The Best Mentors Don’t Just Teach; They Empower…
*Matthew Coleman
When I first started practicing law, I was fresh out of school, eager but untested. Almost immediately I was entrusted with more responsibility that included running files and negotiating.
I remember the mix of panic and gratitude that followed. I didn’t know everything (far from it) but that trust changed everything. It gave me a sense of ownership, accountability, and pride in my work. It made me want to rise to the occasion. I was careful, thorough, and always prepared, not because I was told to be, but because someone believed I could handle it.
Believe it or not, that experience shaped how I view leadership in law. Too often, we underestimate what young lawyers are capable of when given a real chance. We talk about mentorship and training, but genuine growth often comes from being trusted with responsibility, even before we feel ready.
The best mentors don’t just teach; they empower. They give space for younger lawyers to think, make decisions, and even make small mistakes, knowing that’s how confidence and competence are built. It’s tempting, especially for experienced lawyers, to double-check everything or to keep the “important” work for themselves. But by doing so, they risk stunting the very people they’re supposed to be developing.
To the senior lawyers, firm partners, and leaders who’ve seen it all: take a chance on your younger colleagues. Invite them into strategy meetings. Let them argue motions, draft correspondence, manage files. Tell them, “You’ve got this,” and mean it.
Yes, they’ll make mistakes, we all do and I did. But they’ll learn faster, grow stronger, and contribute more meaningfully to the team. And if you give them that trust early, they’ll remember it for the rest of their careers. I know I do.
I wouldn’t be the lawyer I am today without that senior lawyer taking that leap of faith in me. The next great lawyer in your firm might just be waiting for you to do the same.
*Matthew is a graduate of the University of New Brunswick (B.A. 2016 and J.D 2023). He was admitted to the New Brunswick bar in 2024. He has worked for the law firm of Correia & Collins since 2016, advocating for accident victims.