IDC partners with high court commission to mentor new lawyers

The Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel (IDC) has joined the roster of sponsoring organizations in a statewide mentoring program for new attorneys.

The IDC this week announced its partnership with the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism, which launched the Lawyer-to-Lawyer Mentoring Program shortly after the high court changed its rules in 2010 to encourage mentoring.

“We are pleased to welcome the IDC as a partner in the mentoring program,” Jayne Reardon, the commission’s executive director, said in a statement. “We are grateful for their commitment to promoting professionalism, and look forward to a long collaboration.”

Under the mentoring program, new lawyers are matched with experienced attorneys willing to provide professional and practical guidance to their mentees. Both new and veteran attorneys receive Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit upon completion of the structured program.

The IDC is one of more than five dozen legal organizations that have partnered with the commission to provide mentoring, according to the commission's website. These organizations range from law schools and firms to bar associations and state legal offices.

IDC President Aleen Tiffany said in a news release that the statewide defense group “shares the Commission’s commitment to excellence and professionalism."

The release notes that the program addresses several of the association's own goals, such as building lasting professional and personal relationships, encouraging education, providing quality CLE and strengthening the bond between young and veteran lawyers.

Tiffany said the IDC appreciates the hard work of its Young Lawyers Division in establishing its new mentoring program and "looks forward to the important opportunities this program will provide for our members to learn from each other and foster professionalism among lawyers.”

The IDC’s program will be implemented by attorneys Michelle Wahl and Gregory Odom.

Wahl is a 2005 law school graduate, an associate at Swanson, Martin & Bell LLP in Chicago and chair of the IDC Young Lawyers Division. Odom, a 2008 graduate, is an associate at HelperBroom in Edwardsville and a member of the Young Lawyers Division.