Many KABA attorneys know what it is like to be the first in one’s family to enter graduate school. We know what it is like to hear a law school classmate talk about her uncle, the judge, or another classmate talk about his dad, the big-shot partner, all-the-while being acutely aware that, at the time, we did not have any professional connections at all. For many law students, without those connections and the guidance that comes with them, it is easy to feel lost. It is easy to feel behind before even getting started. 

Enter the attorney mentor. Attorney mentors can affect law students’ professional development in many ways. Attorney mentors, for example, can introduce law students to the local legal community, help expose law students to different fields of law, or, when the time comes, help law students make the transition from student to practitioner. Ask anyone at KABA about our careers and, chances are, the discussion would not be complete without mentioning those who mentored and guided us along the way. 

Recognizing the need for mentorship, KABA members make a conscious effort to reach out and mentor law students.  Each year, KABA holds a number of events for law students, including networking events, job panels, and socials.  At these events, law students interact with community leaders, judges, and, of course, practicing attorneys. 

During KABA’s recent law student dinner series, for example, small groups of law students met with KABA attorneys in conversational dinner settings. Unlike the typical (and impersonal) seminars or panel presentations that law students are accustomed to, law students were able to directly interact with KABA attorneys in discussions about various fields of law. Over the course of the series, KABA attorneys shared their experiences of practicing in fields such as criminal law, commercial litigation, corporate transactions, public interest law, immigration law and real estate law. Other topics included “Managing a Small Business Law Firm” and “Being an Asian American Lawyer in the Criminal Justice System.” 

Law students are also encouraged to participate in KABA’s other programs.  At KABA’s monthly pro bono clinic, for example, law students assist attorneys who provide legal advice to members of the Korean and Korean American community in Los Angeles. Law students not only get to watch and assist attorneys, but play a direct role by interacting with clients.

The feedback from law students has been great. Many law students who attend our programs end up forming meaningful relationships with KABA attorneys. Daniel Chung, a first-year law student at Pepperdine University School of Law, writes: “I thought that the KABA dinner series was absolutely amazing. Before the dinner series, I didn’t really know any lawyers or their way of life. I got a good sense of what it’s like to be an attorney in the criminal law field, and I’ve kept in touch with [KABA attorneys] and they’ve given me good advice regarding resumes and interviews.” Caroylnn Beck, a first-year student at USC Law School, writes about her recent interactions with KABA: “I felt like all of the KABA attorneys made an effort to reach out to students and genuinely cared about making us feel welcome.”