About
Experience Shapes a Lawyer. Mentorship Shapes a Career.
The transition from law school to law practice is rarely straightforward. JB Burtch offers a practical approach and perspective to help new lawyers navigate professional expectations, workplace dynamics, and the ethical responsibilities of the profession.
The Importance of Mentorship
Hands-on experience with the senior lawyer is less frequent today, and there are a lot of things you miss if you don’t get to shadow the people you’re working with.
Meet JB Burtch
Jack W. “JB” Burtch, Jr. has practiced labor and employment law for more than five decades, building a career that spans large, mid-sized, and small firms in Richmond, Virginia. Over that time, he has developed a broad perspective on the realities of legal practice and the challenges lawyers face at every stage of their careers.
Since 1994, JB has also served as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Richmond School of Law, where he teaches Negotiations and Client Counseling. Through his teaching and practice, he has mentored generations of law students and early-career attorneys, helping them navigate the transition from law school into the profession with confidence and sound judgment.
JB has been recognized throughout his career for both his legal ability and professional integrity. He has been rated AV Preeminent™ by Martindale-Hubbell since 1987, named to Best Lawyers in America and Virginia Super Lawyers for many years, and was inducted into the Virginia Lawyers Hall of Fame in 2023. He received the Richmond Bar Association’s Professionalism Award in 2025.
An Essential Relationship
Mentorship in the Practice of Law
Mentorship plays an essential role in the development of lawyers. While law school teaches the principles of the law, the profession itself is learned through experience, perspective, and guidance from those who have practiced it.
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The transition from law school to law practice can be difficult because the profession requires far more than legal knowledge. Young lawyers must learn how to work with clients, collaborate with colleagues, and exercise judgement in situations that are rarely addressed in the classroom. Mentorship helps bridge the gap by providing guidance from someone who has already navigated those challenges.
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External mentors can provide candid advice and help young lawyers think through professional challenges without the pressures that sometimes exist within a firm’s internal structure.
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Professional responsibility is more than a set of formal rules. It includes the way lawyers approach their work, their clients, and their colleagues, Developing a strong ethical foundation early in a career helps lawyers make sound decisions and build trust that will follow them through their professional lives.
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Every workplace has its own dynamics and decision-making processes. Understanding these dynamics, learning how an organization functions, and how professional relationships develop over time is essential for any new lawyer looking to have a career in the field. Thoughtful mentorship can help young lawyers recognize these dynamics and navigate them responsibly.
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While success in the field can’t be attributed to any one skill or habit, here are a few that stand out:
Work with purpose
Take time to understand the problem you are solving
Ask for help when you need guidance
Show respect for the experience of others
Build strong relationships with clients through clear communication and showing you care
When challenges arise, deliver difficult news honestly and offer options
Be willing to take the lead
For more habits to help you succeed, check out Raising the Bar: The Mentor Guidebook for New Lawyers