework for every stage of the program.
I am having difficulties with the program -- what should I do?
Contact Louise McManamon as soon as possible at mentoring@scl.org.au. The sooner we know, the more we can do to help.