Student Feature

Erica Hawkins sat across the metal table from a man awaiting trial inside the federal courthouse, listening as he talked about the choices and circumstances that had brought him there. For months, Hawkins had studied cases in classrooms at the UA Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law, reading opinions, analyzing arguments and learning … A Wider Lens: How Erica Hawkins Broadened Her View of Legal Work

In rural Arkansas, property lines are not always marked by survey stakes or legal filings. Sometimes they are remembered through generations, traced through old fence rows, handshake agreements and handwritten deeds stored in kitchen drawers. Sarah Davis grew up understanding how fragile those arrangements can become when families need legal help and cannot easily access … A Promise Kept: How Sarah Davis Prepared for a Law Career in Rural Arkansas

By the time James Gathright arrived at the UA Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law, he had already lived through several versions of adulthood. He had worked construction and carpentry through college. He taught percussion in public school. He earned a real estate license. He worked retail in Nashville during the height of … No Ceiling: How James Gathright Found Room to Grow in Law

As one of her classmates drove to a lunch meeting with a potential employer, she made a call — not to a professor or a career advisor, but to Chacey Schoeppel Wilcox, with one question: how do you ask for a job? It is the kind of moment that does not show up on a … A Community Built: How Chacey Schoeppel Wilcox Became the Person Classmates Turned To

Jon-Austen Linch works just feet away from the iconic marble steps inside the Arkansas State Capitol, where his days are spent advising, communicating, and helping shape public policy at the highest levels. It’s a place defined by structure—by process, order, and systems built to hold everything in place. Nearly a decade ago, Linch was sleeping … A Future Reclaimed: Jon-Austen Linch’s Path from Addiction to the Law

Madalyn Dowell 3L and Veterans Legal Services Clinic Student “Fostering trust and collaborating with clients is a universal skill in all facets of law, and it’s one I will carry with me throughout my career.” For Madalyn Dowell, the Veterans Legal Services Clinic has provided a grounded, hands-on view of what legal practice looks like … Student Spotlight: Madalyn Dowell

Fouz Abu-Obeid 3L and two-year RWA Teaching Assistant “That moment when something finally clicks for someone else — that’s why I love being a TA.” Fouz Abu-Obeid is a third-year student at the UA Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law and a two-year teaching assistant in Research, Writing, and Analysis. Known for her … Student Spotlight: Fouz Abu-Obeid

Twenty-two years ago, Mark Young graduated from the University of Arkansas with a degree in political science and a plan to attend law school. But a part-time job in television sparked what became a two-decade career behind the scenes in local news. When the industry began to shift, and the pandemic forced a personal reckoning, … A Career Reimagined: Mark Young’s Pivot from Broadcasting to Law

In the quiet months after her husband’s death, April Muhammad found herself searching for direction. She had poured years into caregiving and motherhood, and for the first time in a long time, the path ahead was her own to choose. That clarity led her back to a dream she first spoke aloud on a dusty … A Calling Reclaimed: April Muhammad’s Path from Grief to the Law

As a child, Chris Carlisle sat captivated beside his family, eyes glued to episodes of Matlock and Perry Mason flickering across their living-room television. In those evenings filled with dramatic courtroom battles and triumphant verdicts, a dream began to form…one he carried through decades of life’s detours before he found the courage to pursue it. … Detours to Determination: Chris Carlisle’s Path to Law School Graduation