diff --git a/src/server/routers/mentor.ts b/src/server/routers/mentor.ts
index 500110c..105b820 100644
--- a/src/server/routers/mentor.ts
+++ b/src/server/routers/mentor.ts
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ export const mentorRouter = router({
       const isAdmin = ['SUPER_ADMIN', 'PROGRAM_ADMIN'].includes(ctx.user.role)
       if (!isAdmin) {
         const [mentorAssignment, teamMembership] = await Promise.all([
-          ctx.prisma.mentorAssignment.findFirst({ where: { mentorId: ctx.user.id, projectId: input.projectId }, select: { id: true } }),
+          ctx.prisma.mentorAssignment.findFirst({ where: { mentorId: ctx.user.id, projectId: input.projectId, droppedAt: null }, select: { id: true } }),
           ctx.prisma.teamMember.findFirst({ where: { userId: ctx.user.id, projectId: input.projectId }, select: { id: true } }),
         ])
         if (!mentorAssignment && !teamMembership) throw new TRPCError({ code: 'FORBIDDEN', message: 'No access to this project' })
diff --git a/src/server/services/final-documents.ts b/src/server/services/final-documents.ts
index 99798bb..90a52cc 100644
--- a/src/server/services/final-documents.ts
+++ b/src/server/services/final-documents.ts
@@ -88,10 +88,6 @@ export async function getFinalDocumentStatusForProject(
   }
 }
 
-function baseUrl(): string {
-  return (process.env.NEXTAUTH_URL ?? 'http://localhost:3000').replace(/\/$/, '')
-}
-
 /** Build the reminder notification payload for one finalist team lead. */
 async function remindTeam(
   prisma: PrismaClient,
@@ -104,7 +100,7 @@ async function remindTeam(
     message: args.missing.length
       ? `Still needed for "${args.projectTitle}": ${args.missing.join(', ')}.`
       : `Please upload the final documents for "${args.projectTitle}".`,
-    linkUrl: `${baseUrl()}/applicant/documents`,
+    linkUrl: `/applicant/documents`, // relative → client-side nav in-app; email renderer absolutizes
     metadata: {
       projectId: args.projectId,
       projectTitle: args.projectTitle,