Women in Leadership Mentoring Programme
Applications are open now for the 2025 Women in Leadership Mentoring Programme.
Empowering Women in Law: The Women in Leadership Mentoring Programme
The Law Society is committed to promoting gender equality, diversity and inclusion within the solicitors’ profession.
As part of this commitment, we are delighted to introduce the latest edition of our highly successful Women in Leadership Mentoring Programme. Developed in collaboration with Law Society Skillnet, this initiative is designed to empower women solicitors, helping them grow both personally and professionally while advancing their careers to senior levels.
To offer a deeper insight into the impact of this programme, our Gazette team spoke with a experienced mentor and an engaged mentee from our previous cohort. Their conversation highlighted the invaluable benefits of mentoring, from career development to personal growth, and provided a first-hand perspective on the experience.
Mentor and mentee experiences
Our Gazette team recently met with a experienced Mentor and a dedicated Mentee from our most recent programme. The discussion revolved around the invaluable benefits of participation whilst gaining insights into the enriching experience from both mentoring and mentee perspective.
Mentoring
Mentoring partners generally commit to meeting once a month for around an hour over the course of eight months.
Are you looking to take the next step in your legal career? Whether you’re seeking guidance on career progression, developing a challenging new skill, enhancing your job performance, or increasing your chances of promotion, mentorship can be an invaluable resource. You may simply wish to build your professional network and gain insights from an experienced solicitor during this crucial stage in your career.
If you are a solicitor who is eager to learn, open to new perspectives, willing to ask questions, and committed to your professional growth, we encourage you to apply for this programme.
Eligibility:
All female solicitors who are qualified members of the Law Society of Ireland are welcome to apply although we do encourage you to have a minimum of 2+ years PQE so that you are fully aware of any targets, direction, or hurdles you may be facing. The programme is only available once to member solicitors. Become a memberBecoming a mentor offers a rewarding opportunity to share your experience, provide guidance, and give back to the legal profession. Our panel of mentors—comprising senior solicitors from both the public and private sectors (female and male)—play a crucial role in supporting and empowering the next generation of women in leadership.
Do you have a passion for guiding others? Can you actively listen, offer valuable insights, and help a mentee navigate their career path? If you're eager to contribute your expertise and support a mentee’s success, we invite you to join our mentor panel.
Before you fill out the application form, take a moment to reflect on what you want to get out of the programme. Whether you are a mentee or a mentor, having a clear idea of your goals will help you make the most of the experience.
For mentees:
- What do you hope to gain from having a mentor?
- Are there specific areas of your career where you would like guidance?
- Do you prefer a structured mentoring style or a more casual approach?
- Are there particular skills or experiences you want to develop?
- Would you benefit from a mentor with a specific background or expertise?
For mentors:
- What’s your motivation for becoming a mentor?
- What areas of expertise or experience would you feel most comfortable sharing?
- Have you mentored before? If so, what worked well for you?
- Do you prefer structured sessions, or would you rather keep things informal?
- How much time can you realistically commit?
- Are there particular challenges or scenarios where you feel you could offer the most support?
Taking a moment to think about these questions will help you get the most out of the mentoring experience—whether you are looking for guidance or hoping to give back.
The time commitment for the Women in the Leadership mentoring programme is set out below. Please bear this in mind before submitting your application.
- Self-paced training – 1.5 hours
- In-person or Online Zoom session – 1 hour
- One-hour meeting (approximate) for each month of the 8-month programme
- Total time commitment – 10 hours (approximate)
- April 2025: Applications for both Mentors and Mentee open.
- July 2025: Matching takes place during the month of July.
- August 2025: Applicants (mentors and mentees) are informed via email if they have been successfully matched*. Where a match has been secured, applicants will be contacted and provided with access details to the Law Society Skillnet mentor and mentee self-paced online courses. This course must be completed in advance of the training session in September 2025. *Please note we will endeavour to match candidates based on specified preferences in the application form, however, this cannot be guaranteed.
- September 2025: One-hour training in best-practice mentoring techniques session. Training will be onsite and online - online learning via the self-paced courses and the follow-up sessions are eligible for CPD hours.
- September 2025: Following successful completion of training, applicants are informed of the match details i.e. the name and contact details of the mentor/mentee.
- October 2025: The Mentoring relationship begins.
- December 2025: Interim Survey sent out.
- May 2026: The Mentoring relationship comes to an official end with a final survey to be completed.
Training for the Women in Leadership Mentoring Programme is delivered by Law Society Skillnet and is designed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills needed for a successful mentoring experience.
Part 1: Self-Paced eLearning
The first stage is a self-paced eLearning course, taking approximately 90 minutes to complete. This interactive module introduces the fundamentals of mentoring in a professional setting, explores how to build a strong and effective mentoring relationship, and outlines the key skills required for both mentors and mentees. Participants will engage with scenario-based questions, interactive activities, and downloadable resources to support their learning. Completion of this course is required before progressing to Part 2.
Part 2: In-Person or Live Zoom Sessions Available
The second stage is a one-hour live session either in person or via Zoom, offering a deeper dive into the structure and key elements of the Law Society’s Women in Leadership Mentoring Programme. This session also provides an opportunity for participants to ask questions and gain clarity on the mentoring process.
Following completion of both training parts, participants will be matched with their mentor or mentee.
The 2025 programme is facilitated by Darina Mulligan.
Founder of Camino Coaching, Darina is an ICF-accredited executive coach, specialising in accelerating women's leadership potential. Her strategic approach combines mentoring, coaching and organisational development to break down systemic barriers to women's professional progression. Darina supports women to navigate complex professional landscapes while maintaining authentic leadership styles, driving tangible outcomes in confidence, strategic thinking and career advancement. Her client-centred programmes have consistently supported organisations in developing diverse, high-potential female talent, making her a trusted partner in leadership transformation. As the facilitator of the Law Society's Women in Leadership Mentoring Programme for nearly five years, Darina is passionate about harnessing the remarkable expertise of industry mentors and creating powerful pathways for rising female talent in the legal sector.
If you have any queries about the programme please contact the Women in Leadership Programme Manager, Shane Farrell, at solicitorservices@lawsociety.ie.
If you have any queries about the training please contact Gwen McDevitt, Marketing & Communications Executive, Law Society Professional Training and Law Society Skillnet at LawSocietySkillnet@lawsociety.ie
Testimonials
Mentee Testimonials
“The programme is an excellent initiative. I am grateful for the time and guidance provided by my Mentor. I feel we are all able to learn from each other.”
Anne Marie Daly – Mentee 2024
“Everyone should do this! I should have done it sooner and I will definitely pledge some of my professional time in the future to mentoring in return.”
Claire, Mentee 2024
“As I have said before I think this is an invaluable programme. It is really progressive and forward thinking and excellently run and managed. It is also crucial in terms of equipping solicitors with the tools to deal with such a demanding career and is essential in terms of retention of solicitors in the profession.”
Nicola, Mentee 2024
“This process has made me step back and look at my career in a different way due to the careful questions my mentor has asked me, which is just what I need.”
Mentee 2024
“My mentor and I are a good match, and I feel this is the main reason it has been so successful so far as she understands the issues and concerns I am facing and has provided great guidance in respect of same.”
Mentee 2024
“Definitely worthwhile experience and really pleased with mentor.”
Mentee 2024
“A very positive and encouraging experience.”
Mentee 2024
Mentor Testimonials
“I am astounded about how closely we were matched. From the very outset it was easy to establish a real rapport with the mentee.”
Siobhán Dunne, Mentor 2024
“This is my fifth-year mentoring. I find it a hugely valuable and rewarding experience.”
Helen, Mentor 2024
“The programme can be used as an excellent support if you are advancing into a more senior role. As a mentor, the programme gives you an opportunity to develop leadership, decision making and communication skills. I would encourage any solicitor to become a mentor on the programme.”
Aoife, Mentor 2024
“The Mentees are engaged and prepared which gives energy to the process. It is a pleasure to meet with them and the experience to date has been very rewarding.”
Claire, Mentor 2024
“It is a very satisfying experience to be able to support colleagues in navigating their careers.”
Eva, Mentor 2024
“I have always enjoyed meeting new people but the real reward here is being able to assist even in a small way. I was a mentor last year and my last mentee and I are still in touch as the whole experience was so positive and good.”
Anna, Mentor 2024
“It is going very well. My mentee is very focused and taking their share of the responsibility for getting the most out of the sessions.”
Mentor 2024
