Kane prosecutors start mentoring program

Lawyers often face the unexpected while trying a case — a witness gives a surprise answer while on the stand, or a key piece of evidence is not allowed in court.

These are two potential situations that could stump a young lawyer, but the Kane County state’s attorney’s office hopes to keep that from happening with its new one-year mentoring program.

The Lawyer-to-Lawyer Mentoring Program teams seasoned prosecutors with newer assistant state’s attorneys and helps them organize cases, cross examine witnesses, realize their larger role in the community and helps them deal with the nerves and uncertainty that go along with bringing a case to trial.

“I don’t think nerves really go away,” State’s Attorney Joe McMahon said Tuesday. “It’s my hope that (the program) will continue to attract really great candidates to the office. They’ll be better lawyers whether they work in this office or another office.”

Forty-four attorneys in McMahon’s office are in the Lawyer-to-Lawyer Mentoring Program, operated under the umbrella of the Commission on Professionalism of the Illinois Supreme Court.

McMahon took office last December and met one-on-one with each prosecutor; a mentorship program was one idea suggested.

“There was no real formal program,” said Divya Sarang, a prosecutor for 18 years in Kane and the program administrator. “It is a very structured program. It’s big for the younger people to get that exposure at a young age.”

The program will feature speakers from bar associations, ethics organizations and encourage community outreach as well.

“There’s a lot more to being a lawyer than just doing your job well,” McMahon said. “There’s a community aspect to it.”