Michael G. Massey Professional Mentoring Program

Resources

• History of the Program

  Recognizing that his students needed "real world" experience in the first year of law school, then-Lawyering Process Professor Michael G. Massey (1946 - 2022) initiated what is now known as the Michael G. Massey Professional Mentoring Program (the "Program") with his two sections of the Lawyering Process (LP) class in 2005. During the next year, with help from the Sturm College of Law Alumni Council, the Program expanded to several LP sections. Beginning in academic year 2007-08, the Program offered every entering first year law student an opportunity to have a professional mentor and approximately 300 mentors were involved with the Program. In 2016, the Program began offering all graduate program students in the law school a mentor.

  The Program currently has some 450 mentors who mentor approximately 600 students, including about 90% of each incoming 1L class to the Juris Doctorate program. No other law school in the country has such a program.

• Mentor Advisory Board

  The Michael G. Massey Professional Mentoring Program is guided, in part, by a Mentoring Advisory Board of approximately 30 mentors and students who are participating in the program. The Board meets for approximately two hours twice a year. Many changes suggested by the Advisory Board have been implemented, resulting in a more effective program.

  If you are interested in becoming a member of the Advisory Board, please contact John Farrell at jfarrell@law.du.edu or 303-871-6129.

• Schedule

  Michael G. Massey Professional Mentoring Program

  2023-24 Events/Meetings

  Name	Date	Time	Location
  1L Orientation (#1)	Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023	6 p.m. – 8 p.m.	Rm. 165
  1L Orientation (#2)	Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023	7 a.m. – 9 a.m.	Rm. 165
  2L/3L/4L Kick-Off Breakfast*	Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023	7 a.m. – 9 a.m.	Forum
  1L Orientation (#3)	Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023	6 p.m. – 8 p.m.	Zoom
  1L Orientation (#4)**	Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023	1 p.m. – 2 p.m.	Rm. 165
  Breakfast Social*	Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024	7 a.m. – 9 a.m.	Forum
  Volunteer Appreciation Reception & Hockey Game Register & Purchase Tickets	Friday, Feb. 23, 2024	5:30 p.m. (Reception) 7 p.m. (Hockey Game)	Forum & Magness Arena
  Meeting #1	Sept. 15 – Oct. 15, 2023
  Meeting #2	Oct. 16 – Nov. 15, 2023
  Meeting #3	Feb. 15 – Mar. 15, 2024
  Meeting #4	Mar. 16 – Apr. 15, 2024

  *   Denotes an event that has no programming.  Mentors and students can come and leave throughout the allotted time.

  **  Orientation time may change to accommodate Part-Time Students’ class.

• Orientation Documents
  • 1L Student Orientation FAQ
  • 2023 Orientation Documents for Students
  • 2023 Orientation Documents for Mentors
     

  Rules of Professional Conduct
  Watch Video

• Program Materials
  • JD Discussion Topics
  • GTP Discussion Topics
  • Mentor Resource Guide
  • 1L Student Orientation FAQ
• FAQs

  Q:  What are each of the different mentoring programs within the Michael G. Massey Professional Mentoring Program?

  A:  The Michael G. Massey Professional Mentoring Program (the “Program”) is composed of various sub-programs that cater to different groups of students and recent graduates.  The core program pairs practicing attorneys or judges with students in the Juris Doctorate program.  Each year approximately 450 mentors mentor some 600 law students through this program.

  The Program also coordinates with each of the law school’s graduate programs to arrange for mentors for graduate students.  These graduate student programs play a vital role in helping graduate students make connections within the local legal community. 

  Finally, there is the Summer Program.  The Summer Program pairs law students with a mentor for a brief, three-month mentoring relationship during the summer break.  The Summer Program is specifically designed to match students spending their summer outside of the Denver Metropolitan Area with a mentor in their local market. 

  Q: How does matching work? 

  A: The Program attempts to match mentors and mentees in several ways, including practice area, practice setting, and other characteristics that attorneys, judges, and students state on their registration forms is of particular interest to them.  That said, the Program is limited to matching students with those mentors who have volunteered, so we cannot guarantee a perfect match by practice area, for example.  What is most important, however, is that each student is matched with an attorney or judge who actively endeavors to cultivate the next group of legal professionals and who the student will have access to throughout their law school career and beyond as a first point of contact for learning to network within and navigate through the local legal community.

  Q: Are there mentors from all different backgrounds and with various lived experiences, including those that have been historically underrepresented in the practice of law?

  A: Yes. Any mentee may request a mentor from an underrepresented group and we will do our best to match you with someone from the identity group you request. If a mentee does not specifically request such a mentor, the mentee will be assigned a mentor based on the stated practice area interests of the mentee. The Program works with all of the diversity bar associations in the Denver metro area. A mentee should indicate any diversity preferences on the Student Application.

  Q: Who initiates the first contact?

  A: The Program asks mentors to initiate contact with mentees at least for the first semester.

  Q: Are mentors and mentees required to discuss the suggested Discussion Topics during their meetings?

  A: No.  Mentors and mentees are encouraged to discuss the suggested Discussion Topics, but are free to discuss any appropriate topics upon which they mutually agree. The Discussion Topics are merely prompts and include more practical aspects of a mentee’s prospective career path, class selection, networking, professionalism and comparable topics.

  Q: May mentors and mentees meet more or less frequently than the suggested schedule?

  A: Yes. Mentors and mentees may meet as often as they mutually agree. Meetings also don’t have to have a specific topic.  For example, a mentee and mentor might attend a bar association section meeting, an Inn of Court, or a meeting at the mentor’s office. That said, we strongly, strongly encourage mentors and mentees to connect at least once per month during the academic year. Regularity promotes relationship development.

  Q: Does the Program continue throughout law school?

  A: Yes.  The Michael G. Massey Professional Mentoring Program is designed so that a mentee will have a mentor throughout their law school career.  Mentors are even more important as a mentee nears the end of a law school career and networking opportunities become more critical.  Developing a strong relationship takes time and effort from both parties, so the longer the relationship the better.

  Q: Do I have the same mentor or mentee during the mentee’s law school career?

  A: The Program hopes mentees and mentors will remain matched throughout the mentee’s law school career.  However, if for some reason the relationship doesn’t work out, either a mentee or a mentor may request a new assignment either during the first year; at the end of the first year; or during the second year of law school. Sometimes the mentee’s interest area will change which could precipitate the need for a different mentor.  To request a change of match, please fill out the Migration Form.

  Q: What happens if I don’t hear from my mentor or my mentee?

  A: Sometimes communications between mentors and mentees break down. This can occur for a variety of reasons, including the mentor switching firms, unexpected life events of either party, or lack of capacity. If so, try contacting your mentor or your mentee again. If there is still no response, please email mentor@law.du.edu . The Program will try to resolve any problem.

• Migration Form

  Instructions: Complete this webform to formally request a new mentor or student. Prior to completing this form, we encourage you to reach out to the Program at mentor@law.du.edu to discuss any issues or concerns you may have. We are happy to guide you in transitioning out of your current match. Our goal is to provide you (whether student or mentor) with a fulfilling mentoring experience, and we will work with you to accomplish that goal.

  Migration Form