Before law school, I would have called myself a professional observer.

I started working at my county’s district attorney’s office at the age of 16. I was thrust into a world I knew nothing about, so I found myself in the back of the courtroom often. I thought this would be the best way to learn how the criminal justice system works and everyone’s role within it.

It turned out I would learn so much more than that. At first, I noticed the procedure, the decorum, and how each party interacted with each other. However, beyond that, I started to notice how each attorney had their own style of litigating. Some were boisterous and attention-grabbing, while others were soft-spoken and measured. These differences showed me that there wasn’t one perfect way to be a lawyer, but rather it reflected purposeful choices about advocacy, professionalism, and staying authentic to yourself.

Then, the summer before I started law school, I interned at a private law firm. After working at the district attorney’s office for five years, the hustle and bustle of private practice was new to me.

Instead of being in the courtroom, I was in depositions, settlement conferences, and client meetings. These litigators weren’t always in the courtroom, but that didn’t mean their skills weren’t in constant use. I was fascinated with the “behind the scenes” work, that advocacy begins long before anyone steps into the courtroom.

I realized how preparing and strategizing were just as important as the actual argument. That the confidence I later saw was not only born from persuasive speaking but also from months of deliberate planning.

And finally, law school itself has given me the foundational skills I need make legal arguments.

Your Mentorship Is Essential to Law Students

However, it has been the mentors and attorneys I have met along the way that have truly taught me what it means to be a litigator. This is why mentorship and leadership in the legal community are so important. Without the opportunity to observe remarkable litigators, students are left the dark about what good advocacy looks like. Even a little guidance from practicing attorneys can make students feel a little less alone in the vast legal profession.

Not only do I write this to tell other law students to seek opportunities where they can watch attorneys in practice, but also as a call to the attorneys out there wondering if their mentorship means anything. It does. The time you spend answering questions, offering guidance, or simply allowing students to observe your work has a lasting impact on our outlook of the profession.

On the flip side, mentoring the up-and-coming generation of litigators can be extremely rewarding. It offers a chance to reflect on your own path – what you learned, what was difficult, and what truly matters in practice. The stresses of everyday work can make it easy to lose sight of your purpose, and what drew you to practice law in the first place, but mentoring can be a reminder of that purpose.

Watching experienced litigators in action offers something no textbook or lecture can fully replicate: a living, breathing example of the law at work. We are taught how to think like a lawyer, but it won’t be until our first day in court that we truly understand what it takes.

Being mentored by an experienced litigator is the next best thing. This requires students that are willing to learn and litigators that are willing to teach.

A Shared Commitment

In my experience, the most meaningful growth happens when both sides show up with intention – students ready to observe and ask questions and attorneys open to sharing not just their successes, but the reasoning behind their decisions.

It is in this shared commitment to learning that ensures the next generation of lawyers are prepared to take on the profession that is the law. Now, only a couple of months away from graduation, you can find me sitting in the gallery watching and learning from the litigators that came before me.

This article was originally published on the State Bar of Wisconsin’s Litigation Section Blog. Visit the State Bar sections or the Litigation Section webpages to learn more about the benefits of section membership.