Judicial Mentoring Program
Yesterday, VJLAP’s Deputy Clinical Director, Barbara Mardigian, and Virginia’s Lawyer Wellness Coordinator from the Supreme Court of Virginia (SCV), Margaret Hannapel Ogden, presented to a group of approximately 50 judicial mentors on wellness.
Since 2010, SCV’s Office of the Executive Secretary (OES) has sponsored a formal judicial mentoring program. The Program pairs sitting judges (with 2.5+ years on the bench) with newly appointed judged (the connection is made within 48 hours of appointment).
The mentor-mentee pairing promotes an open and confidential environment to provide professional guidance; emotional support; and counseling regarding wellness, professionalism, and informal organizational networks. This is intended to shorten the learning curve for new judges and build a stronger sense of community and connectivity within the judiciary.
All participating mentor-judges must complete a structured training coordinated through OES’s Department of Educational Services. In this two-day New Mentor Workshop, participants receive extensive training on the principles of mentoring; on the stages of human development and learning; and in actively listening, effectively communicating, critical thinking, and collaborative problem solving.