– Our mentors come from everything from commercial and human rights law firms to courts and other public authorities, says David Johansson, Senior Lecturer in Civil Law at Karlstad Business School.
The mentorship programme gives law students at Karlstad Business School the opportunity to receive support and guidance from a practising lawyer who has previously been a law student themselves. Being able to discuss issues related to studies and career choices with a role model who is easy to relate to is invaluable. It better prepares students for the transition from student life to professional practice and, ideally, helps reduce stress.
– On a more overarching level, the mentorship programme is also an important point of contact for our alumni, helping them stay connected both with the programme and with each other, says David Johansson. Carina Bäccman, collaboration coordinator at Karlstad University, has been instrumental in helping to establish the mentorship programme.
What does the support from a mentor consist of?
The mentor primarily serves as a sounding board, sharing their own experiences, explains David Johansson. During meetings, discussions range from completing one’s studies to different ways of making contact with potential employers. Another recurring theme is the balance between private life and work, particularly given that both mentors and law students tend to be high-performing individuals.
Johanna Dahlqvist Kjørren and Erik Ruiter are both law students and participants in the mentorship programme.
– The mentorship programme has really put things into perspective and helped me understand how what we learn in the programme is applied in real workplaces – which has made me even more curious and excited about entering the profession, says Johanna Dahlqvist Kjørren. It has also increased my motivation to study. Being able to discuss ideas and questions with my mentor has made me feel more confident and less stressed about taking the step into working life.
– I think it’s very positive that the mentorship programme has been launched, says Erik Ruiter. It’s important to meet practising lawyers and hear about their experiences of transitioning from student life to professional life. Since I previously worked in a different industry, it’s interesting for me to gain insight into what professional life after graduation might look like. A major advantage of the mentorship programme is that the contact with the mentor takes place several times over a longer period – this creates a more relaxed atmosphere that leads to better conversations. My mentor has shared reflections on the education and how it can be applied in practice, as well as how to combine studies and work with family life.
Wilma Landahl, Associate Lawyer at the law firm Defendia, and Carl Magnusson, Judge Advocate (fiskal) at the Administrative Court of Appeal in Gothenburg, are both involved in the mentorship programme and previously studied law at Karlstad Business School.
– I was involved in designing the mentorship programme and am now engaged as a mentor for a law student at Karlstad Business School, says Wilma Landahl. The programme gives the student a direct link to someone in working life who can provide a more nuanced picture of the legal profession. Hopefully, it also helps reduce the anxiety and stress that many experience during their law studies.
What do you gain as mentors from being part of the mentorship programme?
– It gives me the opportunity to reflect on my own transition from studies to working life, while also being rewarding to support, advise and inspire someone who is making the same journey that I once did, explains Wilma Landahl.
– I’ve had to reflect on my own career choices, how I balance work and leisure, and which of my thoughts and experiences might be useful to a law student, says Carl Magnusson. It has also been rewarding to hear about the challenges that today’s law students face; the strong focus on grades certainly remains, but developments in AI and changes in the wider world mean that the situation is different now compared to when I was a student.
