IndyBar: WLD Mentorship Reception emphasizes importance of relationships

By Rebecca Berfanger, RJ Berfanger Law LLC

Having the right mentor is a true gift.

The IndyBar Women and the Law Division’s mentoring program connects mentors and mentees to navigate a legal career from just out of law school to 20 years or more in the field. Assigned mentoring teams consist of a mix of three to five lawyers who meet once a month — or as often as schedules allow. The deadline to sign up is Feb. 16. The kickoff is a reception from 5-7 p.m. on Feb. 27 at IBA offices.

At the reception, the Women and the Law Division Mentorship Award will be presented to family law attorney and mentor program participant Patricia McKinnon, McKinnon Family Law PC.

When it comes to her role as a mentor, McKinnon’s mentees say:

“There were times that I truly didn’t know if I could do this, because I was always paired with mentors who didn’t ‘get me.’ Then I met Patty and I can confidently say that I am a family law attorney. A huge reason is because of Patty’s patience, kindness. She is a great mentor and an even better friend.”

“Patty has been a fantastic sounding board for me. She has fostered an environment for our meetings that allow frank and constructive and compassionate feedback and advice. It has helped me tremendously to be a part of her mentor group.”

“She inspires me so much as a human, and the way that she loves the law and her clients made me able to fall back in love with my job again. Patty is so kind and thoughtful in her practice. She approaches the challenges of the profession and being a woman in the law not as an obstacle but a challenge to overcome. She always inspires me to be a better attorney. I often think, ‘What would Patty do?’ when I’m conflicted about a big case.”

I’ve known McKinnon for more than 15 years, first as a reporter for Indiana Lawyer, then as a law student and then as a lawyer. I considered her to be a mentor before law school. She was a formal mentor when I was a new attorney. She has guided me through job searches, invited me to networking events, and has always emphasized professionalism and the role of attorneys, especially outside the courtroom.

For myself and others who she has mentored, formally or informally, she is what one would hope for in a mentor. She is encouraging and optimistic — but also realistic; generous and resourceful with her time, knowledge and experience; and quick to share a name of another attorney, whether it’s for networking reasons or to help answer a legal question that is outside her practice area. She also serves as an impressive example of how to be not only a lawyer, but a person. She actively supports the community by engaging with multiple charitable causes, including the IndyBar Foundation and Indiana Legal Services.•

Rebecca Berfanger focuses her practice through RJ Berfanger Law LLC on assisting with estate planning, probate cases, low-conflict family law cases for modest means clients, family law mediations, contract review and drafting, and other issues focusing on limited scope representations. She is an engaged member of IndyBar’s Women and the Law Division.