Faculty Spotlight: Laura Bates
Laura Bates
Assistant Professor of Law
Joined Bowen Law in 2022
鈥淢y goal is for my students to not only be able to clearly articulate what the law is, but to be able to effectively and respectfully argue what the law should be.鈥�
Laura Bates teaches Research, Writing, and Analysis I and II at the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law. A legal writing expert with a distinguished background in appellate clerkship and private practice, Bates is passionate about helping students build a foundation of clarity, confidence, and professionalism in their legal writing.
After graduating from Harvard Law School, Bates clerked for Judge Bobby Shepherd on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. She later practiced at Paul, Weiss in Washington, D.C., and Wright, Lindsey & Jennings in Little Rock before transitioning to academia.
Bates鈥檚 current research focuses on paid parental leave policy. Her forthcoming article, 鈥淒ad on Duty: The Potential of Paid Parental Leave Laws,鈥� will be published in December 2025 by the William & Mary Journal of Race, Gender, and Social Justice.
鈥淎s a native Arkansan, I鈥檓 thrilled to be teaching at Bowen,鈥� Bates says. 鈥淚n addition to providing high-quality legal education, Bowen鈥檚 faculty ensure that students are ready to hit the ground running when entering practice鈥攔egardless of the path they pursue.鈥�
Beyond the classroom, Bates serves on the Board of Directors of the American Red Cross Serving Greater Arkansas and was recognized with the Distinguished Board Member Award in 2023, reflecting Bowen鈥檚 emphasis on public service and community engagement.
Bates also brings a global perspective to her teaching. 鈥淚鈥檝e taught in Pristina, Kosovo; Riobamba, Ecuador; Stuttgart, Germany; and La Mirada, California,鈥� she says.
She holds a J.D. from Harvard Law School, an M.A. from the University of Arkansas, and a B.A. from Ouachita Baptist University.