Bowen Bar Pass Rate 2025 Rises to 83% with Prep Program

The UA Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law reports an 83 percent first-time pass rate on the July 2025 Arkansas Bar Exam, marking a substantial increase from the previous year and reflecting years of strategic investment in student success.

“This year’s first-time pass rate is a major accomplishment for our graduates and a testament to the strength of our bar preparation program,” said Colin Crawford, dean of the law school. “It reflects our students’ determination, the outstanding leadership of our academic support team, and the deep commitment of our faculty, who consistently go the extra mile to prepare students for practice.”

Danna Young, director of academic support and bar success services stepped in to lead Bowen’s bar preparation efforts last August, helping to shape a program that provides early, personalized support and focused summer instruction.

“This year’s results reflect more than just hard work,” Young said. “They show what’s possible when dedicated students, supportive faculty, and a structured program all come together. The fact that our graduates exceeded the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE) national average is a positive indicator that what we’re doing at Bowen is making a real difference.”

Bowen’s bar preparation program includes faculty-led workshops, individualized coaching, timed essay practice, structured study support, and a mock bar exam, all activities designed to guide students from graduation to the bar exam.

“Danna has worked tirelessly to ensure our graduates are prepared for the Bar exam,” Crawford added. “Her leadership, combined with the dedication of our faculty and staff, continues to move Bowen forward in creating practice-ready lawyers.”

Will Sumner ’25, a May graduate who participated in Bowen’s PASS program and passed the Arkansas Bar Exam in July, said the experience gave him confidence and support during a challenging time.

“I’m very glad that I participated in Bowen’s program,” Sumner said. “I understand that many (if not all) professors do it out of the kindness of their hearts, and that is amazing to me. Although I didn’t make every session, attending the majority of the PASS program, troubleshooting issues in extra sessions with professors, and conversations with my Bar mentor gave me the confidence to pass by a healthy margin. I will fully endorse the PASS program to anyone I encounter.”

Learn more about Bowen’s bar success services at https://ualr.edu/law/academics/bar-success.