Brock Willis Coauthors Tennessee Bar Journal Cover Story on Offensive Strategies for Successful Legal Mentorships

Adams & Reese Nashville Associate Brock Willis coauthored the cover story for the Tennessee Bar Journal titled "Mentoring on Offense: A Strategic, Structured and Sustained Approach to Legal Mentorship, Professional Development and Career Advancement." Published in the March/April 2026 issue, the article advocates for a proactive "offense vs. defense" mentorship model that benefits lawyers at every stage of their careers. 

Setting a Mentorship Framework, Goals, and Best Practices

An efficient mentorship model encourages lawyers to move beyond reactive, crisis-driven guidance and to emphasize regular engagement, goal-setting, and long-term growth. Start by creating a professional development plan that establishes concrete goals and best practices. Such goals include improving trial skills, building a client base, and pursuing leadership opportunities. Best practices include meeting regularly, developing agendas, being candid, seeking feedback, and following through on commitments. 

Successful mentorship pairings are also essential and are often created formally within a firm's practice groups. However, the most enduring mentorships develop organically through shared interests and professional functions. Importantly, mentorship is a two-way street: senior attorneys gain fresh perspectives, technology insights, and the satisfaction of shaping the next generation, while mentees receive guidance, connections, and a sense of professional identity. 

Business Development, Pro Bono Work, and the Judiciary's Recognition

Seasoned attorneys can teach the undervalued yet important skill of business development by cultivating a client-first approach to relationship building. Collaborating on pro bono matters also helps strengthen the relationship and provides young lawyers with hands-on training while honoring the duty of service. Additionally, the judiciary has recognized the importance of legal mentorship, with one federal magistrate judge noting that "mentorship is a gem of the legal profession" and that failures in mentoring harm not only mentees but also the broader judicial system. 

The Long Game: Plan, Participate, and Pay It Forward

Early-career attorneys are cautioned to focus on long-term relationship-building rather than short-term recognition. Ultimately, mentorship works best when it is strategic, structured, and sustained, and when both mentors and mentees commit to paying it forward.

View the full article here.