The NCBA YLD Grab a Coffee (GaC) Program went virtual this year. With more than one hundred attorney and law student matches, we had one of the most successful years of the program. Attorneys and law students were matched primarily based on practice areas and geographical location. The pairs scheduled their meetings using the software of their choice, at the time and date that worked best for them. We also included a feedback survey to guide our efforts in improving GaC for the years to come. We are proud of how well GaC took off this year, and we look forward to seeing it grow in the future.

Hear from two participants in the program, attorney Joshua Richardson and Wake Forest School of Law student Grace Koppenheffer, who share more about their individual GaC experiences below. Joshua and Grace were paired separately and both had a wonderful experience.

How Was Your GaC Experience?

Joshua Richardson

Joshua: My GaC experience was very rewarding, and it was great to connect with a law student and provide insight and support for her journey through the law school experience, even in a virtual environment. Since we chose to meet via Zoom, we were able to get acquainted in a very familiar manner on a platform we both use regularly.

Grace Koppenheffer

Grace: My Grab a Coffee experience was wonderful. I really appreciated the chance to chat more informally with a practicing attorney in the field in which I am interested in working. It is invaluable to not only learn about a practicing attorney’s daily experiences, but also to receive her candid advice about law school, practicing, and life in general. Additionally, it was encouraging to hear stories of actual cases the attorney had worked on and hear her passion for her work.

What Did You Gain from This Experience?

Joshua: This experience allowed me to make a connection with a brilliant future lawyer, and it allowed me the opportunity to provide support for a law student in the midst of the pandemic. I am a huge proponent of giving back and helping others, and this experience allowed me to have the opportunity to provide mentorship, something that I have missed doing regularly during the pandemic.

Grace: Besides the fantastic advice I received, I gained a relationship with someone that I know who I can reach out to with questions or for help. One of the biggest benefits of the Grab a Coffee program is being able to more naturally develop a mentee-mentor relationship with a practicing attorney. Being able to share my own experiences and hopes, as well as learning from someone else’s journey, helps me feel more connected to the legal profession in general. It is comforting and encouraging to know there is someone I can reach out to along my own journey.

Would You Recommend GaC to Others?

Joshua: I would highly recommend GaC to others because it is a unique and rewarding experience. For those who have busy schedules or who have missed the opportunity to regularly network with students, GaC offers a flexible opportunity to fulfill this need. I encourage everyone who can to join in and experience GaC!

Grace: Absolutely! I would definitely recommend Grab a Coffee to other law students because it provides such a unique opportunity to connect with a practicing attorney in your area of interest. Not only will you receive more tailored advice to your own situation and career path, but you will also be able to form a relationship with a practicing attorney who can help answer questions and offer help along the way.

If you are interested in being an attorney volunteer for future GaC programs, please fill out this form. (Law students can sign up here.) We are temporarily suspending sign up links until the summer session of GaC is launched. We will notify volunteers by email with more information when they are paired.

If you have questions about GaC, please contact Matt Meinel at [email protected] or Kayla Britt at [email protected].

March 11, 2021/by NCBA YLD