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Due to the large influx of mentee applications to the BESLA YLD Mentorship Program,
mentees that are selected to participate in the program will be notified by May 10, 2024.
Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association
Young Lawyers Division Mentorship Program
2024-2025 Application
Are you a current law student or junior attorney interested in sports and entertainment law? Are you a seasoned legal practitioner looking to help guide the next generation of upcoming lawyers?
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The Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association ("BESLA") Young Lawyers Division ("YLD") is proud to launch the BESLA YLD Mentorship Program which provides opportunities for second-year law students, third-year law students and/or junior attorneys (less than two (2) years out of law school) to be matched with mid-level or senior attorneys in a field of media, entertainment, sports or related industries. BESLA YLD will match up to ten mentees with ten mentors. Applicants will be selected based on availability and the criteria of the program.
The mentors and mentees that apply and participate in this program must adhere to the program guidelines, which can be found below.
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The following eligibility requirements must be met for an applicant to qualify for consideration as a mentee:
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Must be currently enrolled at or graduated from an ABA accredited law school*;
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Must be in their second-year or third year of law school if the applicant is a law student;
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Must be less than two (2) years out of law school if the applicant is an attorney;
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Must have or have graduated with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale);
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Must demonstrate a clear case on how the requested mentorship will enhance career growth and engagement in the BESLA community;
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Must commit on a monthly basis to a one (1) hour meeting (virtually or in-person) with their designated mentor for one (1) year. Upon acceptance, mentee will be asked to sign a letter of commitment;
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Must have a demonstrated interest (through coursework, extra-curricular activities, or work experience) in the entertainment, media or sports industry; and
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Must agree to provide feedback mid- and post-program on the mentorship program.
*Mentees that are selected will be asked to provide an official transcript to prove eligibility.
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The mentors that participate in the program are expected to adhere to the following guidelines:
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Communicate with assigned mentee at least a minimum total of one (1) hour a month virtually or in-person;
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Clearly communicate advice or guidance;
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Show empathy when listening to your mentee and providing advice;
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Connect their designated mentee with others who can help them grow in areas the mentor may not be an expert in;
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Share stories not just advice; mentees learn best through stories, and they encourage a strong relationship; and
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Must agree to provide feedback mid- and post-program on the mentorship program.
The application process for BESLA Young Lawyers Division’s mentorship program is comprised of one phase for mentor applicants and two phases for the applicants that are applying to be mentees. mentees. The first phase requires mentee and mentor applicants to fully complete and submit their application by February 29, 2024. Mentee applicants must submit their application online by the provided deadline. Mentor applicants will submit by completing the online form. The mentee applicants selected to continue will advance to the second phase. During the second phase, an interview will be conducted with prospective mentee applicants. Mentees that have been selected to be in the program will be notified no later than 9:00pm EST on May 10, 2024.
Law students and junior attorneys that qualify and are interested in participating in the mentorship program can apply by completing the 2024-2025 BESLA YLD Mentorship Application.
Mid-level or senior attorneys that are interested in becoming a mentor can apply by completing the
2024-2025 BESLA YLD Mentor Interest Form.
Key Dates:
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Mentee and mentor applications close for submittal – February 29, 2024
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Selection committee interview, scoring and selection for mentees – March 1 – April 30, 2024
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Notifications sent to mentee applicants – on or before May 10, 202
Mentorship meetings need to occur May 2024 -April 2025 (no less than one (1) meeting per month). Mentor-mentee pairs will establish their own call schedules.
Mentee Application and Review Process
Mentorship is a competitive and transparent process wherein applications are judged on their merit, as well as against all applications. Mentees will be selected as a result of a thorough review process that seeks to match applicants with available mentors.
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Apply: The applicant submits online through the designated application form.
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Review: The selection committee reviews the applications by the deadline.
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Short List: The mentorship selection committee will reject applications that do not meet all the stated “Eligibility Requirements”.
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Rank: The selection committee evaluates the remaining eligible applications to rank the applications and prioritize those that will be matched to available mentors.
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Finalize decision: The selection committee makes final selections, and initiates acceptance and rejection communications to the submitters.
Applications are only accepted within the open period in 2024 based on mentor availability.
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