Why be a mentor? A good mentor is important for any lawyer’s progress. A mentor can give advice and guidance in relation to case strategies and legal issues but can also provide support and reassurance when problems arise with colleagues or with the bench. Amie is my fourth reader. I get great pleasure, as I did with the others, helping her develop as a busy and successful barrister. How does your expertise/experience help? Good mentors teach good habits learned from their own experience in practice. I am fortunate to have had good mentors and to have learned good professional practices from them. Mentoring gives me the chance to pass on what I’ve learned. Best advice given? Particularly for an advocate, the best advice is, be yourself. Don’t try to be somebody you’re not. Emulate the methods of good advocates but don’t copy them. Develop your own style according to your own personality. Who was your mentor? I read with John Champion SC, now the Director of Public Prosecutions. Not only his willingness to share his knowledge and skill, but also his encouragement and support, have been invaluable in the development of my career at the Bar. Michael Cahill SC is a barrister.