ORDER
JEAN
H. TOAL C.J.
The
Chief Justice's Commission on the Profession has
submitted to this Court a South Carolina Lawyer Mentoring
Pilot Program for consideration to assist beginning lawyers
in their transition from student to professional. This Court
has reviewed the pilot program and is of the opinion that
this program would be of great benefit to lawyers just
commencing the practice of law in the formation of
professional habits, practices, and character. A copy of the
proposed Pilot Program is attached hereto along with its
attachments. It is, therefore,
ORDERED
that all persons who successfully complete the July 2006 bar
exam and subsequently are admitted to the South Carolina Bar
as their state of first admission, who are engaged in the
active practice of law with their principal office in South
Carolina, and who have last names beginning with the letters
A through F will be required to participate in the Pilot
Program.
IT IS
SO ORDERED.
James
E. Moore J., John H. Waller, Jr. J., E.C. Burnett, III J.,
Costa M. Pleicones J.
Objective
of a Pilot Mentoring Program
The
first years of a lawyer's practice are a critical time
for the formation of professional habits, practices, and
character. It is important that, during this time, a new
lawyer receive appropriate guidance from a more experienced
lawyer. The more experienced mentor can assist with the
transition of the new lawyer into practice, help the new
lawyer in developing practices that are appropriate and
ethical, and provide valuable guidance as to the development
of healthy relationships with colleagues, clients, other
counsel and parties, and the courts. Although some lawyers
already have mentors, the nature and quality of these
experiences vary widely. A uniform mandatory mentoring
program offers the promise of a more thorough, universal, and
meaningful mentoring experience.
The
purposes of a pilot program are as follows: (1) to evaluate
the effectiveness of the methods means used to recruit
mentors; (2) to ascertain whether the proposed elements of a
uniform mentoring plan are both appropriate and adequate for
all types of legal practice; (3) to identify staff
requirements for effective administration of the program; and
(4) to identify any other issues that must be addressed in
order to create and administer an effective mandatory
mentoring program.
Participants
Persons
who successfully complete the July 2006 bar exam and
subsequently are admitted to the South Carolina Bar as their
state of first admission, who are engaged in the active
practice of law with their principal office in South
Carolina, and who have last names beginning with the letters
A through F will be required to participate in the Pilot
Program. Each person participating in the program will be
required to have a mentor who has been an active member of
the South Carolina Bar for at least five years and is
currently an active or retired member of the South Carolina
Bar.
Requirements
for Successful Completion of Program
Each
new lawyer participating in the Pilot Program must
successfully complete the pilot program by submitting to the
South Carolina Bar, not later than December 31, 2007, a
certificate signed by both the mentor and the new lawyer,
listing all completed elements of the Uniform Mentoring Plan
and explaining why any uncompleted elements could not be
completed prior to the end of the pilot program. During the
pilot program, both the mentor and the new lawyer will be
asked, in connection with their certification, to recommend
additional components of a Uniform Mentoring Plan and to
identify any elements of the Uniform Mentoring Plan that may
not be appropriate to particular practice settings. Failure
to complete all elements of the proposed mentoring plan
during the pilot program will not result in sanction of the
participants, provided that the explanatory certificate set
forth above is completed and filed in a timely manner.
Responsibilities
of the Mentor and New Lawyer
During
the pilot program, the mentor and new lawyer shall attempt to
complete all activities set ...