I have been both a Mentor and a Mentee throughout my legal career.

Let’s start with back in 2013 when I started working for who later became my Mentor. During my career as a paralegal, I had moved around a lot due to my husband being in the Marine Corps. I remember, that after settling down in Knoxville, I walked into my interview thinking-yet again-, what will the attorney think of my lack of time spent at each position I had held? I remember being nervous about that question, as I always was. It never got easier-but the answer was always the truth. “What made you leave your last position after only 1 year?” And there it was. In my mind, it always goes 1 of 2 ways: (1) they didn’t want to hire someone that didn’t have extensive length of time at each employment OR (2) they would gamble on me. My answer never changed, as I could only tell the truth. That my husband was in the Marine Corps and we traveled around a lot, he got deployed multiple times and I would move back home to be with family to assist in raising our young daughter at the time. However; this time the response was a little different and more satisfying. Although I did explain that my husband was in the Marine Corps and we moved around a lot; this time was different. We had planted roots back in my hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee. I was looking for a fresh start and that if given the opportunity I would assist him in his work with 100% of my being. You see, I had a history of civil litigation, worker’s compensation and family law. He practiced solely in criminal law and personal injury. I was confident that I could learn quickly and adjust to his practice-he took the gamble.

For 5 years, this attorney took me under his wing and he taught me everything he knew about criminal law. He was never the negative type and would always explain things to me if I asked “Why?” He would give me most assignments and based off the information he had taught me: I would take a stab at everything. That was my mentality-try it on my own first and ask about corrections later after he reviewed it. I was highly organized and his office looked like what you would expect from an attorney with a high volume of cases (PAPER EVERYWHERE): so we meshed very well together. He quickly learned to rely on me. He started to trust me; which is huge for the paralegal/attorney relationship. Our work relationship flourished but my desire to be at that Firm no longer existed.

In July 2018, after having several sit down conversations with the attorney, I decided to leave the Firm. It was the hardest decision I had ever made in my career. Why would you quit at a Firm when you adore the attorney you work for-some would ask. I say it is because I was destined for more. I felt an urge to do better in the legal community. Plant my own roots. Then, I opened KPS in August 2018. I took a leap of faith by leaving a stable job with an attorney whom was nothing short of AMAZING to me. I knew that I was meant for more. To be more challenged. To have more flexibility in my schedule. To have a better financial outlook for my family’s future. I remember that I had never been so scared and nervous in my entire life. I did what I knew best to do: RESEARCH. I researched businesses. I researched insurance. I researched products I must have to operate virtually. I researched the pros and cons of others that had taken this leap of faith. Then, I just dove right on in.

Along this journey, that amazing attorney that trained me in criminal law, assisted me with any questions that I may have had. He always supported me and encouraged me as an individual and entrepreneur. Still, to this day, I can pick up the phone and call him and ask him a question and he will walk me through it. When my back is up against the wall not knowing something-I can always lean on him. That feeling. That confidence. Yeah, that is why I mentor myself. To change other people’s lives the way he has changed mine. To be that positive influence. To be that encourager. I had lunch the other day with my Mentor and we sat outside at a picnic table discussing our family, our kids, sports and life. Best feeling ever. Thankful to have such an inspiration, not only in my legal career, but also in life.

I Mentor in the Knoxville Re-Entry Program that is ran by the Federal Defender’s Office. I learned about the program a couple years ago when I saw the informational flyer about it on LinkedIn. Basically, the program, under the supervision of the Knoxville probation office, pairs recently incarcerated individuals with a Mentor to assist with their adjustment back into society. This may consist of developing a plan for them to gain employment (assisting with drafting a Resume, etc.), assisting them with obtaining their own housing and more. 

The Program’s Mission:  To reduce recidivism (the tendency of a criminal to reoffend) and to increase the rate of success for individuals who demonstrate a risk of re-offending or being in violation of the conditions of supervised release.  Each participant will be given the necessary tools and strategies to be successful by targeting his or her individual risk factors.

The benefit for the Mentee is that if they complete the 12 month program, with success, then they could get up to one year shed off their probation term. That is H U G E! So, I got involved in the Re-Entry program when the program was still being developed. We all had meetings to put our thoughts together on how the program should run, what is going to be expected of the Mentors and Mentees, etc. My 1st Mentee is now considered a friend of mine. We grew together over a period of 12 months. I got to know her family and we had lunch several times to catch up with each other. I felt important being the one that she leaned on for advice and strength. That feeling…it’s an addiction. December 2019 was her graduation in front of Chief Justice Pamela Reeves in Knoxville. Chief Justice Reeves was also my Mentee’s sentencing judge; so this graduation was more special for my Mentee than most. Chief Justice Reeves knew what my Mentee did to get in jail in the first place. I remember that Chief Justice Reeves just lit up seeing that my Mentee had successfully completed the program and that the Judge that sentenced her to prison-was also the same Judge that reduced her probation term by 12 months and she was shortly released from supervised probation. That feeling was something very hard to describe. I was proud of all that my Mentee had accomplished during that period of time. I was proud of the way she grew spiritually and how she grew as a mother. When you Mentor someone: you become friends for life. Although she graduated the program, we still work on things in life. It’s progress and will be a lifelong friendship that we both gained from the experience.

As we start to enter the 2nd class of the Re-Entry program and I gain another NEW Mentee; I look forward to sharing my experiences and advice with my NEW friend.

So, we do not ever STOP mentoring. It comes natural to me to help and assist others in need. The sense of satisfaction, accomplishments and wholeness will keep dragging you back for more. It is the most insane drug in the world.

If you or someone you know would like more information on the Re-Entry program and how you or your business can help support the program; please email me at brooke@knoxvilleparalegal.com. We are always looking for businesses to donate their time (finances, education, resume writing, etc) in assisting us with the program. Additionally, our meetings are held around meals-because we believe food brings people a sense of comfort. If you would like to donate a meal for the program one month-please reach out to me!