First-year students at the University of Houston Law Center may graduate with more polished business skills because of a new, mandatory professional development program developed by the school in partnership with Houston-based Andrews Kurth.

“It is really our hope we will give our students an advantage and also give our employers hiring the students an advantage,” said Allison Hickey Regan, assistant dean for career development at the Houston law school.

Regan said the career development program is unusual because it is mandatory.