Leading global law firm, Baker McKenzie recently partnered with AbbVie, a leading multinational biopharmaceutical corporation, on an important mentoring initiative which championed diverse talent and supported the career development of young lawyers and senior law students from underrepresented communities in Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa.
The AbbVie & Baker McKenzie Young Lawyers Mentoring Program ran from September to November, providing 25 mentees a unique opportunity to participate in meaningful conversations with our combined team of legal mentors on career progression and developing their specialist knowledge and professional network. The program involved two personal skills training webinars and four one-on-one sessions where mentees interacted with, and learned, from experienced Baker McKenzie and AbbVie lawyers - taking a deeper dive into key considerations and insights on building a career in private practice or in-house counsel.
Mentor and Co-Program Lead, Suzanne Soo from AbbVie, commented, “This program provided mentees from diverse backgrounds with a unique opportunity to connect with mentors who are experienced legal professionals. The experience has impacted and enriched mentees' professional and personal development in a significant way. For mentors, it has also provided an opportunity to learn from mentees and give back to our communities."
Mentee Safa Navas shared her experience and mentioned, "I would recommend the mentoring program to others, because of the experience it has given me. I was able to interact with a mentor with commendable experience, who came from a similar background as mine. Not only did she give me the most reassuring advice as to my professional track, but also reminded me of why skill development is necessary. This was also the case with the webinars organized, especially since the presenters came from varied backgrounds. The networking opportunity among the mentees was also an important and ongoing benefit of the program, which encourages me to recommend it to others."