Dreams Materialized: Part-time Student Rachael McKenzie Graduates, Sets Sights on Arkansas Attorney General’s Office
What do you want to be when you grow up? We鈥檝e all been asked this question before, especially as children. While most people鈥檚 answers change over time, some know very early on exactly what they want to do. Such is the case for Rachael McKenzie, a 2024 graduate of the William H. Bowen School of Law.
鈥淚鈥檝e always known I wanted to be a lawyer,鈥� McKenzie said. 鈥淚t just never seemed like an attainable goal. I had to work, and most law schools don鈥檛 allow you to go to school and work.鈥�
Seemingly stuck at a crossroads, Rachael joined the Batesville School District where she taught history to seventh and eighth grade students for five years before recommitting to her own dreams of becoming a lawyer.
鈥淚 knew I had to work, but I also knew I had dreams of becoming an attorney,鈥� she said. 鈥淪o, I decided to just do it, and I took the LSAT [Law School Admissions Test].鈥�
Attracted by the institution鈥檚 flexible programing and affordability, Rachael returned to the classroom in the fall of 2020 as both a teacher and a part-time student at Bowen.
鈥淭he flexibility of the part-time evening program allowed me to work full-time as a student, which was beneficial in more ways than one,鈥� Rachael said. 鈥淣ot only have I been able to work to maintain my livelihood, I鈥檝e also been able to cover expenses and will not have to graduate with a lot of student debt because this program allowed me to work while being significantly less expensive than other law schools.鈥�
While in law school, Rachael made the move from academia to the legal field. Today, she works full-time at the Arkansas Attorney General鈥檚 Office in the Consumer Protection Division where she hopes to work as an attorney after graduating this past weekend and hopefully passing the bar soon.
鈥淚 intend to stay in my office after graduation,鈥� said McKenzie. 鈥淏owen鈥檚 focus on public service as well as my work history in this office has really helped prepare me to be of service to others in this capacity, and I鈥檇 love to work as an attorney in the Consumer Protection Division of the Attorney General鈥檚 Office.鈥�