by Lei Lei Wang Ekvall

If the title brings back memories, then you probably already know what this column is about—mentors. Do we all agree that the ultimate mentor is Mr. Miyagi in the original Karate Kid movie (from 1984)? He used mundane chores, such as waxing a car, to teach karate moves to Ralph Macchio’s character, which in turn gave Macchio confidence in himself. Great movie, great year.

So how did we get on this topic? In the dog days of summer, I always feel so fortunate to have a job that allows me to sit in a nice cool office. I see roofers and construction workers out in the heat and wonder, “How can they stand working in the heat and how did I get so lucky?” I am where I am because I have had many individuals who have inspired and mentored me. My parents, in the earlier formative years, before I turned into a teenager and refused to listen to anything they had to say, were inspirational mentors. They worked hard to take care of their family and made sure my sister and I understood that graduating from college was mandatory. My mom’s parents were also inspirational. Living in China more than half a century ago, they made sure that all of their children, even the girls (my mom and my aunt), achieved at least a college degree. In fact, they were quite progressive and even sent my aunt to attend college in New York. Along the way, there were numerous others—teachers, employers, and co-workers. More recently (i.e., the last decade or so), it’s been my husband and the attorneys at my firm. Most recently, it’s been the wonderful people I’ve met these past few years who dedicate their time and energy to help others, whether through pro bono, mentoring, or community service.

Coincidentally, I also met a few young ladies tell how they overcame tremendous odds—immigrant parents with little education and little resources—to not only attend college but to graduate from college. Some of them are now contemplating graduate school in order to achieve careers in social work and other laudable fields. They attributed their successes to mentors from the Orange County Bar Foundation Higher Education Mentoring Program. These success stories validate the importance of mentoring.

It’s not just the high school students who need mentors, however. The less experienced lawyers in our community are looking for mentors as well. According to a study by the American Bar Association, those who are recent graduates cite having a mentor as an important driving factor in job satisfaction. For a profession where job satisfaction is troublingly low, it seems mentoring is an easy way to solve part of the problem.

The mentoring committee of the Orange County Bar Association has facilitated and supported some very successful mentor/protégée relationships. Many of our affiliate bar associations also have successful mentoring programs. Unfortunately, the number of individuals who seek mentors always seems to outnumber the individuals who are willing to serve as mentors.

Mentoring someone to help them achieve personal success is extremely rewarding on many levels and mentors derive equal if not greater benefits from the relationship. When your protégée  or mentee succeeds, it’s hard not to take a little pride in thinking that you contributed to that success in some small way. Studies have also shown that being a mentor builds leadership skills in the mentor. For those of you who are parents, being a mentor may be a way to find someone to listen to your advice. (I think you parents know what I’m talking about.)

Time commitment is important but it need not be overwhelming. It’s one of those things where you get as much as you put in so the more time you spend with your protégée or mentee, the more influence the relationship will have. However, it doesn’t need to be a full-time job and sometimes, it is just good enough to just know that there is someone more experienced out there who cares about your development as a lawyer.

If you would like to be a mentor or serve on the mentoring committee, please contact Dean Zipser or Jennifer Dienhart, co-chairs of the OCBA Mentoring Committee. For individuals who like the idea of mentoring but are challenged by personal interactions, consider serving on the Mentor on Demand Committee or taping a Mentor on Demand segment. It’s like sending an email instead of picking up the phone. Contact Julie McCoy or Teresa McQueen, co-chairs of the OCBA Mentor on Demand Committee.

I hope you will explore your inner Mr. Miyagi. By the way, the OCBA discourages mentors from using their protegees to wax their cars.

Lei Lei Wang Ekvall is the 2010 President of the Orange County Bar Association and a partner of Weiland, Golden, Smiley, Wang Ekvall & Strok, LLP, where she specializes in representing debtors, creditors, and litigants in business reorganizations and workouts.