Curriculum: Requirements
The NLMP covers six broad curriculum areas, which mentors and new lawyers should address over the course of their mentoring year. With few specific requirements, it is largely up to the mentor and new lawyer to determine how to approach each of the six elements in a manner that best suits the needs of the new lawyer. In addition to the required activities in this section, please see the curriculm guidance section for suggestions in each category, and for recommendations from participants who have already completed the program.
Please track how you address each area, on the tracking sheet found at the end of this section. This checklist should be submitted with your completion materials at the end of your program year.
NLMP Curriculum
- 1. Introduction to the Legal Community, Public Service and Bar Service
- 2. Rules of Professional Conduct/Standards of Professionalism
- 3. Introduction to Law Office Management
- 4. Working with Clients
- 5. Career Satisfaction and Work/Life Balance
- 6. Completion of 10 (Ten) Practice Area Activities
- 7. Completion & Certification Packet
Mentors and new lawyers are encouraged to be broad, expansive and creative in how they address each of the six components.
Further, it is not the expectation that the mentor directly lead each and every experience outlined. The mentor assumes the role of “primary care practitioner” in assuring that the new lawyer gains access to the people and professionals that will support the new lawyer’s career goals, and reinforce development of a professional, ethical and competent law practice. Quite frequently, new lawyers may get more value out of exploring key concepts with someone more directly involved or knowledgeable about that area. For example, in a large firm, understanding of billing practices or trust account management may be handled by the accounting department, with the mentor simply confirming that the curriculum element was addressed.
Finally, as this new program continues to develop, we hope that participants will add their own ideas for how they addressed each area. This will help add to the suggestions included in the curriculm guidance section for future participants.
The checklist for each of the six requirements, along with the certificate of completion and program fee, is to be filed with the Oregon State Bar upon completion.
Please note: this section is in continuing development.
Please feel free to contact the NLMP with recommendations for further activity content.
REQUIREMENT #1:
Introduction to the Legal Community, Public Service and Bar Service
| REQUIRED ACTIVITIES |
| As soon as practicable after receipt of the mentoring match, the new lawyer and mentor meet to get acquainted and design the mentoring plan. The new lawyer is responsible for arranging the initial meeting. |
| Introduce the new lawyer to other lawyers in the community through attendance at meetings of the local bar association or another law-related group. Discuss opportunities for participating in the work of local, state or national bar organizations and the value of professional networking and relationships gained thereby. |
| Describe and explain the customs and expectations of etiquette and behavior in the legal community such as cooperating with reasonable requests of opposing counsel that do not prejudice the rights of the lawyer’s client, punctuality in fulfilling all professional commitments, avoiding offensive tactics, treating opposing parties and counsel with courtesy, and discuss the value of adhering to those customs and practices. |
| Click on "Curriculum Guidance" for further optional activities in this area. |
REQUIREMENT #2:
Rules of Professional Conduct/Standards of Professionalism
| REQUIRED ACTIVITIES |
| Review and discuss ethical issues that arise with some regularity in the practice setting and best practices for resolving them, with reference to experience as well as the Rules of Professional Conduct. Review and discuss the importance of and methods used to screen for conflicts. Discuss available resources for resolving ethical issues, including consultation with the OSB ethics advice service, private ethics counsel, and in-house ethics counsel or committees. |
| Review and discuss the OSB Statement on Professionalism. |
| Discuss the importance of cultural competence to effectively represent diverse clients and work in a diverse legal community. |
| Click on "Curriculum Guidance" for further optional activities in this area. |
REQUIREMENT #3:
Introduction to Law Office Management
| REQUIRED ACTIVITIES |
| Discuss the ethics rule most frequently invoked by the OSB – neglect of a legal matter and failure to communicate with client – and the role of good time keeping, time management and communication techniques. Introduce calendar and “tickler” or reminder systems. |
| Review and discuss malpractice insurance coverage including disclosure requirements. |
| Click on "Curriculum Guidance" for further optional activities in this area. |
REQUIREMENT #4:
Working With Clients
| REQUIRED ACTIVITIES |
| Review how to screen for, recognize, and avoid conflicts of interest. |
| Discuss “DOs and DON’Ts” of maintaining good ongoing client relations, such as returning telephone calls and keeping clients informed about matters. |
| Click on "Curriculum Guidance" for further optional activities in this area. |
REQUIREMENT #5:
Career Satisfaction & Work/Life Balance
| REQUIRED ACTIVITIES |
| Discuss how to handle challenging relationships in and outside the office, and how to develop a support system of colleagues and others with whom the new lawyer can discuss problems as they arise. |
| Discuss the warning signs of substance abuse and depression and how to address those problems when they are manifested in the new lawyer or others. Review and discuss the support and counseling available to the new lawyer and their family through the Oregon Attorney’s Assistance Program. Review OSB and PLF resources. |
| Click on "Curriculum Guidance" for further optional activities in this area. |
REQUIREMENT #6:
Practice Area Activities
| REQUIRED ACTIVITIES |
|
Select and complete at least ten (10) Practice Area Activities in one or more substantive law practice areas.The Practical Skills Activities section of this site has lists of activities in some practices areas, which participants may want to use in developing their own plan. The lists provided are not exclusive. If the new lawyer is interested in a practice area not included on the list, the new lawyer and mentor may identify basic skill activities in that practice area to include in the mentoring plan. Further, the suggestions under the activities pages are also not exclusive. Participants should feel free to identify any 10 practical skills activities that suit the needs of the individually tailored mentoring objectives. |
Requirement #7:
Completion & Certification Packet
Once the new lawyer and mentor have worked through the mentoring plan requirements, this work must be certified by OSB New Lawyer Mentoring Program staff.
To certify program completion, please submit the following items to the OSB:
$100 program fee. Check payable to Oregon State Bar. VISA or Mastercard accepted by phone.
Please submit your completion packet to:
New Lawyer Mentoring Program
c/o Oregon State Bar
PO Box 231935
(16037 SW Upper Boones Ferry Road)
Tigard, OR 97281-1935
or via email to mentoring@osbar.org.
Completion packets postmarked on the due date will be honored.