A Mentor Moment with Stacy Petriuk
“I have really enjoyed getting to know the people I have mentored. I have learned a lot from them, including how to be a better mentor.”
Stacy Petriuk has been a mentor with the Law Society’s Mentor Connect and Mentor Express program since 2020.Â
Q: Why did you get involved with Mentor Connect?
A: “There are many lawyers new to practising law in Alberta that do not have an opportunity for a mentoring relationship at their firm or place of work. I benefitted from good mentoring and I want to pay that forward.”
Q: Why did you get involved with Mentor Express?
A: “I was already involved in Mentor Connect and wanted to provide mentoring in this format as well.”
Q: Tell us a bit about your current mentoring relationship(s):
A: “In addition to Mentor Express appointments, I had the privilege of mentoring three lawyers new to practising law in Alberta.”
Q: How long have you been involved in mentorship?
A: “I have been a volunteer mentor with Mentor Connect and Mentor Express since 2020. Before that and currently, I participate in my firm’s mentoring program and I have been a principal to students-at-law.”Â
Q: What do you enjoy the most about your role as a mentor?
A: “I have really enjoyed getting to know the people I have mentored. I have learned a lot from them, including how to be a better mentor. It is a good way to give back to the profession.”
Q: What do you hope your mentees take away from working with you?
A: “I hope we can have good, thoughtful discussions about issues that are important to them and answer any questions they may have. This is their mentoring relationship – not mine.”
Q: What have you learned from working with your mentees?
A: “Each mentorship is a little different, and every person has a different set of priorities in terms of things they would like to discuss or questions they have. It is important not to have pre-conceived notions that could limit the mentoring relationship.”
Q: If another lawyer is thinking about becoming a mentor, what should they know beforehand?
A: “There are many lawyers new to practising law in Alberta that do not have an opportunity for a quality mentorship. Those of us who benefitted from good mentorship (or wish they did) should pay it forward.”
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.