Faculty Spotlight: Laura Bates
Laura Bates
Assistant Professor of Law
Joined Bowen Law in 2022
“My goal is for my students to not only be able to clearly articulate what the law is, but to be able to effectively and respectfully argue what the law should be.”
Laura Bates teaches Research, Writing, and Analysis I and II at the UA Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law. A legal writing expert with a distinguished background in appellate clerkship and private practice, Bates is passionate about helping students build a foundation of clarity, confidence, and professionalism in their legal writing.
After graduating from Harvard Law School, Bates clerked for Judge Bobby Shepherd on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. She later practiced at Paul, Weiss in Washington, D.C., and Wright, Lindsey & Jennings in Little Rock before transitioning to academia.
Bates’s current research focuses on paid parental leave policy. Her forthcoming article, “Dad on Duty: The Potential of Paid Parental Leave Laws,” will be published in December 2025 by the William & Mary Journal of Race, Gender, and Social Justice.
“As a native Arkansan, I’m thrilled to be teaching at Bowen,” Bates says. “In addition to providing high-quality legal education, Bowen’s faculty ensure that students are ready to hit the ground running when entering practice—regardless of the path they pursue.”
Beyond the classroom, Bates serves on the Board of Directors of the American Red Cross Serving Greater Arkansas and was recognized with the Distinguished Board Member Award in 2023, reflecting Bowen’s emphasis on public service and community engagement.
Bates also brings a global perspective to her teaching. “I’ve taught in Pristina, Kosovo; Riobamba, Ecuador; Stuttgart, Germany; and La Mirada, California,” she says.
She holds a J.D. from Harvard Law School, an M.A. from the University of Arkansas, and a B.A. from Ouachita Baptist University.