Mentoring. It is the means by which knowledge, experience and values are passed from one generation to the next. It is a way for members of the bar to develop relationships and build a sense of community that will raise the level of professionalism throughout our state. It is also a rewarding and cost-free way of satisfying the professional responsibility CLE requirement. You may recall that last year the Supreme Court, recognizing the value of mentoring, adopted Rule 795(d)(12), allowing lawyers who complete a year- long mentoring program pre-approved by the Commission on Professionalism to earn up to six hours of professional responsibility CLE. This applies to both mentors (admitted 6+ years) and mentees (admitted less than 3 years).

To make mentoring an even more attractive option, the Court recently amended Rule 793 and 794 such that:newly admitted attorneys may fulfill six hours of the professional responsibility requirement for newly admitted attorneys (f/k/a “Basic Skills Requirement”) through mentoring;newly admitted attorneys may carry over six hours of professional responsibility CLE, including mentoring, into their first reporting period; and attorneys subject to two year reporting periods may carry over professional responsibility CLE credit (within the provision allowing 10 hours of extra CLE earned in one reporting period to be carried into the next).