In June, 25 college students from throughout the United States joined UALR Bowen School of Law faculty, staff, students, and alumni to learn more about achieving success in the legal community. Sixteen students in the Pre-Law Undergraduate Scholars (PLUS) program are the first in their families to attend college.

During the month-long program, students prepared for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and listened to speakers from a variety of legal fields. Each activity was designed to help prepare these students for admission to law school and a future legal profession. UALR Bowen professors led special sessions of their regular classes to acquaint the students with the rigors of law school.

“PLUS enables us to provide up-and-coming legal scholars with access to the tools and information they need to succeed in law school,” said Andy Taylor, assistant dean for academic support in the Bowen School. “The month allows us to bring these students face-to-face with outstanding members of our local legal community and show them the professionalism and service that we expect from future Bowen scholars.”

Students heard from local lawyers, judges, and professors including Gov. Mike Beebe, Attorney General Dustin McDaniel, Judge Wendell Griffin, Judge Brian S. Miller, Judge Alice Gray, Bowen Dean John DiPippa, Professor Lynn Foster, Professor Terrence Cain, Adjoa Aiyetoro, Cory Childs, Khayyam Eddings, Colette Honorable, Leon Johnson, Adria Kimbrough, Valerie Nation, Crissy Monterrey, Antwan Phillips, Naporsha Pleasant, Edward Walker, and Odette Woods.

The students attended two oral arguments at the Arkansas Supreme Court and visited the Central High School museum. In addition to seeing the exhibits in the new visitor’s center, they watched a 90-minute film, “Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin.”

PLUS Scholars closed their sessions with a special graduation luncheon where one of their classmates, Dominic Jones, delivered the class address. DiPippa then spoke to the Scholars, after which each was presented with a certificate of completion and a copy of Strunk and White’s “Elements of Style.”