Wanting to show his fellow students the opportunities available in small-town law practice, University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law student James Weeks founded the society in spring 2015.

After its first year, The Finch Society has had continuous success and interest. Bowen’s Student Bar Association recognized the society as the Most Outstanding Student Organization and the Best New Student Organization at Bowen School of Law.

Named after Atticus Finch’s character in “To Kill a Mockingbird,” the society’s mission is to expand legal representation in modest-sized communities through recruitment, mentorship, and patronage. The goal is to provide access to justice across the country, ensuring that legal counsel is within close reach of all who are touched by the law.

The society hosted eight speakers this past year to discuss various aspects of small-town practice. Among those were Congressman Mike Ross, Dr. Andy Fulkerson, former deputy prosecutor of Greene County, and Arkansas Supreme Court Justice Robin Wynne. All events were well attended.

“When I started Finch, I did not expect such generous recognition,” Weeks said. “I am proud that this mission has found an audience who is interested in small-town practice.”

The society plans to expand by creating a small-town legal summer internship program that will begin next summer. The group is also working on expanding to other law schools that are interested in starting their own Finch Societies.