AALS has launched a series that will highlight a different member school and focus on a recent program or accomplishment in order to showcase the rich variety of approaches to legal education that makes up the American legal academy. A list of past highlights is available below.

Member School Highlight – University of Arkansas at Little Rock, William H. Bowen School of Law

Location: Little Rock, Arkansas
Founded: 1975
Joined AALS: 1979
Dean: Colin Crawford

Now serving the legal needs of Arkansans and beyond for its 50th year, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, William H. Bowen School of Law, is a public institution that has distinguished itself for the quality of its graduates, talented faculty, practice-ready educational opportunities, and one of the most affordable legal educations in the country. Anchored by its three core values of public service, access to justice, and professionalism, the William H. Bowen School of Law has worked over the past half-century to transform the legal culture of Arkansas. The William H. Bowen School of Law began as the night school of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and now boasts graduates who have achieved notable accomplishments, ranging from anchoring a major national news program in New York City to serving as federal elected and appointed officials, as well as working as lobbyists in Washington, D.C. The state’s seven-member Supreme Court, for example, now boasts four William H. Bowen School of Law graduates, three of whom are women and one of whom is the court’s Chief Justice. William H. Bowen School of Law graduates also populate the ranks of major regional and national law firms, local and regional businesses, and government service roles, as well as public prosecutors and defenders across the state. William H. Bowen School of Law offers its students and the community a wide range of study and practice opportunities comparable to those of many larger and better-resourced schools.

University of Arkansas at Little Rock, William H. Bowen School of Law students helping participants in the Veterans Legal Services Clinic.

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock, William H. Bowen School of Law, is proud of its clinical and experiential education opportunities. The William H. Bowen School of Law is pleased to host clinics that serve the needs of low- and lower-income Arkansans, offering services in areas such as divorce, family law, tax law, veterans’ services, and business development. The University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law hosts a Veterans Legal Services Clinic that annually serves over 200 low-income Arkansas veterans by connecting them with volunteer or reduced-fee attorneys statewide who will provide representation to address veterans’ civil legal needs. In collaboration with community partners and government officials, the program focuses on ensuring veterans gain access to the benefits they rightfully deserve. To further enhance legal assistance, the Veterans Pro Bono Services Program actively works to increase the number of VA-accredited attorneys in Arkansas through free continuing legal education events focusing on veterans’ law. Additionally, the program strives to raise awareness of the unique legal challenges faced by military families and to inform veterans and their families about available resources and services within Arkansas. The Veterans Legal Services Clinic and Pro Bono Program have been in operation since 2021, assisting over 700 veterans in Arkansas.

“The William H. Bowen School of Law is tremendously proud of our clinical and experiential educational opportunities,” said Dean Colin Crawford, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, William H. Bowen School of Law. “Our Veterans Legal Services Clinic (VLSC) is a good example of this strength and includes a unique feature – the VLSC Pro Bono Program, which helps build a strong pipeline of VA-accredited legal counsel by recruiting and working with lawyers across the state. This provides students with the added benefit of drawing on the experience of their law school clinical professors, as well as a range of experienced lawyers who share their dedication to serving the legal needs of low-income veterans. Bowen could not be more proud of what the VLSC Pro Bono Program has achieved in a few short years.”