MASON MALONE

2016 Scholar I alum | Practicing Lawyer

3+3 Program Helps UH Students Fast-Track Their Way to Law Degrees — and Careers

When Mason Malone, an associate trial attorney at Reynolds Frizzell LLP, was in high school, he knew he wanted a career built on critical thinking, research, and writing — and believed becoming an attorney would be a good fit.

Fortunately, during his senior year in high school Malone learned about a new University of Houston program: The 3+3 Undergraduate/Law Dual-Degree Program, a partnership between the UH Law Center and Honors College. Malone was one of the first three students accepted into the program in 2015.

The program offers students a chance to complete both a bachelor’s degree and a law degree in six years — shaving a year off the traditional timeline — while guaranteeing a spot at the University of Houston Law Center.

For Malone, the program provided more than flexibility. It offered access to practicing lawyers, federal judges, and UH Law Center faculty — connections that helped confirm his decision to pursue a legal career.

By his third year at UH, Malone committed to attending the Law Center, drawn not only by the relationships he had formed at UH but also by the fact that Houston is home to one of the top legal markets in the country.

Malone graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in economics and liberal studies from UH in 2019 and graduated summa cum laude with his J.D. from the UH Law Center in 2021.

Today Malone is part of the Houston-based litigation boutique Reynolds Frizzell LLP, where he assists in litigation strategy and manages matters across the energy, construction, and healthcare industries.

Looking back, Malone says he would recommend the 3+3 Program to any student considering a legal career.

“There’s no downside. Even if you decide not to go to law school, you gain exposure to the profession and develop valuable connections,” he said.

YUN CHIAO RENA CHANG

2025 Scholar I Alum | Sophomore at UH's C.T. Bauer College of Business and Honors College

Rena Chang, a finance major in the University of Houston's C.T. Bauer College of Business and a student in UH's Honors College, said she enrolled in the UH Law Center's Pre-Law Pipeline Programs to better understand the path to law school and how to achieve her dream career.

"As a first-generation American student, I felt that there was a gap between where I am now and my long-term goal of becoming an attorney," she said. "UHLC's Pre-Law Pipeline Programs provided an opportunity to close that gap."

Chang, a recipient of the Pipeline Programs' Bracewell LLP Scholarship, said participating in the program gave her access to introductory courses taught by UH Law professors and helped her make meaningful connections with practicing attorneys at various law firms. "The Scholar I track gave valuable insight into both the academic and professional sides of a career in the legal field," she said.

This year, Chang, who serves as a UH Ambassador, print lead editor of the Houston Undergraduate Law Review, and co-founder/vice president of the Business Law Society, is adding to her academic and experiential foundation. She is conducting research with a UH Bauer faculty member on the sensitivity and explainability fidelity of Large Language Models when predicting judges' decisions in cases. She is also preparing to spend the spring 2027 semester in Washington, D.C. as part of the Bauer D.C. cohort and has begun studying for the Law School Admission Test.

Q&A with Rena Chang

How was your Pre-Law Pipeline Programs experience?

RC: I truly enjoyed the experience to the fullest! The readings were rigorous, but they helped me understand the weight of what a law school class is like. I was especially grateful for the opportunity to intern at Jackson Walker LLP. The connections and coffee chats I had during my internship were incredibly valuable for my journey to becoming an attorney.

What was a major benefit?

RC: The luncheons with various law firms were a major benefit of the program. I heard testimonies from attorneys who came from similar backgrounds as me. I found a lot of comfort and mentorship knowing that I was able to connect with professionals in the position I see myself in future years.

What advice would you offer someone interested in law school?

RC: Take on any opportunity! I let a lot of worry and doubt stop me from applying to opportunities. "Don't be the one to take yourself out of the race," is a saying I've been trying to incorporate more into my life.

Do you have any law school tips to share?

RC: One of the tips I received before starting the Scholar I track was to keep up with the assigned readings. After finishing the track, I want to echo the same advice! It's very easy for those assigned readings to be pushed to the side, so always make the effort to complete them before the start of class.