A Mentor Moment with Karen O’Keeffe
“I enjoy sharing my zig zagging career path and providing concrete, practical to-do items to facilitate growth. The most rewarding aspect is watching a mentee’s confidence grow”
Karen O’Keeffe joined the Law Society’s Mentor Connect Program in 2021.
Q: Tell us a bit about your current mentoring relationship:
A: “My most recent mentee was a female lawyer returning to the profession.”
Q: How long have you been involved in mentorship?
A: “I have been involved in mentorship for the last 20 years or so, both formally and informally.”
Q: What do you enjoy the most about your role as a mentor?
A: “I enjoy sharing my zig zagging career path and providing concrete, practical to-do items to facilitate growth. The most rewarding aspect is watching a mentee’s confidence grow.”
Q: What do you hope your mentee takes away from working with you?
A: “That a successful legal career can follow many different routes, and it is okay to change course. In fact, the ability to change practice area is one of the best things about the legal profession.“
Q: What have you learned from working with your mentees?
A: “That there are several common challenges in navigating the legal profession, for example managing imposter syndrome, finding your own voice and style and balancing workload.“
Q: If another lawyer is thinking about becoming a mentor, what should they know beforehand?
A: “That diverse perspectives build a well-rounded legal community and that their unique experiences will have the power to impact another lawyer looking for help in a meaningful way.”
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.