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´«Ă˝ 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´«Ă˝ 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.

For Madalyn Dowell, the Veterans Legal Services Clinic has provided a grounded, hands-on view of what legal practice looks like beyond the classroom.

Working directly with veterans navigating lengthy disability claims through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense, she has seen firsthand how complex and time-consuming the process can be. Many clients face delays that stretch for months or longer, often becoming discouraged as their cases move slowly through federal systems.

Through regular client interviews and status updates, Madalyn has learned that effective advocacy begins with clear communication and steady support. While the work often involves detailed paperwork and procedural navigation, she says the most meaningful moments come from the relationships built along the way.

“It is easy to get lost in the paperwork,” she said. “But the difference you make is not always on the page. Clients are grateful to have someone walking alongside them through the process.”

The experience has sharpened her professional skills while reinforcing her sense of purpose. By fostering trust and maintaining open dialogue, she has strengthened a core competency that will serve her across every area of practice.

Her time in the clinic has also clarified the kind of lawyer she hopes to become: one committed to creating positive change in the lives of others.

At Bowen Law, clinics, externships and practicums are the capstone of how we prepare practice-ready lawyers. For Madalyn, that preparation has meant stepping into real advocacy, real responsibility and real impact before graduation.

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Fouz Abu-Obeid is a third-year student at the ĚÇĐÄVlog´«Ă˝ Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law and a two-year teaching assistant in Research, Writing, and Analysis. Known for her thoughtful communication and steady encouragement, she has supported fellow students through challenging assignments by offering practical feedback and building their confidence one step at a time.

During her 1L year, Fouz Abu-Obeid found herself drawn to the challenge of legal writing. She enjoyed breaking down complex research tasks and developing her skills in structure and clarity. But it wasn’t just the content that resonated — it was the chance to help others succeed. After regularly walking through assignments with her peers, she realized she loved the teaching side too.

As a two-year RWA teaching assistant, Fouz has met regularly with students navigating everything from predictive memos to appellate briefs. One student, facing difficulty with a major writing assignment, asked for help — and Fouz responded with a series of weekly meetings that turned writing into a manageable, confidence-building process. “Meeting once isn’t always enough,” she said. “For some students, consistent and individualized support makes a bigger difference.”

Teaching has also deepened her own skills. “When I help someone work through an argument or organize a brief, I have to explain why something works, and that’s made me more intentional about my own writing.”

After graduation, Fouz plans to continue building her legal writing skills in a career focused on contract drafting, rulemaking, legislative editing, or compliance. She also hopes to mentor law students and, one day, return to the classroom to teach RWA.

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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´«Ă˝ 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.

At the time, Muhammad was already enrolled in a Ph.D. program in business leadership — but the work felt hollow. The more she studied, the more she realized it wasn’t what she was meant to do. What pulled at her instead was a deeper need she couldn’t ignore: the persistent gap between people in crisis and the legal help they needed. She had grown up in a place where families struggled in silence, and now she saw how many others still faced those same barriers. If she was going to start over, she wanted it to matter.

Muhammad’s path to law school began with Bowen’s LEAP program, a selective summer initiative that gives high-potential students a chance to prove they are ready for the demands of legal education. She was one of just four students to matriculate that year. “LEAP was harder than any semester of law school,” she said. “It was daily classwork, new material, and it came fast. You couldn’t slack, and I’m thankful for that because it prepared me for what was to come.”

Muhammad made that commitment from Pine Bluff, driving nearly two hours each day to attend classes and study at Bowen. A mother of eight, she balanced coursework with caregiving and a full household, often spending eight to ten hours a day in her carrel on campus. Her youngest son, Ausar, a high school student in Little Rock, spent countless hours with her at the law school, reading in the library or waiting outside classrooms. She began in the part-time program and later transitioned to full time, taking on heavy course loads without slowing down. She completed her degree in just three and a half years, a reflection of her focus, discipline and determination.

At Bowen, Muhammad found more than academic rigor. She found mentors who saw her potential and helped shape her into a practicing advocate. As a Rule XV certified student, she represented real clients in the Delta Divorce Clinic, arguing their cases in court under the supervision of Professor Suzanne Penn. “I was so nervous, but when the judge said I did a good job, I knew I was exactly where I was supposed to be,” she said. She also completed an externship with Chief Judge Phyllis Jones of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, gaining insight into how judges interpret complex legal issues. Faculty members like Danna Young and Dean Rejena Grotjohn were never far when Muhammad had questions or needed encouragement. Their couches, as she fondly described them, were places to learn and be heard.

While her professors helped shape her as a lawyer, Muhammad’s greatest champions were often behind the scenes. A few years ago, she remarried, and her husband, Bilal Muhammad, supported her every step of the way, from cooking and cleaning to giving her space to study. Her sisters, Carolyn and Lydia, were constant encouragers, sending shirts with messages like “J.D. Loading” and reminding her that she could do anything she set her mind to. Muhammad also carried the quiet motivation of her mother, who spent her career cooking in a hospital cafeteria but once confided that she had always dreamed of being a nurse. That revelation stayed with Muhammad. “I have one life,” she said. “I want to do what I was born to do.”

This weekend, Muhammad will graduate from the ĚÇĐÄVlog´«Ă˝ Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law and begin a prestigious clerkship in the chambers of Chief Judge Jones of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas, where she once served as a student extern. The courtroom is no longer a dream. It is where she belongs, where purpose meets preparation, and where she is ready to lead.

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Carlisle, who calls the small community of Paron his home, had a rocky start to his collegiate career. As an undergrad at the University of Arkansas, he faced academic suspension. After moving home and getting married, he later returned to school focused and more mature. He went on to complete his degree in political science and earned a leadership medal at graduation.

After college, Carlisle worked in retail management before moving with his wife and two children to Dallas, where he managed a call center. He found neither job enjoyable nor satisfying.

Searching for a new path, he and his wife, Katherine, accepted a position as house parents at a children’s home in the southern Texas city of Brownsville. In addition to caring for their own children, Austin and Audrey, they provided a home for up to eight children at a time who had been removed from their biological families for various reasons.

“We raised them as our own,” Carlisle says. “It was great, but super hard work.”

With an increase in cartel violence near their Brownsville home, they eventually moved back to Arkansas for a fresh start, where they spent a few years as house parents at Southern Christian Home in Morrilton.

It wasn’t until his wife completed her master’s degree during the pandemic that Carlisle felt it was finally his turn to pursue his lifelong dream of becoming a lawyer. Carlisle initially faced setbacks in applying to law school due to his LSAT score, which was affected by his visual impairment. Unwilling to give up, he retook the test—this time with visual accommodations. With a significantly boosted score, he secured scholarship offers to both law schools in Arkansas.

Ultimately, he chose ĚÇĐÄVlog´«Ă˝ Little Rock’s William H. Bowen School of Law, where proximity to state government opportunities resonated with his longstanding interest in public service.

At Bowen, Carlisle quickly became a familiar face on campus, known for his extensive involvement and authentic connections with faculty, staff, and students. Due to early challenges with legal writing, he sought out consistent support from the school’s Writing Center, building a close relationship with writing specialist Danna Young, who now serves as Bowen’s director of academic support and bar success services.

“There are a couple people responsible for me still being here, and Danna is one of them,” Carlisle says. “She really helped my writing and boosted my confidence.”

Carlisle didn’t limit himself. He took on multiple leadership roles, served as vice president of the Student Bar Association, co-founded the First-Generation Law Student organization, and became president of the Pulaski County Bar Association student division.

While at Bowen, Carlisle took every opportunity to explore various fields of law. He completed paid internships with the Department of Education, the Arkansas Department of Health’s legal department, and the Attorney General’s office. He also completed a public service externship with USDA’s Office of General Counsel and participated in Bowen’s Mediation Clinic.

Perhaps inspired by those childhood courtroom dramas, Carlisle proactively sought real-life courtroom experience during his time at Bowen. Noticing that Pulaski County Circuit Court Judge Andrew Gill wasn’t listed among Bowen’s externship partners, Carlisle sought permission to contact him in hopes of arranging an externship. Judge Gill agreed, and Carlisle spent 12 to 15 hours each week during the semester observing courtroom proceedings firsthand.

“I loved it,” Carlisle says of the experience. “I loved seeing the work from the judge’s perspective. To be a clerk in his court would be fascinating.”

Through each challenge—whether academic struggles, balancing family responsibilities, or overcoming barriers related to his visual impairment—Carlisle credits Bowen’s supportive community for his success.

“Bowen’s strongest selling point is its people,” he says. “Faculty, staff, and even Derek who takes care of the building—everyone here genuinely cares.”

As he prepares to graduate, Carlisle’s journey symbolizes resilience and determination. Proudly supported by his wife, who teaches special education at Sylvan Hills, Carlisle feels he has set a meaningful example for his two teenage children.

“I spent my whole life running from law school, afraid it would be too hard,” Carlisle says. “But how could I encourage my kids to chase their dreams if I didn’t chase mine?”

His advice for incoming students reflects his experience: “Don’t take yourself too seriously. It’s going to be hard, but you knew that when you signed up. Talk to professors, cast a wide net early, and enjoy it. It goes by quickly.”

Carlisle leaves Bowen Law ready to embrace his future in the legal profession, proving it’s never too late to defy expectations and achieve your dreams.

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Transformative leadership is not a cliché to Clifford McLeod, it’s his legacy. The outgoing Student Bar Association (SBA) president and May 2025 graduate of the William H. Bowen School of Law, McLeod hopes to be remembered as the type of person that didn’t wait for others to do something when he could.

McLeod is known on campus for his leadership and advocacy for others. “I’ve never seen a better student leader in 20 years,” said Colin Crawford, dean of the law school. That’s quite the compliment for this honor grad who almost didn’t pursue a law degree.

Calling South Bend, Indiana home, McLeod grew up in a family that valued education. His mother is a college professor, his father a chemist, his sister is completing a Ph.D. and his brother holds a master’s degree in biology. With a family steeped in academic achievement, Clifford was encouraged to pursue education, but he admits that growing up, academics weren’t his primary focus.

“I didn’t care so much about school because I received so much education outside of school—through libraries, documentaries, and reading anything I could get my hands on,” McLeod said. Athletics, however, played a significant role in his formative years. A multi-sport athlete, he gravitated toward soccer and wrestling, but he played nearly every sport available, from basketball to golf. Coaches, more than teachers, pushed him to excel, and that’s where he focused his efforts.

After high school, McLeod attended Lincoln University in Missouri before transferring to Philander Smith College in Little Rock, where he earned a degree in Political Science in 2015. His leadership abilities emerged during his undergraduate years as he became involved in student government, Greek life, and mentoring programs.

McLeod spent his post-college years in a series of jobs as he searched for a career that fit his passion. After interning at the Little Rock Central National Historic Site, he went on to spend 5 years as a high school teacher and coach. “I loved coaching, and I liked teaching, and I was great at both,” he said. But he knew there was no ability to advance his career.

McLeod, who had once dreamed of running political campaigns after college, knew he would need to further his education. He grappled with the decision to either go to grad school to become a museum curator, something he enjoyed during his internship, or get his law degree. But ultimately, he decided, “If I was going back to school to get a degree, I was going to get one that was worth it.”

With acceptances from numerous law schools across the country, McLeod chose Bowen because of its affordability and scholarship offer. And he knew he would make the most of his time there. During his first year, he met a 2L student named Paige that changed the trajectory of his experience. “She gave me the blueprint for how to get involved here and really make your mark.”

And so he did. During his time at Bowen, McLeod was a involved in numerous student organizations, often in leadership roles, including Black Law Students Association (BLSA), Phi Alpha Delta fraternity (PAD), Moot Court Competition Team, and the Student Bar Association (SBA), which he served as president of during his final year.

Committed to serving others, he hopes his presidency will impact the school for generations to come. Formerly viewed by many students as a “glorified prom committee,” McLeod came with a vision to expand student-led decisions that would change the student experience. When asked what he was most proud of as president, he mentioned not only the improvement in the reputation of SBA, but also the work they did toward solving issues Bowen students were facing, such as access to insurance and childcare; and a budget proposal to increase the SBA budget which will allow students more opportunities to attend conferences, host mock trial and moot court competitions, and symposiums. The proposal will go before the Board of Trustees for approval. If approved, future students will benefit from his hard work.

“My time at Bowen taught me that you have to be capable of working with others that think differently than you, but we are all capable of it,” McLeod said. He credits Professor Anastasia Boles and Assistant Dean Rejena Grotjohn with guiding him over the years. “They took their time to mentor me and were instrumental at my time at Bowen,” McLeod added.

He plans to continue to make communities better places and has accepted a position at Mitchell Williams where he will focus on municipal bonds, an area of law he learned about while clerking there. “Municipal bonds are tools we can use to raise up the state. It’s how we can bring jobs and prosperity to Arkansas.”

And with his leadership experience and dreams of making our state better through his work, McLeod has already set his sights on continuing the legacy of great leadership he began at Bowen and hopes to be mayor of Little Rock one day.

“I’ve always had a vision bigger than myself. And with that kind of vision, it’s easy to be brave,” McLeod said.

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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.

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