The High Point University Kenneth F. Kahn School of Law recently kicked off its LEAD Program (Legal Engagement Advancement & Development), bringing together first-year students and upper-level student leaders to strengthen mentorship, community, and professional development across the law school.
LEAD is a group mentoring program, aimed at career and professional development, designed to help first-year students navigate the broader law school experience by connecting them with upper-level students who can share their experiences, offer practical guidance, and help them become more connected to the High Point Law community.
“The LEAD Program is focused on helping our law students develop the professional skills and habits they will need to succeed in their summer internships and throughout their legal careers,” said Diana Santos Johnson, Assistant Director of Career Development. “During my more than 15 years as a practicing attorney, I found that the most successful law student interns and new attorneys were those who were coachable. They welcomed feedback and used it to learn and improve. Through the LEAD Program, we want to help our law students develop that mindset early in their legal education.”
During the first LEAD session, 1L students and LEAD Fellows discussed their goals for the program, including building relationships across class years, creating a comfortable and consistent environment for students to ask questions and seek guidance, and strengthening connections to High Point Law’s people, programs, resources, and professional opportunities.
The program also provides a unique leadership opportunity for LEAD Fellows. As members of High Point Law’s inaugural classes, the LEAD Fellows have an opportunity not only to mentor their fellow students but also to help shape the culture, traditions, and sense of community that will define the law school for years to come. John Kasprzak, the Director of Career Development, at High Point Law, commented, “Practitioners, both locally and nationally, continually stress the importance of leadership development and mentorship for young lawyers. We are so happy to have these great second- and third-year students as LEAD Fellows and are excited for the first-year students to have a variety of mentors to shepherd them during their 1L year.”
Throughout the academic year, LEAD groups will continue meeting to build relationships, discuss the law school experience, explore career and professional development topics, and help students develop a stronger sense of connection and belonging within the High Pont Law community.
Founding Dean and former Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court, Mark Martin, said,
“We appreciate the Career Development Office for championing the LEAD initiative at High Point Law. It is so important for law students to receive mentoring, practical help, and advice at this stage of their career, and this ensures they have that opportunity.”