Breaking Barriers Through Connection: How NCBA YLD’s Grab-A-Coffee Program Brings Mentorship to Life

Anna, a white woman with brown hair, wears a black dress and black blazer.Courtney, a white woman with light brown hair, wears a dress with a black and white checkered pattern and a black blazer.By Anna-Jamieson Beck and Courtney Latourrette

For many law students, building a professional network can feel daunting, especially when starting out in a new city or navigating the demanding early years of law school. The North Carolina Bar Association Young Lawyers Division (YLD) Grab-A-Coffee program is helping change that, one conversation at a time.

The award-winning program pairs law students and lawyers across the state for informal one-on-one meetings to foster professional relationships rooted in shared experiences and mutual growth. For Paulina Webber, a law student at North Carolina Central University (NCCU), her first Grab-A-Coffee experience in March 2024 became one of the cornerstones of her early legal journey.

Paulina was matched with Kayla Britt, an Assistant Attorney General at the North Carolina Department of Justice, who also runs Fairy Law Mother LLC, a mentorship platform dedicated to helping law students thrive. Meeting in person for about an hour, the two quickly found common ground.

“Kayla’s dedication to giving back to law students through Fairy Law Mother really stood out,” Paulina shared. “We connected over our shared passion for public interest work. It felt like more than networking; it was an authentic connection.”

Since then, the two have stayed in touch and connected on LinkedIn. What began as a mentorship pairing through Grab-A-Coffee has since grown into a genuine professional friendship.

Paulina’s consistency and dedication to the connection stood out to Kayla.

“She took initiative to follow up, organize meetings, and stay connected. From the beginning, I could tell she was serious about establishing a relationship and, in turn, building her professional network,” Kayla recalled.

Kayla’s passion for mentoring law students isn’t new — it’s been her mission since discovering how much support many students lack.

“My connection through the NCBA YLD GaC program was one of the first indicators that law students are lacking mentorship opportunities and are terrified to network,” Kayla reflected. “I made it my mission to be just a regular human being during these mentorship/networking sessions in an effort to remove the scary lawyer persona that intimidates so many students when attempting to network. GaC reminded me that law students need compassion, commitment, and honesty.”

When asked if she’d participate in the Grab-a-Coffee program again, Paulina didn’t hesitate.

“Absolutely. Kayla is one of the most genuine relationships I’ve built since attending law school.”

Kayla echoed Paulina’s excitement, noting that she has participated in the program for many years and even assisted in its implementation and development.

“I would absolutely do it again. It’s no surprise that my heart lies with law students. I’d do anything to help them feel like they have support and resources. I look forward to my future matches,” Kayla said.

For Paulina and Kayla, and for many other Grab-a-Coffee participants, the program isn’t just about professional development — it’s about breaking barriers, humanizing mentorship, and inspiring the next generation of North Carolina lawyers to pay it forward.

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