As a public law school with core values of access to justice, professionalism, and public service, the UA Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law has a unique perspective on both the needs of the community and the desires of our students and alumni.
The goal of the Rural Practice Incubator is to support Bowen alumni in launching viable small or solo practices in rural, underserved Arkansas communities. The 18-month program supports incubator attorneys with training, resources, mentoring, and guidance to assist them in building their professional careers as rural attorneys.
Incubator attorneys are encouraged to implement innovative legal service delivery models to increase access to justice for low- and moderate-income rural Arkansans. Each participant will provide a minimum of 100 hours of pro bono or low bono legal services during the program.
Arkansas has a genuine lawyer shortage. According to research, the state’s per capita ratio is 2.04 attorneys per 1,000 residents, which is approximately half of the national average. In the 25 most rural counties in Arkansas, the ratio is 0.64 attorneys per 1,000 residents. In addition, the population of attorneys currently residing in these counties is aging and few new attorneys are moving to the most underserved counties.
Many Bowen students and graduates have an interest in pursuing private practice in their home counties or in underserved areas. However, the idea of starting a law firm – balancing the hats of business-owner and legal professional – can be daunting, especially for a new attorney.
The Bowen Rural Legal Incubator program will play a critical role in beginning to address these issues by helping new attorneys develop innovative, economically viable law practices that increase access to justice for low and moderate income rural Arkansans.
Supporting the Program
We are working with vendors to assist these new attorneys as much as possible, from legal research access to CLE scholarship and discounts. However, there are many ways attorneys and legal professionals can support the incubator program and its participants. For example, you can greet a new attorney and make them feel welcome in the local legal community, or you can refer clients to the incubator attorney in your area. If you want to get more involved, here are a few ways.
Mentor an Incubator Attorney
Mentoring is an easy way to be involved. You’ll be sharing your experience by:
- serving as a point of contact and a guide through your local legal community;
- sharing your expertise and institutional knowledge; and
- helping a new attorney navigate through the first crucial months of starting a practice.
Rural Practice Incubator Requirements
The incubator is limited to Bowen alumni who are members in good standing in the Arkansas bar. Selected participants must:
- Set up their own law office in an underserved rural area of Arkansas where that lawyer plans to settle. New lawyers must live in and/or have a clear presence in their chosen community.
- Obtain and maintain malpractice insurance coverage.
- Form their own solo firm or create/join one with other attorneys. Participants are not employees of UA Little Rock or any of the program partners.
- Comply with the Arkansas Rules of Professional Conduct and all other ethical obligations.
- Contribute at least 100 hours of pro bono service during the first year.
- Each lawyer will commit to settle in and practice law in their chosen community as primary employment and will not actively seek other legal employment while in the Project. Participating lawyers may obtain part-time contract positions if they do not interfere with their solo practice, but will be asked to disclose other income sources to the Project.
Please contact the program’s director, John Cook, Assistant Professor of Law, if you have questions.
