Bowen Law student selected for highly competitive Eighth Circuit clerkship
UA Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law student Justin Maggerise has been selected to clerk for Judge Bobby E. Shepherd of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit following his graduation in 2027.
Federal appellate clerkships are among the most competitive opportunities for law graduates. Clerks work closely with federal appellate judges on complex legal research, analysis and writing in cases before the court. Maggerise said his interest in appellate work began during his first year at Bowen Law.
“Since the second semester of my 1L year, when I first had the opportunity to engage in appellate advocacy through researching, writing, and arguing an appellate brief, I knew that clerking at the federal appellate level was something I wanted to pursue,” Maggerise said. “To now have that opportunity, and to do so for a judge with Judge Shepherd’s experience and perspective, is a true privilege.”
Originally from Seattle, Washington, Maggerise moved to Arkansas for law school and quickly found both professional opportunity and community at Bowen.
“Bowen stood out because of its strong connection to the legal community in Little Rock and across the state,” he said. “Being in the capital city, Bowen gives students access to courts, judges, law firms, government, and opportunities that are hard to find elsewhere.”
During law school, Maggerise has built an extensive record of legal experience through clerkships with several Arkansas law firms, including Rainwater Holt & Sexton, Gill Ragon Owen, Wright Lindsey Jennings, Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull, and Friday, Eldredge & Clark.
In addition to his practical experience, Maggerise developed a strong interest in legal writing and administrative law through Bowen’s Law Review and Moot Court programs. His Law Review Note examines the Federal Aviation Administration’s revised color-vision policies and the legal framework for challenging agency action under the Administrative Procedure Act.
Before pursuing law, Maggerise originally planned to become a pilot. After being unable to pass the color-vision portion of the FAA’s first-class medical exam, he began exploring a legal career while continuing to follow developments in aviation policy.
“That framework gave me a legal basis to evaluate and challenge the FAA’s new policy, and it ultimately became the foundation of my Note topic,” Maggerise said. “I learned a lot through the writing process and gained a new interest in administrative law.”
The Note, which was supervised by Colin Crawford, dean of the law school, and selected for publication in the UA Little Rock Law Review, helped further strengthen Maggerise’s interest in appellate advocacy and judicial clerkships.
“Justin distinguished himself through the quality of his legal writing, his thoughtful approach to complex administrative law questions, and his commitment to appellate advocacy,” Crawford said. “Judge Shepherd’s chambers attract exceptionally strong applicants, and this opportunity reflects the seriousness and discipline Justin has brought to his work at Bowen Law.”
Maggerise credited Bowen’s faculty mentorship, Moot Court program, and experiential learning opportunities with helping prepare him for the clerkship.
“Justin has approached every opportunity during law school with professionalism and initiative,” said Diana Snyder, assistant dean for career services. “I’m excited to see him continue building on that success during his clerkship with Judge Shepherd.”
“Having the opportunity to clerk for Judge Shepherd is evidence of Justin’s hard work and success at Bowen,” said Laura Bates, assistant professor of law. Bates previously clerked for Judge Shepherd after graduating from Harvard Law School.
Maggerise said he looks forward to continuing to develop his legal writing and analytical skills during the clerkship and throughout his legal career. “I know this experience will further shape the way I think about the law, legal writing, and advocacy throughout the rest of my career,” he said.