Mentee Dina Santos, right, says FAWL in Love with GAL volunteer Jennifer Lawson has made quite a difference in her life. Santos credits Lawson, as well as a few other mentors, including her Guardian ad Litem Volunteer Advocate Kathy Grimsley, for where she is today – a community college student in Jacksonville looking to transfer to Florida State University in the fall and continue onto law school to follow in Lawson’s footsteps.

For attorney Jennifer P. Lawson, getting her nails done is not just updating her polish. For this “FAWL in Love with GAL” mentor, it is time she gets together with her mentee, 21-year-old Dina Santos, to get an update on her life.

“It’s a tradition we have created. We meet, get our nails done, and she lets me know what’s going on and asks me for my input and guidance. It’s always one of the best hours of the day for me,” said Lawson, a partner in the commercial litigation practice of Smith, Gambrell & Russell in Jacksonville. “I remember not having a clue at her age, and I had a good support system. I couldn’t imagine not having that support system and resources. Mentoring gives me the opportunity to be that resource for someone.”