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UALR William H. Bowen School of Law

Academics

Students may take relevant courses in other programs and apply credit toward the J.D.; a maximum of 6 credits for the joint degree may be applied. The following joint degrees may be earned: J.D./M.B.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration), J.D./M.D. (Juris Doctor/Medical Doctor), J.D./M.P.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Public Administration), and J.D./M.P.H. (Juris Doctor/Master of Public Health).

The UALR William H. Bowen School of Law offers concentrations in corporate law, criminal law, family law, international law, juvenile law, labor law, litigation, securities law, tax law, and torts and insurance. Of special curricular note are the 3 clinics, litigation (worth 6 hours), mediation (worth 4 hours), and tax clinic (worth 4 hours). Upper-level students can choose from a number of seminar topics (worth 2 credits), as well as writing their own independent paper (1 to 2 credits) under the supervision of a faculty member. Outside speakers participate in an annual symposium, and nationally notable speakers offer several lectures a year. The law school has a public interest externship program in which students earn academic credit working with government agencies, the state legislature, and judges. The law school accepts any ABA-accredited study- abroad program. A number of scholarships are available to students. Many factors are considered in the awarding of scholarships, including race, ethnicity, and background. An ongoing tutorial program directed by the associate dean and staffed by upper-level students who teach study skills is available to first-year students. An academic mentoring program is available to all first-year students. The most widely taken electives are Family Law, Debtor-Creditor, and Business Associations.

To earn the J.D., candidates must complete 90 total credits, of which 45 are for required courses. They must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the required courses. The following first-year courses are required of all students: Civil Procedure I and II, Contracts I and II, Criminal Law, Legal Research I and II, Property I and II, Reasoning, Writing, and Advocacy I and II, and Torts. Required upper-level courses consist of Constitutional Law, Evidence, Lawyering skills I and II, and Legal Profession. The required orientation program for first-year students is 4 days long and covers the academic and personal skills needed to succeed in law school.

To graduate, candidates must have a GPA of 2.0 and have completed the upper-division writing requirement and the upper-level jurisprudential requirement, which can be fulfilled by a number of courses.

Admissions

Some figures and information in the capsule and in this profile are from an earlier year. Check with the school for the most current information. In a recent first-year class, 1077 applied, 233 were accepted, and 143 enrolled. Five transfers enrolled. The median LSAT percentile of the most recent first-year class was 57; the median GPA was 3.37 on a scale of 4.0. The lowest LSAT percentile accepted was 25; the highest was 99.

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree and take the LSAT. The most important admission factors include LSAT results, GPA, and life experience. No specific undergraduate courses are required. Candidates are not interviewed.

Check with the school for current application deadlines. Applicants should submit an application form, LSAT results, transcripts, and a prescribed-format personal statement. Notification of the admissions decision is on a rolling basis. The latest acceptable LSAT test date for fall entry is June. The law school uses the LSDAS.

Financial Aid

In a recent year, about 77% of current law students received some form of aid. The average annual amount of aid from all sources combined, including scholarships, loans, and work contracts, was $16,896; maximum, $20,058. Awards are based on need and merit. Required financial statement is the FAFSA. Check with the school for current deadlines. Special funds for minority or disadvantaged students include scholarships based on diversity, including the Bowen Scholarship. First-year students are notified about their financial aid application at the time of admission application request.

Students

About 50% of the student body are women; 10%, minorities; 6%, African American; 1%, Asian American; and 2%, Hispanic. The average age of entering students is 27; age range is 21 to 67. About 1% drop out after the first year for academic or personal reasons; 99% remain to receive a law degree.

Students edit the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Law Review. Other law reviews include the faculty-edited Journal of Appellate Practice and Process. The student newspaper is The Student Bar Association Forum. There is also the alumni publication Hearsay. Moot court competitions include First Amendment National Moot Court and ABA Young Lawyers National Moot Court Competition. Other competitions include the Henry Woods Trial Competition; National Trial Competition, an intraschool Moot Court Competition; and an Advocacy Slam. Law student organizations, local chapters of national associations, and campus organizations include Phi Alpha Delta, Phi Delta Phi, Delta Theta Phi, Black Law Students Association, The Federalist Society, American Bar Association, Community Outreach Opportunity League, Student Bar Association, and Pulaski County Bar-Law Student Division.

The law school operates on a traditional semester basis. Courses for full-time students are offered principally during the day, with some upper-level electives in the evenings and must be completed within 6 years. For part-time students, courses are offered principally in the evenings, with some upper-level electives during the day and must be completed within 6 years. New full- and part-time students are admitted in the fall. There is an 8-week summer session. Transferable summer courses are offered.

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