“A mentor is someone who allows you to see the hope inside yourself” — that quote from Oprah Winfrey rings true at the Wilmington University School of Law, where students benefit from a strong mentorship program.

“I am excited to see what I learn from the mentorship program. I have already had the opportunity to meet with some of the attorneys at my mentor’s office,” said Genesis Joma, a J.D. candidate. “It was great to be able to speak to them and my mentor to help me along my journey in deciding what and where I want to practice.”

When mentors and students first came face-to-face, “I’m reminded about just how electric that room felt,” recalled Heather Karns, the associate dean for career services. It was the result of “careful matching and lots of conversation about who would make a good fit.”

She and her colleagues received “overwhelmingly positive” feedback.

“The reception we’ve gotten from the Delaware legal community has surpassed my expectation,” said Kimberly Gattuso, J.D., the associate dean for experiential learning. “The mentors are just incredible. Ten of them are sitting judges. One is a former judge. The remainder are partners in law firms in Wilmington and have practiced in Wilmington for decades.”

Delaware Supreme Court Justice N. Christopher Griffiths called it “a wonderful experience.”

“I joined the mentorship program because I know firsthand the value that a mentor can add to a new law student’s life and legal career. I have several important mentors who helped me achieve success. They offered a safe space to ask questions, as well as served as sounding boards who understood how difficult the beginning of one’s legal journey can be,” wrote Griffiths, who “jumped on the opportunity to pay it forward.”

So did Chief Judge Michael Newell of Delaware’s Family Court.

“We have come to understand that a law school education extends beyond the walls of the classroom,” Newell said. “The Wilmington University law school’s mentor program will enhance the student’s overall educational experience and will expose them to the practical aspects of the practice of law.”

He and the other mentors meet with students at least six times a year and take them to a bar association or professional event.

“Joining a new field can be intimidating and overwhelming. We can shift those feelings when we feel successes and connection,” said Dr. Marisa Rauscher, a J.D. candidate and professor of educational psychology at Neumann University. “The WilmU school of law mentor program allows for exposure and relationship, both of which allow a law student to connect more fully to the rigor of preparation and the realities of practice.”

Fellow candidate Hector Torres-Diaz agreed: “This program does the leg work to help its first-year students become acclimated to their future environment. I very much look forward to what this program will bring!”

To learn more about the Wilmington University School of Law and its mentorship program, visit law.wilmu.edu.

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