University of Houston Law Center’s Career Development Office and Alumni Relations kicked off the 2023 Mentorship program connecting 170 alumni mentors and 202 UHLC student mentees.
Nov. 15, 2023 — Students attended the UHLC Professional Mentoring Program Kickoff Event this fall, hosted by the University of Houston Law Center’s Career Development Office and Alumni Relations. The program pairs students with alumni mentors who will share their expertise as they help shape the future of the legal profession.
This year’s mentorship program will bring together 170 mentors and 202 mentees to develop ongoing dialogues about law school success, the legal market, transition to practice, and developing a professional network.
The program involves alumni from across the United States who want to invest in UHLC students by sharing their professional experience and advice. Alumni from California, New York, Washington D.C., Colorado, Florida, New Mexico, New Jersey, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Italy are participating as mentors this year, offering a broad base of experience in different sectors of the legal economy. The UHLC Class of 2019 provided the largest group of mentors for any participating class year with 13 alumni mentors this year.
Mona Deo, a UHLC 2L and a previous mentee, shared her experiences from the program. She emphasized how the mentor-mentee dynamic provided a sense of camaraderie and helped her network effectively. For her, the guidance from her attorney-mentor was invaluable, offering insights into the professional life of a lawyer.
She advised students to, “take full advantage of the opportunity, come prepared and have a clear outline of what your goals are.”
Kris L. Thomas (J.D. '83), President of the UH Law Alumni Association, underscored the importance of mentorship, adding “this program is so successful because it creates a sense of community and continuity going forward.”
The kickoff event helped mentors and mentees get to know each other and prepare them for follow-up interactions.
Assistant Dean for Career Development Tiffany Tucker shared that the mentoring program is not just a one-time event, but a platform for sustained engagement. The program provides an “intrinsic value to mentors, giving them a chance to teach and network.”
UH Law Center Dean Leonard M. Baynes closed the program by thanking the alumni participants for providing meaningful career advice to current students.
“We applaud our mentors for wanting to help the next generation of law students,” Baynes said. “This program offers a chance for our UH Law Center students to meet influential and talented lawyers in our community who can help guide them.”
For more information on the Professional Mentoring Program at UH Law Center, contact the Career Development Office at lawcareer@uh.edu.
