Arkansas Municipal League (1 position)

The was founded in 1934 and provides a number of services to cities and towns throughout the Arkansas. While legal as well as other forms of assistance have been provided to member municipalities from the outset, the League created its Municipal Legal Defense Program (鈥淢LDP鈥�) in 1979. The League is located in North Little Rock, next door to the Dickey Stephens Ball Park.

The MLDP legal staff represents municipalities, municipal officials, representatives, and employees throughout the entirety of the state, focusing on the following practice areas: employment law, civil rights, land use, police misconduct, constitutional law, torts, elections, ethics, taxation, finance, governance, Freedom of Information Act, record retention, pensions, annexation and boundary changes, construction, code enforcement, police and fire protection, and vehicle litigation (both defense and subrogation). The MLDP strives to provide the highest quality of professional legal services to Arkansas cities and towns.

Currently, the MLDP is comprised of nine attorneys, nine legal staff, and six law clerks. The office atmosphere is hardworking but collegial. An extern with the League may have the opportunity do any of the following:

  • assist in researching and responding to legal inquiries from city and town officials and employees;
  • assist in preparing publications, articles and presentations on legal topics of interest to Arkansas municipalities;
  • research discrete areas of local government law;
  • assist attorneys defending Arkansas cities and towns in trial and appellate litigation, including significant hands-on experience assisting in the preparation of materials for filing with the courts, particularly motions for summary judgment and supporting briefs and appellate briefs;
  • assist in drafting or responding to written discovery requests;
  • attend city council meetings;
  • attend depositions in a variety of settings, including the Arkansas Department of Corrections;
  • attend client meetings;
  • attend settlement conference or mediation; and
  • perform other related duties as assigned.

Externship candidates should have a general interest in local government. She/he should be proactive, have a strong work ethic, and an eagerness to learn. She/he must have excellent writing skills and research abilities. A minimum GPA of 3.2 is strongly preferred, and a member of the MLDP staff will interview students recommended for an externship prior to final approval of the placement.

City of North Little Rock – Office of the City Attorney (1 position)

The Office of the City Attorney for the City of North Little Rock serves as the chief legal counsel for the municipal government and provides authoritative legal and consultative services to the Mayor, City Council, and all City departments, boards, and commissions. The Office also prosecutes criminal, traffic, and code-enforcement violations in the North Little Rock District Court and represents the city in civil litigation before state and federal courts.

This externship offers Bowen students a substantive, practice-focused opportunity to engage directly with the legal, administrative, and policy functions of a full-service municipal law office. Students gain hands-on experience across multiple disciplines, reflecting the broad and dynamic nature of municipal practice.

Externs placed within the Office of the City Attorney should expect to participate in a wide range of legal and governmental activities, including:

  • attend North Little Rock City Council meetings to observe legislative processes, municipal governance, and attorney advisement in real time.
  • assist attorneys in the prosecution of traffic offenses and code violations, including case preparation, courtroom observation, and support during hearings.
  • work with transactional attorneys on contracts, memoranda of understanding, bid requests, proposals, and document review for municipal departments and projects.
  • attend meetings of various city boards and commissions to observe administrative decision-making and regulatory oversight.
  • conduct research on local government law, municipal authority, regulatory compliance, and related legal issues.
  • support staff and attorneys in the production, review, and release of documents requested pursuant to the Arkansas FOIA, gaining experience in transparency, records management, and statutory compliance.
  • perform other duties as assigned, reflecting the diverse and fast-paced nature of municipal legal practice.

By the conclusion of the externship, students will have met these learning objectives:

  1. Develop a working knowledge of Arkansas municipal law, including statutory authority, governance structures, and regulatory obligations.
  2. Strengthen legal research and writing skills through assignments grounded in real-world municipal issues.
  3. Gain practical exposure to courtroom procedures, prosecutorial decision-making, and case management in District Court.
  4. Understand the role of municipal attorneys in legislative drafting, contract negotiation, and administrative advisement.
  5. Observe and evaluate the interaction between law, policy, and public administration within a city government.
  6. Build professional judgment, communication skills, and ethical awareness in a public-sector environment.

This placement welcomes students with diverse legal interests, as municipal law encompasses numerous disciplines including criminal law, administrative law, contracts, land use, and public policy. Applicants should be curious and engaged, self-starters capable of managing assignments independently, and interested in learning how law operates within a governmental framework. Prospective externs may be interviewed to assess interest, professionalism, and readiness for the placement.

Office of Conway City Attorney (1 position)

The city attorney’s office provides legal and advisory services to the Conway mayor, Conway City Council, and the various operating departments, boards, and commissions within the city. The city attorney represents the city in most civil cases and prosecutes misdemeanor criminal acts that occur inside city limits, as well as traffic citations and violations of city ordinances. The city attorney is committed to protecting the rights of the citizens of our community.

An extern serving in the Conway City Attorney鈥檚 Office will:

  • attend Conway City Council meetings;
  • work with attorneys on litigation cases;
  • assist in the affidavit review process 鈥� including intake of citizen complaints, review, and drafting of the affidavit for warrant of arrest;
  • assist attorneys on plea and arraignment and trial preparation;
  • assist in drafting responses, motions, and orders;
  • assist in contacting victims of crimes and accidents;
  • work with transactional attorneys on contracts, requests for proposals, requests for qualifications, agreements, memoranda, and grant work;
  • attend meetings as requested with the city attorney or other professionals;
  • research discrete areas of local government law;
  • be trained in the applicability of the state Freedom of Information Act (FOIA);
  • attend environmental, traffic, and truancy courts with attorneys; and,
  • perform other related duties as assigned.

A student applying for this position should have a general interest in local government. He or she should be proactive, have a strong work ethic, and an eagerness to learn. He/she must have excellent writing skills and research abilities. The staff of the City Attorney鈥檚 Office will interview students recommended for an externship prior to final approval of the placement.