A Mentor Moment with Diane Ridley
“My young mentees provide me with a fresh look at law – they are enthusiastic and are entering their careers with excitement.”
Diane Ridley has been a mentor with the Law Society’s Mentor Connect program since 2016.
Q: Why did you get involved with Mentor Connect?
A: “I was approached by a member of the Law Society who asked if I was interested in being a mentor in the program. I bring a unique perspective to the program as I am a rural lawyer working as a sole practitioner. I also entered the profession after working in a number of different professions.”
Q: Tell us a bit about your current mentoring relationship(s):
A: “I am currently mentoring a lawyer who is also a sole practitioner and looking for ways to build a practice. She is working on goal development and a business plan.”
Q: How long have you been involved in mentorship?
A: “I have belonged to the program since 2016.”
Q: What do you enjoy the most about your role as a mentor?
A: “I enjoy working with young lawyers and helping them develop best practices for their business. I also believe it is important for all of us to have a circle of influence. I love including them in my circle and contributing to theirs.”
Q: What do you hope your mentees take away from working with you?
A: “I hope that each mentee has been able to find some help in working through work/life balance issues, and the complex administrative requirements of running their own office and practice.”
Q: What have you learned from working with your mentees?
A: “My young mentees provide me with a fresh look at law – they are enthusiastic and are entering their careers with excitement. One of my mentee’s taught me perseverance having overcome difficulties she faced early on in her law career, and now in a very successful practice. They also have a better handle on work/life balance that I am still working on.”
Q: If another lawyer is thinking about becoming a mentor, what should they know beforehand?
A: “The mentor relationship is great opportunity to connect with other lawyers and provide meaningful support to them. I have enjoyed working with the lawyers from diverse backgrounds and experience. This program is structured so that any lawyer, even with a busy practice, can provide mentorship.”
The Law Society of Alberta offers Mentor Moments to acknowledge the contributions made by volunteer lawyers in their mentorship programs and to encourage other Alberta lawyers to consider participating. Read more Mentor Moments.
We do not attempt to verify mentors’ statements in their Mentor Moment profiles and the opinions expressed are solely their own. The Law Society of Alberta does not endorse any individual profiled or contents provided.