Our 2021 Mentoring Programme
Having all worked and supported colleagues and friends remotely at some point during the COVID-19 pandemic, we have also adapted our Mentoring Programme to this new normal.
As part of Women in Law Hong Kong’s commitment to enhancing the profiles, skills and networking opportunities of women in the legal field, we are delighted to launch our 5th WILHK Mentoring Programme, which will be carried out in a combination of virtual and, where permitted, face-to-face sessions.
We are continuing to build upon the learnings and successes from the previous years’ programmes. To ensure our workshops are as relevant as possible to our programme participants, this year we will take into consideration preferences indicated by our applicants as to the type of skills workshops they wish to include in the programme.
Applications are open from now through 15 January 2021. The programme will run from February to November 2021, and participants will come together for one-on-one mentoring, a virtual ice breaking/matching event, a virtual kick-off event, two specially-tailored skills workshops and two social and networking gatherings.
Apply today and be a part of the WILHK Mentoring Programme Class of 2021!
Why should you join - what our alumni say:
We have to do something about female attrition in private practice - across the industry we are bleeding female talent every year. The WILHK programme is, so far as I am aware, unique – it gives a young female lawyer the opportunity to seek impartial advice and guidance from someone she trusts without that advice being prejudiced by organisational baggage. This is why I wanted to get involved. If I can help just one person stay in the industry and make private practice more diverse, it will be worthwhile.
– Allan Wardrop (Past mentor)
As a mentor I find it fascinating to see how this generation deals with people - it's very different. There truly is a generational gap; it's not just gender but culture and age plays a role too. One of the most important skills you can acquire is to learn to relate to very different people with whom it seems you have no chemistry.
– Erika Evasdottir (Past mentor)
The WILHK mentoring programme does a fantastic job at connecting like-minded individuals who are focused on developing female talent and contributing to the broader Hong Kong legal community. Not only was I able to form a bond with my mentor, but given the intimate setting of the training sessions, I was able to form lasting friendships with the other mentors and mentees.
– Jacqueline Arena (Past mentee)
Our Criteria for Mentors and Mentees
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Mentors (male or female) who have at least ten years of work experience (with substantial exposure to the legal field or the challenges faced by legal professionals and legal service firms)
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Mentees (female) who have three to seven years of work experience in the legal field
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Willingness to commit to full participation in the WILHK Mentoring Programme
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Dedication to listening and learning from each other
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Ability to identify specific goals that they would like to achieve
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Adherence to confidentiality to ensure a mentor/mentee relationship of trust
Our Key Dates
15 January 2021 (Friday)
Application deadline. Applicants to submit their preferences for tailored skills workshop
Week commencing 1 February 2021
Announcement of successful programme participants
22 February 2021 (Monday) 12noon-2pm
Virtual ice breaking/matching event
22 February to 1 March 2021
Participants to organise their own virtual or face-to-face one-on-one meetings to identify matching preference
1 March 2021 (Monday) 5pm
Deadline for submitting matching preference
Week commencing 22 March 2021
Virtual kick-off event: Launch your mentoring relationship
May 2021
Skills workshop #1 (virtual/face-to-face to be confirmed)
September 2021
Social networking or charity event (format to be confirmed)
October 2021
Skills workshop #2 (virtual/face-to-face to be confirmed)
End November 2021
Closing gathering (format to be confirmed)
The details of the formal programme will be shared on here after the application deadline 15 January 2021 (Friday).
Applications
Application forms for mentors and mentees can be downloaded from the two links directly below.
If you have any questions, or are wondering if the WILHK Mentoring Programme is right for you, get in touch at mentoringprogramme@wilhk.com
Completed application forms together with a recent professional photo (which you would be happy to share with other programme participants) and your latest CV should be submitted to mentoringprogramme@wilhk.com no later than 15 January 2021 (Friday).
2021 Mentoring Programme Sponsors
Please contact mentoringprogramme@wilhk.com if you are interested in being a sponsor.