For new litigators, the learning curve can feel especially steep as they take on new responsibilities while navigating expectations from colleagues, clients and the court. In “So You Want to Raise a Litigator,” Kutak Rock attorneys Andrew Turk and Jasmin Chigbrow, offer practical guidance for lawyers who want to help newer attorneys thrive. Their central message is straightforward: strong mentorship is not passive. It requires a deliberate investment of time, attention and trust.

The article highlights several habits that can help mentors build more productive relationships with junior litigators:

• Commit with intention. Mentoring is a responsibility, and attorneys should take it on only when they can give the relationship the attention it deserves.
• Be proactive and available. Regular check-ins and conversations about current work, schedules and professional development help ensure that associates have meaningful support.
• Set clear expectations. Establishing boundaries early gives both mentor and mentee a workable framework for communication and collaboration.
• Give timely, constructive feedback. Associates need candid guidance, not only on what should change, but why it should change to develop judgment and confidence.
• Show the full picture of litigation. Bringing junior attorneys into fact development, research, strategy, client interactions, depositions, arguments and trial work helps them understand how matters progress from beginning to end.
• Invest in real-world learning opportunities. Allowing associates to observe and participate in hearings, meetings and other key moments can accelerate their development, even when it requires an investment of nonbillable time.

Turk and Chigbrow also emphasize the importance of candor. Litigation brings both professional rewards and significant pressures. A thoughtful mentor can share honest perspectives about the challenges of practice while helping associates identify the skills, resilience and support systems they need to succeed.

Members of the Maricopa County Bar Association can read Andrew Turk and Jasmin Chigbrow’s full article, “So You Want to Raise a Litigator,” for additional insights on effective mentorship in litigation in the Maricopa Lawyer.

Andrew brings more than 30 years of litigation experience representing businesses and business owners in complex commercial disputes, including contract matters, trade secrets, unfair competition and other business torts. He also represents physicians and other professionals in malpractice and licensing matters.

Jasmin is a mid-level associate with a diverse background in complex litigation, insurance defense, commercial and residential landlord-tenant disputes, insurance regulatory matters, and administrative law. Most recently, Jasmin played a critical role as a litigator on the trial team in a high-stakes, three-week insurance bad faith jury trial, where the team secured a complete defense verdict for a prominent health insurer client.