It’s a place defined by structure—by process, order, and systems built to hold everything in place.

Nearly a decade ago, Linch was sleeping in his car.

Growing up in Little Rock with a loving family and a diploma from Catholic High, Linch’s path initially looked like that of many Arkansans: he headed to Fayetteville to attend the University of Arkansas.

But after a year of battling an undiagnosed anxiety disorder and a growing dependence on substances, he flunked out. That setback spiraled into years of addiction, homelessness, and brushes with the law. “I really thought life was over,” he said.

It wasn’t.

Through the grace of a compassionate prosecutor and a passionate defense attorney, Linch was offered a second chance instead of a criminal record. He took it.

That second chance led him to Renewal Ranch, a faith-based recovery program in Perryville. For the first time in years, he saw what he describes as “a glimmer of hope.”

He stayed, completed the program, and later joined the organization in fundraising and marketing. From there, he returned to school and earned his psychology degree from Central Baptist College. With that progress came a new goal. Linch began to see law school as the path forward, a way to help others the same way he had been helped.

“I knew I wasn’t done,” Linch said. “I wanted to keep going, but my grades from Fayetteville followed me. On paper, law school just didn’t seem possible.”

Part-Time Law Program for Working Professionals

At Bowen, that path became possible. When Linch learned about the ĚÇĐÄVlog´ŤĂ˝ Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law’s LEAP Program, a six-week pathway for students whose transcripts might not reflect their true potential, he saw an opening. He applied, got in, and found the momentum he’d been missing.

“LEAP demystified law school,” he said. “I walked into my first day with study partners, real experience, and six weeks of contracts under my belt. It changed everything.”

From there, his path began to take shape.

Linch is now a second-year part-time student at Bowen, balancing coursework with a full-time role as Director of Communications and Legislative Affairs for Arkansas Lieutenant Governor Leslie Rutledge. He worked on Rutledge’s early campaign before addiction sidelined his future. She has remained a consistent supporter, something Linch says is rare in politics.

His experiences have shaped his focus.

“I’ve been to 11 funerals in five years,” he said. “Friends who didn’t make it. I had access to a resource that changed my life. That was a good attorney. I want to be that for someone else.”

At Bowen, Linch has found more than academic redemption. He’s found a community that meets students where they are and pushes them forward.

He points to professors like John Cook, who teaches legal writing and analysis, as a defining part of that experience. Cook is known for meeting with students after class ends at 9 p.m. or on weekends, doing whatever it takes to help them succeed.

That mentorship has already made a tangible impact. Linch is now a member of ĚÇĐÄVlog´ŤĂ˝ Little Rock Law Review, and his note has been selected for publication, an opportunity he credits in part to Cook’s encouragement to join and strengthen his writing.

Even while undergoing cancer treatment, Cook adjusted his own schedule to ensure students were prepared for finals. That level of commitment left an impression. “He’s the best educator I’ve ever had,” Linch said. “He wants you to understand it, not just get through it.”

For Linch, that kind of support isn’t the exception. It’s part of what makes Bowen different.

The part-time program at Bowen has made that path possible. It allows Linch to work full time at the Capitol while continuing his legal education, balancing coursework with the responsibilities that matter most at home.

He and his wife, Ellie, recently welcomed their first child, adding a new layer of purpose to an already demanding season of life. Grounded in his faith, Linch approaches that responsibility with a clear sense of direction and calling.

It is not easy.

But it is exactly the kind of path Bowen is designed to support, one where students can build a career that matters without putting their lives on hold.

Learn more about Bowen’s Part-Time Program.

The post A Future Reclaimed: Jon-Austen Linch’s Path from Addiction to the Law appeared first on William H. Bowen School of Law.

Leaving television was not just a career decision. It meant stepping away from a path he had spent decades building in Memphis. Returning home to Nashville, Arkansas, Young moved in with his parents to regroup and prepare for the LSAT as his first step toward law school. “If I didn’t do it then, in my early 40s, I never would,” he said. “It was time to figure out how I could help people and help Arkansas in a more lasting way.”

Young had always been self-reliant. Even while preparing for law school, he worked full time at a Little Rock television station. When it came time to apply, the decision was easy. Bowen offered the flexibility and support he needed through its part-time evening program, along with proximity to family and access to Arkansas’s legal and political center. “It was designed for working adults like me,” he said. “I could still pay my bills, still support myself, and get the education I had put off for years.”

Starting law school in his 40s was not easy. Young had not been in a classroom in two decades, and the adjustment was steep. “I didn’t do very well my first two semesters,” he said. Learning how law school worked — how professors taught, how exams were written, how answers were expected — took time. But with guidance from faculty and steady support from his classmates, he began to find his footing. Each semester, his confidence grew. “If I didn’t understand something, I could go to a professor and ask. That made a big difference.”

Throughout law school, Young balanced a heavy workload. At any given time, he held at least three jobs, including his long-standing role as a Broadcast Technical Director for the Memphis Grizzlies and Memphis Tigers. He made regular trips to Memphis for games while also launching a mobile notary service in Central Arkansas. Over the years, he worked for the Arkansas Department of Human Services, clerked at the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas, and joined the Municipal League as an inquiry clerk. “I stayed busy, but I always found a way to make it work,” he said.

It was at the Arkansas Municipal League that Young found a sense of clarity. As an inquiry clerk, he fielded questions from mayors, city attorneys and council members across the state, helping them navigate legal questions and access resources. For someone who grew up in a small town and saw firsthand the challenges rural communities face, the work felt deeply personal. “Small towns are the backbone of Arkansas,” he said. “Getting to support them, even in small ways, has been incredibly rewarding.”

As Young gained momentum, law school became more than just a professional turning point. It was a place of connection and growth. “It’s harder to make good friends as you get older,” he said. “But with our part-time class, we bonded almost immediately.” He found support in study groups and peer conversations, especially during challenging courses. Each semester, he improved, not just in grades but in confidence. One of his favorite spots on campus was the Bowen Mart, where he often spent time with Harley Anderson-Croot, a close friend and fellow student who worked behind the counter. He also served as a student senator and Phi Alpha Delta fundraising chair, finding ways to represent and advocate for other part-time students like him.

Young graduates from the ĚÇĐÄVlog´ŤĂ˝ Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law this weekend, completing his degree in just three and a half years. He took courses every summer and maximized his course load each semester to get ahead.

Looking forward, Young is keeping his options open. He recently completed the Mediation Clinic and will soon be certified as a mediator in Arkansas. He continues to run his notary business and holds a real estate license, alongside years of media and legal experience. “I will always have a backup plan,” he said. “And a backup to that backup plan.” Whether he continues in municipal law or takes another path, Young is prepared and grounded in a commitment to help Arkansas communities thrive. For other working professionals considering law school later in life, his advice is simple: “Don’t be afraid to try it. You can always figure it out.”

The post A Career Reimagined: Mark Young’s Pivot from Broadcasting to Law appeared first on William H. Bowen School of Law.

The road to a law degree isn’t always smooth—especially when it’s paved with long commutes, late night classes, and the constant balance of school, work, and motherhood. For Jessica Schoultz, the journey is equal parts ambition and sacrifice, driven by her desire to lead by example for her children and to use her legal skills to bring justice to those who need it most.

Schoultz lives in Bismarck, a small town just outside of Hot Springs, with her husband, Andrew, and two children. Her daughter, Kendra, will attend the University of Central Arkansas this fall after graduating from the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts, and her twelve-year-old son Vinnie dreams of becoming a surgeon.

As a first-generation student Schoultz has always valued education. Earning both a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Henderson State University, she envisioned a career in retail sales. But when the company she worked for sold, a job search led her down a new path in 2014 when she was hired as a file clerk by the Chaney Law Firm in Arkadelphia. Now serving as a legal clerk at the firm, Schoultz credits her experience there with her decision to pursue her law degree.

One pivotal moment came when Schoultz was able to walk a client through a personal injury case from start to finish. Seeing how her efforts helped bring resolution to someone in need made her realize she wanted to do more than just support the process; she wanted to be the one fighting for clients firsthand.

That experience set her on a path to pursue a law degree, but it wasn’t an easy decision. After years of juggling work, family, and the demands of life, Schoultz wasn’t sure she could handle the challenge of law school while working and raising children. However, after discussing it with her family, they all agreed it was worth pursuing. With her husband’s encouragement and her children’s support, Schoultz enrolled in the part-time program at Bowen School of Law, determined to prove to herself and her family that dreams are worth the effort.

Of course, those dreams did come at a cost. “Sometimes, it feels like I’m missing out,” Schoultz admits. “But I want my kids to see that it’s okay to take risks and follow your passion, even when it’s hard.”

There were moments where she doubted if she could keep going but her strong support system has enabled her to persevere. “My husband is my biggest cheerleader and supporter. He manages the day-to-day needs of our family and home so that I can work and attend class.” She says her kids are understanding and cheering her on as well.

Alongside her family, Schoultz also found support at Bowen, where the part-time program made it possible to balance her responsibilities. “It’s a parent-friendly school, and that makes all the difference,” she says. Beyond the program’s flexibility, she’s also found an internal support system that keeps her going through long nights and tough weeks. “I’ve made so many friends in the 2L part-time program—even with 20 years difference in age,” Schoultz added. “Part-timers really rely on each other a lot. I was warned that law school would be cutthroat and competitive, but my experience has been the opposite.”

As a member of the student chapter of the Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association (ATLA), Schoultz has built connections that extend beyond the classroom. The group has offered both professional support and a sense of camaraderie, making the challenges of law school a little easier to navigate. “It’s been a fantastic resource, and I’ve felt genuine care from everyone involved,” she says.

More than anything, being a mother has shaped the kind of lawyer she wants to become. On track to graduate in two-and-a-half years more years, Schoultz plans to continue her career where it all started—at Chaney Law Firm, which she deems her “work family.” She hopes to expand her practice beyond the scope of personal injury and become certified as a child ad litem. “I want to use my degree to make a difference, especially for children who need representation,” she shares.

Schoultz hopes her life serves as an example to her children that they shouldn’t feel pressured to just do one thing in life. “It’s okay to try something you’re scared of,” she says. “There is nothing lost by trying.” For Schoultz, that willingness to take risks is a lesson she hopes her children will carry with them as they follow their own paths.

The post Setting the Example: How Jessica Schoultz Balances Law School and Motherhood appeared first on William H. Bowen School of Law.

Johndrea Tatum, a part-time student in her third year of law school at ĚÇĐÄVlog´ŤĂ˝ Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law, was recently named the recipient of the 2023-2024 Jennifer Carson Single Parent Scholarship.

A native of , Johndrea has always aspired to be an attorney, but after having children she gave up on the dream.

“I’ve always known I wanted to be an attorney,” Johndrea says. “But after having kids, I sort of gave up on the dream. Becoming a mom meant that all of my focus went to my children, and for a while, it just never seemed to be the right time to pursue the dream.”

Instead, Johndrea put her degree in sociology to work as a family service worker for , working to help aid and rehabilitate families in crisis. Ultimately, it was her work in this field that led her back to her dream of becoming an attorney.

“Working for DCFS really helped me to see the ins and outs of the family court system,” she says. “As a family service worker, I often felt discouraged by the lack of representation and advocacy that my clients received; that gave me the extra push to be the change I wanted to see and reignited my fire to become an attorney.”

With the support of her own family, Johndrea started law school in 2021. And though being a single parent added to the already rigorous journey of becoming an attorney, Johndrea says receiving the scholarship is a reminder that none of her hard work is in vain.

“To know that other single mothers have gone ahead of me and are supportive of my journey to become a lawyer is breathtaking,” she says. “I am so very grateful, and I hope to give this feeling to many more single mothers in the future.”

The scholarship, named in honor of the dedication and accomplishment of Bowen alumna Jennifer Carson (‘05), is awarded each year to a student who is a single parent. In addition to a one-time monetary award to aid in the costs of their studies, recipients of the scholarship are offered practical and emotional support from the scholarship’s committee members, many of whom are lawyers who were also single parents while in law school, to encourage them while they balance the demands of law school and the responsibilities of parenting.

“We were impressed by her perseverance … and her clear determination to complete her law studies,” says Jessie Burchfield, Associate Dean of Information & Technology Services and Law Library Director, and member of the Jennifer Carson Scholarship Committee. “The committee voted unanimously to award the scholarship to Johndrea.”

The post Tatum Awarded 2023-2024 Jennifer Carson Single Parent Scholarship appeared first on William H. Bowen School of Law.

Kalen Coleman, a third-year student in Bowen’s part-time division, recently published an article in the University of California Hastings Communications and Entertainment Law Journal.

Coleman’s article, “Wake Up or Get Woke: The Paradox of America’s Diplomatic Export of Hip Hop,” was written as part of Professor andrĂŠ cummings’ Hip Hop & the American Constitution course. Coleman was a student in the course during the fall 2019 semester.

The article discusses the U.S. State Department’s soft-diplomacy efforts that send musical ambassadors to other countries. Hip-hop artists have been participating in the American Music Abroad program since 2001. And, as Coleman discovered, jazz artists were part of the Cultural Presentations Program in the 1950s. Both programs were designed to enhance the reputation of American culture while combating anti-American feelings abroad.

Coleman said his research during the course began as a broad overview, but then he discovered the American Music Abroad program.

“It was surprising to me,” he said. “It seemed so far apart – an anti-establishment art form being promoted by an establishment program.”

The parallel between the exportation of 1950s jazz and 2000s hip-hop led Coleman to a discussion of the similar legal issues each group has faced. African-American artists have long dealt with cultural and artistic appropriation in addition to being marginalized by their own government.

“There is a paradox,” Coleman says. “These artists have been asked to represent a country that is still unjust to them and to their communities.”

Indeed, both genres are seen as uniquely American and representative of American freedom despite the artists being domestically marginalized.

Professor cummings encouraged Coleman to submit the paper for publication and walked him through the process. Coleman reviewed the journals and selected those that dealt with entertainment topics. UC Hastings was on that list. From submission to publication, the process took most of 2020.

“Kalen’s paper is one of the best student papers I have ever read,” cummings said. “The subject matter is provocative and fascinating—that the United States is using hip-hop and its artists to promote American ideals of entrepreneurship and creativity abroad, all while the genre and artists are attacked at home. I learned a lot about U.S. soft-diplomacy reading this paper.”

Coleman is from Greenwood, Arkansas. He relocated to Little Rock in 2013 to work as an electrical engineer. He is married and has an almost one-year-old son.

Coleman’s interest in compliance and patent law led him to law school. He sees his legal education as a way to expand his career options in engineering and regulatory work.

Taking the hip-hop course meant getting his boss’s permission to leave work early on class days.

“When he heard the name of the course, he was excited to let me go,” Coleman joked.

It’s safe to say the course has been his favorite at Bowen so far.

“It exceeded my expectations,” Coleman said. “I had no idea how much and how deep hip-hop and the law interact. I went in thinking it would be more like entertainment law, and it was so much more than that.”

It has also piqued his interest in further publication.

“I researched universal basic income for my comparative law class,” Coleman said. “It was a super interesting topic with a great deal of constitutional history. I’d like to put a little extra work into the paper and submit it…if I can convince myself to spend more time in front of the computer.”

Coleman’s work can be found .

The post Coleman research on hip-hop and U.S. soft diplomacy published appeared first on William H. Bowen School of Law.

Shyteria Dunlap, a second-year law student in the evening division at the ĚÇĐÄVlog´ŤĂ˝ Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law, has received the 2020-21 Jennifer Carson Single Parent Scholarship.

“I had applied previously, and I am extremely happy to be this year’s award recipient,” Shyteria said.

Shyteria is from Memphis, Tennessee. Prior to law school, she was an English teacher and has taught at the elementary, middle school, and high school levels. Her plan was always to teach for a time and then go to law school.

“I have always wanted to be a lawyer. God places in us certain passions, gifts, and purposes. I know that part of my purpose is to fight injustice, to be a voice for the voiceless, and to leave an incredible footprint in the legal arena,” she said.

Shyteria came to a Bowen open house with a friend after doing her research on the school and remembers leaving feeling inspired and “at home.”

“Bowen had an impressive tuition and a high bar pass rate. Its campus size, part-time program, and location in the state’s capital were also attractive features,” she said. “It was a perfect mix for me. I remember thinking: Bowen is far enough from home so I could isolate and focus, but still close enough to allow for a relaxed commute.”

Shyteria began law school as a part-time student in 2017 and was expecting a child at the time. In October that year, she went in for a routine checkup and wound up being admitted to the hospital. She was still studying for finals in the delivery room.

“My doctors thought I took studying to another level,” she joked, “and I guess I did.”

Shyteria’s son, Aydin, was born that November. After a semester off, she returned to law school. Her family and son’s dad are located out-of-state in her hometown of Memphis, Tennessee, and outside of law school friends, she has no family support system here.

Law school as a single parent has been an adjustment.

“Being a parent is a beautiful, exciting gift, and it is also emotionally and physically exhausting, so it is a great role to adjust to. One of the biggest adjustments is having a little one who is completely dependent on me. It’s no longer ‘All about you,’” she said, “Single parenthood was not part of my plan–nor was it foreseeable–much less while in law school, but life changes can be unexpected.”

Shyteria also pauses at the term single mother.

“I am a mother. And while I am the only parent in the home, and the load does get heavy, for me it has helped to focus on the village we have and how Aydin sees me through his eyes, rather than the title of single mother,” she said. “I’m also not completely alone. God’s provision has been with me from the beginning. I am incredibly grateful to have my law school friends, a few of whom are now alumni, who have either offered to watch Aydin so I could attend classes or would come over to our home and sit with him while I completed virtual final exams during COVID. To that end, being able to now attend classes from home has been a true gift too, as spending so much time away from Aydin was beginning to take a toll on me.”

Shyteria’s family and friends in Tennessee have also been invaluable, she says. Aydin’s grandparents have traveled from Memphis to sit with him during final exam sessions. When she traveled to Memphis, loved ones kept Aydin so she could study or have a short break.

“The positive encouragement from family, friends, Bowen faculty, and my therapist, whose services are offered through JLAP, as well as my mentor, has been paramount,” Shyteria said. “Having genuine people help in these ways is evidence of God seeing me through.”

Throughout law school, at various points, Shyteria also worked as a teacher here in the city, and recently, as a legal assistant for The Buchanan Firm, P.A. After working, she would pick Aydin up from daycare, take him to the sitter, travel to Bowen for classes, pick Aydin up from the sitter, and then travel home. Sometimes this routine meant meeting two friends, who also helped as Aydin’s babysitters, in Bowen’s parking lot before class began. This dedication to both her family and her studies caught the committee’s attention.

“The committee was impressed by her determination and persistence in the face of adversity,” said Jessie W. Burchfield, a scholarship committee member and an associate professor at the law school.

Shyteria said the experience has made her hone her skills in organization and productivity. In her application essay, she wrote about the intentional planning required to accommodate the busy and diverse schedules of a toddler and a law student.

“There is always a lot to juggle, and sometimes I feel guilty for even taking a nap,” she said. “But I am learning to be kind and patient with myself and to stay grounded in my faith.”

In addition to the one-time monetary award, the Carson Scholarship provides a mentoring network. Scholarship committee members (several of whom were also single parents while in law school) offer practical and emotional support to the student recipients. They work to encourage the students as they balance the demands of law school and the responsibilities of parenting alone. Shyteria is excited about that support.

“The support system of the committee matters just as much as the monetary assistance,” she explained. “Any parent could benefit from such a support system in law school.”

Shyteria will graduate in 2022. She wants to pair her education background and legal ability to work in juvenile law, criminal defense, constitutional law, and civil rights law. She plans to eventually be a juvenile court judge.

“No matter what changes may arise, though, with God’s grace, I am determined to be a successful law student, graduate, and mother,” she said

Bowen alumni and faculty have endowed the Jennifer Carson Single Parent Scholarship, which is named to honor alumna Jennifer Carson whose daughter, Emily, was three years old when Jennifer began law school in Bowen’s part-time division. The scholarship is available to any Bowen student who is a custodial single parent. One scholarship is awarded each year.

The post Shyteria Dunlap receives Jennifer Carson Single Parent Scholarship appeared first on William H. Bowen School of Law.

A KATV reporter is using the skills and knowledge she learned at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law to serve as a better advocate for Arkansans. 

Janelle Lilley Cline, a 34-year-old weekend anchor who lives in Little Rock, will graduate with a Juris Doctor during ĚÇĐÄVlog´ŤĂ˝ Little Rock’s fall commencement ceremony at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, at Jack Stephens Center.

As a journalist who covers the Arkansas legislature, Cline feared her gap in legal knowledge was impacting her ability to accurately report complex issues to the public.

“I’d ask different legislators about a bill, and I would get completely different answers about how the law would affect Arkansans,” she said. “As a journalist, you want to fact check what people are telling you, but I couldn’t do that with the law. I wanted to understand the law better and how proposed laws would affect Arkansans.”

On Nov. 7, 2014, Cline searched the internet on “how to go to law school” and learned she needed to take the LSAT (Law School Admission Test) to apply. She took the test four weeks later and entered Bowen’s part-time law school program, the only program of its kind in the state, on a full ride in August 2015.

“Bowen is the only law school I applied to, and they offered me a full scholarship,” Cline recalled. “I love my job, and I didn’t want to leave it. I decided to go to law school even if it meant working and going to school at the same time. It was worth it.”

During law school, Cline had some life-changing experiences; she got engaged and married fellow Bowen law student, Jason Cline, a member of the Arkansas National Guard, in January 2017. The birth of their son, Luke, caused Cline to miss a final exam.

“I had my son during the first day of exams in April 2018,” Cline said. “I missed my insurance law exam because I was having a baby. I had to call my professor and tell her I wouldn’t make it, but I was able to take the exam the next week. I have a funny picture of me in the hospital studying insurance law in between contractions.”

Cline counts Bowen professors Lindsey Gustafson, andrĂŠ douglas pond cummings, and Michael Flannery as her mentors. Gustafson recalls Cline as an active student who made class discussions interesting.

“Despite her busy life and the demands on her time, Janelle was always prepared to engage in and raise the level of discussion in class,” Gustafson said. “She is incredibly hard working, curious, and detailed in her learning. Beyond that, she is a kind, generous human being. She was a joy and will do great things in the world, and by that I mean great things for the world.”

cummings described Cline as a gifted law student and talented news anchor who inspired his own son to study broadcast journalism in college.

“I fully expect that Janelle will become an important and consequential legal reporter and news anchor that could very well successfully practice entertainment law or First Amendment law if she so chooses,” cummings said. “When I mentioned to Janelle that my teenage son was interested in a career in broadcast journalism, she immediately set him up with a two-week internship at KATV, which my son completed this summer. My son loved the experience.”

At Bowen, Cline was able to gain practical legal knowledge through work opportunities. She served as a law clerk for Steel, Wright, & Collier and completed externships with Chief Judge Rita Gruber in the Arkansas Court of Appeals, Judge Carlton Jones in the Eighth South Judicial Circuit, and the Pulaski County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. She’s especially grateful for the experience she gained working for Judge Gruber.

“I will cherish my externship with Judge Rita Gruber for as long as I live,” Cline said. “Judge Gruber is everything I hoped a judge would be. She is thoughtful and serious about her job and was open to my recommendations in the memoranda I would write for her. It was memorable and so rewarding. I learned so much working in the actual court. It’s completely different than covering it as a reporter.”

Cline says she fell in love with journalism completely by accident while attending the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

“As an undergrad, I was a double major in political science and communication studies,” Cline said. “I had to do an internship that satisfied the requirements for both, and I thought, ‘What’s better than NPR?’ That’s communication and politics all in one.”

On her first day at NPR, Cline hit the ground running. Her new boss handed her a sheet with directions from MapQuest, a press release, and an audio recorder with instruction to complete her first assignment.

“I called my mom and cried because I didn’t know how to be a journalist,” she said. “I was never planning on being a journalist. I overreported, but they helped me craft a story. That night, I heard my story on the radio, and I knew I had to do this for the rest of my life. From then on out, it was journalism forever.”

As for her goal of being a better journalist, Cline’s legal knowledge has been especially helpful in reporting complex issues including legislation, court cases, and crimes. She recalls broadcasting for 10 hours straight in 2017 when reporting on the eight executions originally scheduled in Arkansas for April 2017, four of which were carried out.

“During the executions, you had dozens of court cases making their way through the system with appeal after appeal,” Cline said. “I was able to explain to viewers why each appeal was happening, who was making the decision, and condense the legal arguments for the viewers. I never would have been able to do that without going to law school.”

Earlier this year, Cline was part of a group of KATV journalists who won a Mid-America Emmy for their news special, “Arkansas Growing: The Journey from Legalization to Cultivation,” covering Arkansas’s legalization of medical marijuana and its impact on employment law.

“I came to Bowen because I saw this deficiency in myself and my reporting, and I’m walking away feeling so much more confident in my ability to understand the law,” Cline said. “Being in law school has made me a better reporter. The questions I ask are sharper, and I know more going into interviews. I’m a little sad to graduate because it was such a good experience. I love learning, and I’ll be sad not to engage in my legal education every day.”

Story by Angelita Faller/Photo by Benjamin Krain

The post KATV Reporter Uses Law Degree to Advocate for Arkansans appeared first on William H. Bowen School of Law.

Tom Smith’s curiosity, sense of adventure, and ambition led him from information technology consulting to law school at the ĚÇĐÄVlog´ŤĂ˝ Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law. Now he’s using his law degree to enhance his career in IT governance and risk management.

Smith moved from New York City to Little Rock because his then-wife, a physician and Arkansas native, had been offered a chance to join a practice in North Little Rock. “In 1997, I told her I wasn’t moving to Arkansas – by 2000, it was home.”

He found a position at Acxiom. “During my time there, I opened the company’s offices in Japan, ran Canadian operations, and managed several alliance partners.” As he worked, he became intrigued by mergers and acquisitions, and asked his then-boss, Fred Perkins, about getting involved in deals. Fred encouraged him to go to law school.

Tom took the LSAT in 2004 and submitted an application. “I applied to several different schools, but Bowen’s dean sent me a personal letter and offered a scholarship.” He also had a new family, and Bowen was right down the street from home and work.

He enrolled in the part-time program and spent the next four years attending law school at night. He was able to take some day classes in the summer because his job was flexible. Just not that flexible.

“My first question of every professor was ‘what’s your attendance policy?’” said Smith. “There were some nights, I’d get off the plane from a business trip and go straight to class.”

Sometimes work responsibilities won out. Tom had to withdraw from Constitutional Law because of the professor’s attendance policy. When he took it the following year, from the same professor, Tom was able to make it to class enough to sit for the final. “The material was actually easier to process the second time around.”

He also gives a lot of credit to his now ex-wife, Melanie. “We were busy professionals with young children, and I was traveling, in class, or studying. She was very supportive.”

By the time Tom graduated in 2008, he’d left Acxiom. Reed Elsevier, an academic publisher and the parent company of LexisNexis, hired him immediately after his December graduation. Before taking the February bar exam, he had to travel to Malaysia for a week and then spend another week in Denver for his new employer. Both events left little time for bar exam study.

“Every free moment I had, I was studying. You’d find me with my earphones in, pouring over bar review materials. I did a lot of bar prep on airplanes.”

He passed the bar and spent the next 8 years with Reed Elsevier negotiating large, multi-year licensing agreements and managing multi-million-dollar customer relationships.

Now Tom works for Eminere Group, a company focused on IT governance, risk management, data privacy, and information security. He is the Vice President of Sales and Business Development, providing services to help companies assess their IT security and compliance with regulations such as HIPAA and the GDPR. In the healthcare, higher education and financial services industries that Eminere serves, there is an ever-present risk of data breaches, misuse, and hacking.

“Going to law school at night was brutal at times, but I’m glad I did it. I use the things I learned in law school every day,” says Smith. In addition to developing a specialty in privacy law, Tom applies his legal education to contracts and regulatory compliance. He also owns a small business and helps friends and family with their routine legal matters. ”Even if I never argue a case in front of a judge (which I still may do one day) I’ll never regret going to law school – it helped me on so many levels.”

The post Technology executive Tom Smith, a Bowen graduate, uses his law degree every day appeared first on William H. Bowen School of Law.

Liz Harris, a 2018 graduate of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s William H. Bowen School of Law’s part-time program, is spending a year between clerkships to assist veterans in need of legal services.

Harris earned her Juris Doctor in May and passed the bar exam in July. In October, she began a year-long fellowship sponsored by and Americorps and hosted at the , where she is an attorney in the Veterans Legal Corps program. She was one of 24 fellows selected nationwide who will be spending a year providing legal representation and assistance to veterans and their families on issues related to consumer and medical debt, government benefits, child support, and other family law matters.

“Legal services are needed because so many individuals don’t have the income to hire a private attorney,” Harris said. “It’s a rewarding experience to provide them with the legal help they need.”

The timing of the fellowship lined up perfectly with Harris’ schedule and offered her a chance to gain hands-on experience.

“It is a tremendous opportunity for me to get some practice in between clerkships and to give back to our veterans,” she said. “From my standpoint, it’s a way to help in a meaningful way.”

Before her fellowship began, Harris clerked six weeks for Judge Raymond Abramson on the Arkansas Court of Appeals. When her fellowship at Center for Arkansas Legal Services ends, she will begin a federal clerkship in August with The Honorable Lavenski Smith, chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.

Before she enrolled in law school, Harris earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in entrepreneurship and small business management in 2009 and a Master of Business Administration in 2011, both from ĚÇĐÄVlog´ŤĂ˝ Little Rock.

Attending Bowen’s part-time program allowed Harris to balance the demands of law school with being a single parent. The Bowen law school offers the state’s only part-time JD program, in which students attend evening classes four nights a week.

Harris was also able to take advantage of clerkships and fellowships that have broadened her experience.

“As a result of Bowen’s part-time program, I am now an attorney, and I see this as an amazing opportunity to do good unto others,” she said.

The post Bowen grad uses law degree to serve veterans appeared first on William H. Bowen School of Law.

A law degree has been a lifesaver for entrepreneur David “Alan” Bubbus Jr., who continues to make his mark on the central Arkansas restaurant scene as president of , an expanding burger franchise with 10 locations. 

The idea that he would one day own a restaurant franchise would have been comical to Bubbus, a 2015 graduate of the ĚÇĐÄVlog´ŤĂ˝ Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law, 15 years ago. As the son of David Bubbus Sr., an Arkansas businessman who opened dozens of restaurants, Bubbus swore that he would not have a career in the restaurant business.

After working several years in the banking industry, Bubbus came across an old Fazoli’s restaurant building for sale that caught his eye. He knew he had found the perfect opportunity to open his first restaurant and enter the real estate business. Bubbus was excited for the opportunity to create the right kind of workplace culture that his employees and guests would love.

And the workplace culture that Bubbus wanted to build is evident in the warm, friendly greetings from employees, the lovely free samples of delicious ice cream and treats, and the distinct lack of trash cans that ensure a full-service experience for David’s Burgers “guests.”

Bubbus’ family is still just as involved as they were at the beginning.

“One of the most fun things is working with my dad. He loves walking around and talking with our guests, and he likes making food that is really good and has a wow factor. Working with your family can be the most challenging and the most rewarding experiences, but it’s been great to get to know my father better,” Bubbus said. “It’s fun to see your dad really respect you, and that’s something that I will cherish. I see it in his eyes that he respects me.”

Alan Bubbus and his wife, Jessica, are now the proud parents of six boys. Their oldest son, Joshua, a 19-year-old sophomore who is studying accounting at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, worked at David’s Burgers before the couple “spiritually” adopted him as their child after he came to live with them as a teenager. They also adopted Evan, 12, and Ethan, 11, who are biological brothers, after working with The Call, a nonprofit organization that works with foster and adoptive parents in Arkansas. They also have David, 8, Moses, 3, and baby Abraham, 9 months. The restaurant business is still largely a family affair.

“You might recognize Moses as the cute kid with curls on David’s Burgers commercials,” Bubbus said. “Even my wife, who is an accountant, would rather dress burgers than work in the office.”

Bubbus, who serves on the board of The Call, hopes people will participate in the on May 4, which raises money for three organizations (The Call, Immerse, and Project Zero) with the goal of helping foster children in Arkansas.

“Foster parents can provide a critical need in a child’s life when there is so much uncertainty and fear,” Bubbus said. “Fostering children has been such an important part of my life, and I hope people will get out and support this amazing cause.”

Finishing law school, while being an entrepreneur, a family man, and real estate company owner, wasn’t always easy. Still, Bubbus found pursuing a law degree well worth the time, commitment, and effort. Bubbus is also grateful for the part-time program, which allowed him to fit law school into his busy life and complete the degree at his own pace.

“I think there are times in your life when you tell yourself you are going to buckle down. You set your mind to it and just do it. For me, it was those five years I was in law school,” Bubbus said. “I enjoyed being in the classroom and the analysis. I found it extremely interesting, and I always learned a lot. You don’t open 10 restaurants and have six children in eight years and have time for everything. I think you set reasonable goals depending on how much you have going on in your life.”

His education from Bowen has given Bubbus a great advantage as an entrepreneur and business owner, but being an entrepreneur is not as easy it looks on television.

“It’s not as easy as ‘Shark Tank’ makes it seem,” Bubbus said. “Being an entrepreneur means knowing people and knowing your business. There are a lot of traps you can fall into if you are not educated. Law school provides a broad-based set of information that helps entrepreneurs get started in business. What if someone slips and falls in your restaurant and gets hurt? Law school helped me understand the risks that come with owning a business and all the rules and regulations of human resources. I could go on and on about every facet of my business and how much having a legal background helps you understand the risks you are taking and knowing what to avoid. Having a legal education gives you a great advantage in knowing how to protect yourself.”

The most important skill Bubbus learned from Bowen is how to think like a lawyer, which prepares him to face the most unexpected challenges.

“The most important thing I learned from Bowen is not the knowledge of the facts, but how law school help molds you and trains your mind to think like a lawyer,” Bubbus said. “The analysis and tools that you gain help you become a better entrepreneur. You don’t need a lawyer if everything goes right. You need a lawyer for the one in a 1,000 times when something goes wrong. That is when a legal education does a lot for you. Bowen can help entrepreneurs grow in their analysis of problems and how to solve them, in the ability of the entrepreneur to speak publicly, and, most importantly, give the entrepreneur greater confidence to invest in themselves. Bowen can help entrepreneurs grow in their analysis of problems and how to solve them, in the ability of the entrepreneur to speak publicly, and, most importantly, give the entrepreneur greater confidence to invest in themselves.”

The post Law school degree a must have for David’s Burgers president Alan Bubbus appeared first on William H. Bowen School of Law.