New Students Begin Legal Education with Community Service at Dunbar Middle School
One hundred fifty-two incoming students at the UA Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law began their legal education not in lecture halls but with work gloves and paint brushes. On Saturday, Aug. 16, the entire first-year class spent their first official day of law school giving back to Dunbar Magnet Middle School through a hands-on beautification and supply drive project.
The law school’s Day of Service is a long-standing Bowen tradition that kicks off orientation with a clear message: public service is not just part of the curriculum, it is a foundational value.
At Dunbar, students painted a basketball court and chalkboard wall, refreshed landscaping, assembled bookshelves, and installed bulletin boards and picnic tables. They also supported school programs through the delivery of more than 100 freezer-sized nutrition bags, 10 bags of donated clothing, and more than 100 hygiene products for Brian’s Closet.
“The legal profession is, at its best, a profession of service,” said Colin Crawford, dean of the law school. “At Bowen, we begin cultivating that commitment from day one. Our Day of Service is more than symbolic; it reflects a deeper reality of who we are as a law school. Each year, our students deliver thousands of hours of pro bono legal service to Arkansans, and this early experience reminds them that their legal education is not separate from the needs of the community. We are proud to partner with schools like Dunbar and to contribute, in a small but tangible way, to the city we call home.”
Dunbar Middle School shared a message of thanks following the event: “From sprucing up our spaces to showing genuine care for our students and staff, their efforts have left a lasting mark on our school community. Their generosity and hard work didn’t just improve our physical environment — they reminded us what it means to come together in service and support.”
The project was a collaboration between Bowen Law and Dunbar Magnet Middle School, with support from local businesses. The Good Earth Garden Center donated mulch, rock, and potting soil, while Southern Lawn provided transportation for large flowerpots. Bowen contributed new flowers and flowerpots for the entry, new flags and picnic tables, along with other supplies, materials, and labor.
Organizers said the event gave students an immediate connection between their legal ambitions and their role in the broader community.