The Lowdown on Mentorship Agreements
A mentorship agreement is essentially a contract between a mentor and their mentee. Depending on the type of mentorship program, they can be used informally or formally. For instance, it may not be necessary for mentors and mentees who are part of an organization or group of mentors and mentees to have a formal published agreement. However, having a written mentorship agreement can help early on in your relationship by defining what you expect from each other and what is appropriate at the outset. It also helps down the line with accountability—if your mentee fails to meet your expectations , you will have specific details in writing that can help you engage them more effectively on the subject.
While mentorship agreements come in all shapes and sizes—some as short as a few paragraphs and some as long as hundreds of pages—there are a few key components of any good mentorship agreement:
Depending on the relationship you’re trying to formalize, some of these components above may be unnecessary, or you may add components that are more specific to the type of mentorship. Regardless of the complexity of the mentorship agreement, however, the basic components above are essential in helping both the mentor and mentee ensure a successful relationship.
Key Components of a Mentorship Agreement Template
A well-structured mentorship agreement template is a vital tool to ensure a productive and goal-oriented relationship between a mentor and a mentee. Herein, five crucial elements that must be incorporated into every mentorship agreement template are outlined. The crux of any meaningful mentorship is the goals that both the mentor and the mentee want to achieve. In the mentorship agreement, the parties should clarify these goals. These are key to establishing a focused mentorship program that can be measured for progress and success. Without clear expectations, both the mentor and the mentee can have different views on what the relationship should entail. A mentorship agreement template should include expectations for the level of contact required, types of interactions (e.g., in person or virtual), and responsibilities for both parties. Scheduling regular meetings is important for building rapport. To avoid conflicts and misunderstandings, these meetings should be specified in the mentorship agreement template. Such details include frequency (e.g., weekly or monthly), duration of the meetings, and preferred type of communication (e.g., weekly face-to-face and bi-weekly virtual check-ins). The confidentiality of shared information in a mentorship is essential. A mentorship agreement template should specifically include a confidentiality clause to protect sensitive information that may be discussed during the mentorship. It should also cover exceptions to confidentiality to prevent ambiguity on what information can be shared and what should remain private. The duration of the mentorship is another crucial aspect that should be stipulated in the mentorship agreement. The agreed-upon term can be based on the achievement of the previously established goals and whether there are other factors that may influence the mentorship duration.
Tips for Customizing Your Mentorship Agreement
There is no "one size fits all" when it comes to mentorships. Although a general template can be used to cover the principal elements of an agreement, all mentorships trail off in different directions. It’s up to both parties to ensure that all of the particulars are clear and that both parties have a detailed plan on how they will proceed during the relationship.
To customize your mentorship agreement template, consider the particulars of your situation. Are you establishing a formal mentorship or one that blurs the lines between casual support and a formal program? Will your mentorship be based out of a professional organization or is it more of a casual arrangement? Are you looking to set up something structured or open-ended?
Based on your situation, the following adjustments can be made to your mentorship agreement:
Length of time If the mentor and mentee are both in agreement, you could look at the timeline for the relationship. Establishing a set timetable can be invaluable for keeping oversight on your goals for the mentorship and for sticking to a schedule. For example, you may choose to meet every other week to discuss how things are going in terms of goals, meeting expectations and clarifying any questions that might arise.
You can also use your mentorship agreement to set down a starting and ending date for the mentorship. Having a designated timeframe could help to ensure that each party is dedicated to the terms of the agreement and also lets you be upfront about what your terms and expectations are for the relationship. For example, you may establish that as long as you’re both sticking to the agreement, you could continue with a long-term relationship. However, if either party can no longer adhere to the agreement or is given a legitimate reason not to participate, the agreement is terminated.
Specificity of goals While general goals can be specified, you should also be clear about the particular goals of both parties. For example, it is still important to set goals for networking with industry experts. Perhaps you want to find out about a specific industry, expand opportunities for future internships or visit participants’ job sites.
You may also want to focus your goals on how frequently you will communicate with one another and what type of communication you will engage in. Will you be seeing each other in person or communicating via phone or online? You may also want to write down what you’ll do if you change jobs or your personal contact information during the course of the mentorship relationship.
While mentorships hold incredible possibilities for both the mentor and mentee, it’s vital that both parties are on the same page when it comes to the terms of their relationship. The mentorship agreement template can help to ensure that your relationship gets off on the right foot.
Legal Issues in Mentorship Agreements
According to TeamStage, 79% of corporate sponsors and mentors feel refreshed and renewed after mentoring others. However, many people may feel apprehensive when asked to help others without realizing the legal aspects. Here are some of the common legal considerations you may need to address:
Compliance with Employment Laws
Mentorship agreements should comply with applicable state or federal employment laws, including wage and hour laws and anti-discrimination laws. Some employment-related statutes like the Fair Labor Standards Act have related protections for volunteers, however, others may not. It’s important to know what rules apply to your program. For example, county or state employment statutes that do not distinguish between employees and volunteers could technically require a volunteer to be paid minimum wage for time spent assisting others.
Non-Discrimination
You want to ensure your mentorship program complies with anti-discrimination laws so that participants can help mentor diversity. State and federal laws prohibit discrimination based on identifying characteristics and traits. Employers should be careful to create mentorship agreements and programs that do not discriminate intentionally or even incidentally against groups protected by law.
Health and Safety Risks
Just as in employment practices, you should consider the potential for injury or other risks to a participant’s health. The relationship between a mentor and mentee can become amiable and include personal details that can hurt the participants’ mental well-being, especially if trust is broken. This is not a legally required provision, but if your nonprofit is concerned about participants sharing private information, it may help to include a provision in your mentorship agreement saying you do not support or approve of sharing sensitive personal information.
Consult with an attorney to confirm that your mentorship agreement and program complies with all relevant local, state, and federal laws.
Mistakes to Watch Out For
Common Miscommunications to Avoid in a Mentorship Agreement Template
While working on a mentorship agreement template, certain issues and points can often be miscommunication points between the two parties. These can include the expectations that the mentor has of the mentee, and vice-versa. For example, how often will the mentor contact the mentee to ensure that they are doing well with their professional development? Will the mentee be expected to contact the mentor at any point? Also , many mentors seems to somehow cross a line of inappropriate contact with a mentee. For instance, a mentor can call, email or text the mentee for advice or to do work-related tasks after hours, leading some mentees to feel uncomfortable about their relationship. Make the rules clear as soon as possible to avoid future confusion or awkwardness.
Sample Mentorship Agreement Template
In order to provide our readers with an example of how the aforementioned language can be folded into a mentorship agreement, we drafted a sample template.
MENTORSHIP AGREEMENT
This Mentorship Agreement (this "Agreement") is entered into by and between [Insert Student Name], a student at [Insert Institution Name] (hereinafter referred to as "Student"), and [Insert Mentor Name], [Insert Mentor Profession/Position] at [Insert Company/Institution Name] (hereinafter referred to as "Mentor").
WHEREAS Student and Mentor have agreed to enter into this Agreement. The parties agree as follows:
1. TERM
The term of this Agreement shall last for ____________ with the understanding that this Agreement will be extended by the mutual consent of both parties in writing.
2. GOALS/ROLES
Student and Mentor agree to discuss and identify specific goals they would like to attain during the term of this Agreement and outline those goals below.
3. SCHEDULE/CANCELLATION POLICY
Meeting Schedule: [Insert Details Here]
Cancellation Policy:
4. CONFIDENTIALITY
The parties agree that this Agreement is solely for the benefit of Student and Mentor and shall have no third party beneficiaries. Further, the parties agree that any matters discussed by them in furtherance of this Agreement shall be held strictly confidential unless otherwise agreed upon by both parties in writing.
5. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Student and Mentor acknowledge they have read this Agreement, fully understand its contents and purpose, and voluntarily enter into this Agreement.
Student_______________________ Date_______________________________
Mentor_________________________ Date________________________________
Additional Resources
To further support your efforts in creating a mentorship agreement template that meets your law firm’s unique needs , consider exploring resources from professional organizations dedicated to law firm management. The Association of Legal Administrators frequently publishes articles offering insight into industry standards for law firm policies and procedures. The American Bar Association also hosts numerous articles from Bar staff attorneys and professionals offering advice on how to create and manage law firm agreements.