Five minutes to catch up with his wife, April, and their daughter, Jansen, before heading to Little Rock for class at the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law. By the time he returns home, it is often close to 10 p.m. After spending a little more time with Jansen before bed, he studies until midnight before starting the process again the next day.

For nearly three years, Dickson has balanced the demands of law school with the responsibilities of serving as chief of the Beebe Police Department and being present for his wife and daughter. His days are spent leading the department, while evenings and weekends are devoted to classes, studying and family, though he is always on call.

Years before he enrolled at Bowen, Dickson found himself drawn to a place most people were eager to leave: the courtroom.

As a young law enforcement officer, he regularly found himself observing proceedings in district court, where cases often involving misdemeanor offenses, such as theft and driving while intoxicated, move through the justice system. While others were eager to return to their duties once court concluded, Dickson often lingered. He was fascinated by the arguments presented by opposing attorneys and the outcome of each case. He even volunteered to transport inmates when opportunities arose, partly because it gave him another chance to watch the process unfold.

There, he met District Judge Mark Derrick.

While many people focused on the verdict, Dickson was more interested in understanding how judges arrived at their decisions. After hearings ended, he often stayed behind to ask questions. Why was one defendant found guilty while another was not? What evidence mattered most? How did judges weigh competing arguments? Derrick took the time to answer those questions, explaining the legal reasoning behind his rulings and helping Dickson understand the elements of criminal offenses in ways he had never encountered during police training.

The conversations became a regular part of Dickson’s experience in court and left a lasting impression. “My interest in law is so strong because I’ve seen the process from all sides,” Dickson said. “In the jail, on patrol and in the courtroom.”

Eventually, Derrick offered a suggestion that would alter the course of Dickson’s career. “You need to go to law school.”

At first, the path forward was not as simple as submitting an application. Dickson had not yet completed his bachelor’s degree. But the questions that first drew him to the courtroom stayed with him, and so did Derrick’s advice. He returned to school, earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Williams Baptist University and began preparing for the next step.

When the time came to choose a law school, Dickson again turned to the mentor who had first encouraged him to pursue legal education. Derrick recommended Bowen Law, pointing to its location in the state’s capital and the opportunities that came with studying law in the center of Arkansas’s legal and governmental community.

He had spent years building a career in law enforcement  while continuing to think about the questions that first surfaced in district court. Leaving the workforce to attend law school full time was never a realistic option, but Bowen Law’s part-time program offered a path that allowed him to continue serving his community while pursuing a legal education.

He applied only to Bowen.

The curiosity that first drew him to the courtroom had finally led him into the classroom. Law school provided many of the answers Dickson had been seeking, but it also revealed just how much there still was to learn.

In the classroom, he gained a deeper understanding of statutes, case law and the legal reasoning that shapes decisions throughout the justice system. Concepts that once seemed straightforward became more nuanced as he studied constitutional law, criminal procedure and evidence. The experience gave him a broader perspective on issues he had encountered throughout his career and a greater appreciation for the responsibilities carried by judges, attorneys and law enforcement officers alike.

For Dickson, some of the most meaningful lessons have come from seeing the justice system through perspectives other than his own. As a police officer, he had spent years focused on investigations, enforcement and public safety. Law school challenged him to consider the legal and human dimensions of those same situations, encouraging him to think more deeply about accountability, fairness and the long-term impact legal decisions can have on individuals and communities.

That broader perspective also reinforced something Dickson had witnessed firsthand in White County. During his years working alongside Judge Mark Derrick, he saw how the judge sometimes gave nonviolent offenders who wanted to change the opportunity to participate in the 100 Families program rather than serve jail time. If participants completed the program, Derrick would reduce their fines and suspend their jail sentences. The program connects participants with resources such as housing, employment and treatment, creating opportunities to rebuild their lives while remaining accountable for their actions.

“I’ve seen more people change their lives and end that cycle over the past four years than I have in my entire career,” Dickson said.

The experience strengthened his belief that justice is not always defined by a single outcome. Sometimes it means accountability. Sometimes it means intervention. Often, it requires balancing both.

Pursuing a law degree while working full time has required commitment from Dickson. It has also required support from the people around him. He is quick to credit his wife with helping make law school possible. Over the past three years, she has taken on additional responsibilities at home while encouraging him to continue pursuing a goal that demands much of his time and attention.

“There are a lot of people who sacrifice for me to be able to do this,” Dickson said. April never complains, he said, and goes out of her way to send him videos from Jansen鈥檚 events and ball games. Jansen, who just started second grade, has become one of his biggest supporters. During exams, she often FaceTimes him before a test to wish him luck, a small but meaningful gesture.

The support extends beyond his family. At Bowen, Dickson found classmates who understood the unique challenges of balancing careers, families and legal education. Among them is fellow student Sean Coker, with whom he frequently carpools to class and studies with on weekends. For Dickson, those relationships have become one of the unexpected benefits of law school. While legal education began as a pursuit of knowledge, it also introduced him to a community of people committed to helping one another learn.

If there is one part of his law school experience that has surprised Dickson, it is his academic success. When he enrolled at Bowen, his goal was straightforward: learn the material, work hard and earn his degree. He was not focused on class rankings or academic recognition.

“My purpose of studying wasn’t to get top paper or be a top student,” Dickson said. “It was to pass law school.”

Dickson immersed himself in the material, spending hours reading cases, preparing for class and working through legal concepts that interested him. Over time, that effort translated into results.

Since beginning law school, he has earned 11 top paper honors in a wide range of courses, including Contracts, Torts, Legal Writing and Analysis, Constitutional Law, Real Property I and II, Civil Procedure I and II, Evidence, Federal Income Taxation, and Criminal Procedure: Pretrial Process.

The recognition is especially meaningful to Dickson because it contrasts sharply with how he viewed himself as a student earlier in life. “If I can do it, anyone can do it,” he said. “I wasn’t the best at undergrad.鈥� Regarding law school, he added, 鈥淚’ve worked harder at it than I’ve ever worked in my life.”

For Dickson, the awards are not the most important part of the story. They are simply the result of a goal that began with curiosity and was sustained through hard work.

As Dickson looks toward his anticipated graduation this December, he is still considering what role the law may play in the next chapter of his career, though public service remains at the center of his plans. Whether in law enforcement, legal practice or another area of the justice system, he hopes to continue building on the work that has defined much of his professional life.

Law school has also shown him that pursuing a legal education can be more attainable than many people realize. Thanks in part to a 75% merit scholarship, the ability to continue working while attending classes in the evening and careful planning with his family, Dickson hopes to graduate with little or no student debt.

For someone who once volunteered to transport inmates so he could spend more time observing court proceedings, the journey has come full circle. The curiosity that first drew him to the courtroom ultimately led him back to the classroom, opening doors he never expected and deepening his understanding of a system he has spent years serving.

Today, the questions have not disappeared. If anything, they continue to shape the way Dickson thinks about justice, public service and the people whose lives intersect with the legal system every day. The difference is that he now approaches those questions with a deeper understanding of the law and an even greater appreciation for the responsibility that comes with serving others.

The post Driven by Curiosity: How Police Chief Barron Dickson Found a New Perspective on Justice at Bowen Law appeared first on William H. Bowen School of Law.

Federal appellate clerkships are among the most competitive opportunities for law graduates. Clerks work closely with federal appellate judges on complex legal research, analysis and writing in cases before the court. Maggerise said his interest in appellate work began during his first year at Bowen Law.

鈥淪ince the second semester of my 1L year, when I first had the opportunity to engage in appellate advocacy through researching, writing, and arguing an appellate brief, I knew that clerking at the federal appellate level was something I wanted to pursue,鈥� Maggerise said. 鈥淭o now have that opportunity, and to do so for a judge with Judge Shepherd鈥檚 experience and perspective, is a true privilege.鈥�

Originally from Seattle, Washington, Maggerise moved to Arkansas for law school and quickly found both professional opportunity and community at Bowen.

鈥淏owen stood out because of its strong connection to the legal community in Little Rock and across the state,鈥� he said. 鈥淏eing in the capital city, Bowen gives students access to courts, judges, law firms, government, and opportunities that are hard to find elsewhere.鈥�

During law school, Maggerise has built an extensive record of legal experience through clerkships with several Arkansas law firms, including Rainwater Holt & Sexton, Gill Ragon Owen, Wright Lindsey Jennings, Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull, and Friday, Eldredge & Clark.

In addition to his practical experience, Maggerise developed a strong interest in legal writing and administrative law through Bowen鈥檚 Law Review and Moot Court programs. His Law Review Note examines the Federal Aviation Administration鈥檚 revised color-vision policies and the legal framework for challenging agency action under the Administrative Procedure Act.

Before pursuing law, Maggerise originally planned to become a pilot. After being unable to pass the color-vision portion of the FAA鈥檚 first-class medical exam, he began exploring a legal career while continuing to follow developments in aviation policy.

鈥淭hat framework gave me a legal basis to evaluate and challenge the FAA鈥檚 new policy, and it ultimately became the foundation of my Note topic,鈥� Maggerise said. 鈥淚 learned a lot through the writing process and gained a new interest in administrative law.鈥�

The Note, which was supervised by Colin Crawford, dean of the law school, and selected for publication in the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Law Review, helped further strengthen Maggerise鈥檚 interest in appellate advocacy and judicial clerkships.

鈥淛ustin distinguished himself through the quality of his legal writing, his thoughtful approach to complex administrative law questions, and his commitment to appellate advocacy,鈥� Crawford said. 鈥淛udge Shepherd鈥檚 chambers attract exceptionally strong applicants, and this opportunity reflects the seriousness and discipline Justin has brought to his work at Bowen Law.鈥�

Maggerise credited Bowen鈥檚 faculty mentorship, Moot Court program, and experiential learning opportunities with helping prepare him for the clerkship.

鈥淛ustin has approached every opportunity during law school with professionalism and initiative,鈥� said Diana Snyder, assistant dean for career services. 鈥淚鈥檓 excited to see him continue building on that success during his clerkship with Judge Shepherd.鈥�

鈥淗aving the opportunity to clerk for Judge Shepherd is evidence of Justin鈥檚 hard work and success at Bowen,鈥� said Laura Bates, assistant professor of law. Bates previously clerked for Judge Shepherd after graduating from Harvard Law School.

Maggerise said he looks forward to continuing to develop his legal writing and analytical skills during the clerkship and throughout his legal career. 鈥淚 know this experience will further shape the way I think about the law, legal writing, and advocacy throughout the rest of my career,鈥� he said.

The post Bowen Law student selected for highly competitive Eighth Circuit clerkship appeared first on William H. Bowen School of Law.

Arkansas Supreme Court Associate Justice Cody Hiland, a 1998 Bowen graduate, delivered the keynote address and encouraged students to begin building the habits and character that will shape their legal careers.

Hiland emphasized hard work, resilience, civility and integrity as qualities that students will need throughout law school and in practice. He reminded students that achievement alone will not determine their success and encouraged them to approach their legal education with consistent effort.

鈥淵our effort matters,鈥� Hiland told the students, noting that employers look not only for legal ability, but also for evidence of hard work, character and integrity.

He also encouraged students to develop resilience as they encounter challenges and setbacks. Not every academic or professional goal will unfold as expected, he said, but learning to respond constructively to disappointment is an important part of becoming a lawyer and a leader.

Hiland urged students to have confidence in their ideas while maintaining civility and respect for others. Law school, he said, gives students an opportunity to learn how to make thoughtful arguments, engage differing viewpoints and advocate effectively without sacrificing professionalism.

Dean Colin Crawford also addressed the incoming students, emphasizing that their professional reputations begin on their first day of law school. He encouraged them to be thoughtful about the choices they make, including how they present themselves in public and online, and reminded them that professionalism is a skill developed over time.

Crawford introduced Hiland as an example of Bowen鈥檚 commitment to public service and professionalism, noting his distinguished career in law and service to Arkansas.

Hiland then led the students in reciting Bowen鈥檚 Pledge of Professionalism, through which they committed themselves to respect for the law and legal institutions, service without prejudice, integrity without compromise, and civility and professionalism in their interactions with others.

Following the pledge, students received Bowen pins as a visible reminder of the responsibilities and values they accepted as they began their legal education.

The ceremony marked the beginning of the students鈥� journey into the legal profession and reinforced Bowen鈥檚 commitment to preparing lawyers who are ready to serve clients, communities and the justice system with skill and integrity.

Through hands-on learning, mentorship from experienced legal professionals and direct connections to Arkansas鈥檚 legal system, Bowen students develop the knowledge, judgment and professional skills needed to build legal careers with purpose and make a meaningful difference wherever the law takes them.

The post Arkansas Supreme Court Justice Cody Hiland Welcomes New Bowen Law Students at Pinning Ceremony appeared first on William H. Bowen School of Law.

For months, Hawkins had studied cases in classrooms at the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law, reading opinions, analyzing arguments and learning the mechanics of legal procedure. At the courthouse, the work felt different. The complaints and motions she had spent so much time reading were no longer abstract documents inside a case file.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a person behind the complaint that comes across your desk,鈥� Hawkins said. 鈥淲hen you鈥檙e talking to them, you realize sometimes that it was just one misstep along the way that completely changed the trajectory of someone鈥檚 life.鈥�

The externship became one of the defining experiences of Hawkins鈥� time at Bowen Law, not because it pointed her toward a single career path, but because it showed her how differently the profession could look in practice than it did in classrooms and casebooks.

As Hawkins prepares to graduate this weekend, she leaves Bowen with a broader view of the legal profession than the one she carried into law school.

Law school was not always the plan.

Hawkins arrived at Central Baptist College intending to pursue physical therapy before realizing the coursework was pulling her in the wrong direction. An uncle working in government law encouraged her to take the LSAT, and the possibility of a legal career quickly clicked into place. She graduated from Central Baptist with a degree in business management before enrolling in law school.

Growing up in Stuttgart, Hawkins said her parents, both educators and administrators, made sure she understood where she came from and the barriers some people still faced around her. Her father became the first Black administrator in one of the school districts where he worked. Her mother also stepped into leadership roles where representation mattered.

鈥淚 felt like I was living in Black history in the making,鈥� Hawkins said.

The experiences shaped her early interest in civil rights and public-facing legal work, but Hawkins said she entered law school determined not to limit herself too quickly to one version of the profession.

Some of the courses Hawkins expected to enjoy never fully clicked. Others surprised her. Contracts and business associations quickly became some of her strongest areas academically, building on the business background she brought with her from college. Criminal law and criminal procedure also came naturally to her, even though she never envisioned herself working in those spaces professionally.

鈥淎 lot of things on paper didn鈥檛 sound appealing,鈥� Hawkins said. 鈥淏ut once I got to experience those areas of law, it changed the way I thought about them.鈥�

That growing interest in transactional and business-related work also reshaped the way Hawkins thought about impact. She said she had long seen talented people with strong business ideas struggle to access the resources and opportunities needed to move those ideas forward.

Hawkins said law school helped her recognize that work connected to contracts, licensing and access to funding can shape communities in quieter but equally meaningful ways. Through clerkships at firms of different sizes, Hawkins also saw how differently legal work could operate depending on the environment, the clients and the type of cases involved.

鈥淚 had to be intentional about not getting complacent in what I thought I knew,鈥� she said.

Hawkins said that same willingness to reevaluate herself became important during her externship at the federal courthouse, where a miscommunication challenged the way she believed she was coming across in the workplace.

鈥淚t would have been easy for me to just shut down,鈥� Hawkins said. 鈥淏ut I had to take a step back and ask myself, 鈥極K, what are you actually doing? How are people perceiving what you鈥檙e doing?鈥欌��

Hawkins said those experiences changed the way she approached both the work and the people helping her navigate it. Two faculty members became especially influential during Hawkins鈥� time at Bowen Law.

Dean Beiner provided the kind of steady support Hawkins said every student needs, offering guidance that extended beyond academics and coursework. 鈥淗er door was always open,鈥� Hawkins said. 鈥淚 think that鈥檚 important for every student to have, a member of faculty that you can go to and just talk to as a person.鈥�

Professor Cain challenged her differently. A former college athlete, Hawkins said she has always responded well to pressure and high expectations. During her second semester of 1L year, she remembered Cain telling her he had heard strong things about her and expected her to succeed.

鈥淵ou鈥檙e going to be good at this,鈥� he told her.

For Hawkins, hearing that from a professor with Cain鈥檚 reputation carried weight, not because she needed reassurance she belonged, but because she valued being pushed by people who expected her to rise to the occasion.

Now, as graduation approaches, Hawkins said she no longer feels pressure to define her future too narrowly. She still sees herself in the values that first drew her toward the law, but her time at Bowen showed her those goals can take shape through many different kinds of legal work.

Hawkins said she still does not know exactly where the profession will take her after graduation. But after three years of clerkships, coursework and courtroom experience, she feels more prepared for whatever comes next.

鈥淚鈥檓 a lot more capable of handling things than I was giving myself credit for,鈥� Hawkins said.

The post A Wider Lens: How Erica Hawkins Broadened Her View of Legal Work appeared first on William H. Bowen School of Law.

In communities like her hometown of Newport, families often face legal issues long before they understand how to navigate the systems meant to resolve them.

Now preparing to graduate from the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law, Davis spent the past three years developing the legal knowledge and practical experience to serve communities like hers.

Davis鈥� long-term goals began taking shape in third grade after she read 鈥淭he Kid Who Became President,鈥� a book about a child determined to make a difference in his community despite being underestimated by those around him. She said the story resonated with her desire to help others. By the end of the book, Davis had decided she wanted to become president someday, too. When she told her parents about that goal, they didn鈥檛 dismiss it or tell her it was impossible. Instead, they encouraged her to pursue it, and her dad suggested law as a practical starting point to help her get there.

Even at that age, she was already familiar with some of what that path could look like. During her parents鈥� lengthy divorce and custody proceedings, Davis and her siblings spent years moving in and out of courtrooms. 鈥淚 remembered lawyers who sat down with me and talked to me without being on an adult level,鈥� Davis said. 鈥淚t was scary being in there, but there were people who made it less scary.鈥�

Davis learned early how much work her goals would require. After missing kindergarten, she entered first grade at 8 years old, older than her classmates and still unable to read. By the end of the year, she was reading at a fifth-grade level and had advanced enough academically to skip second grade and enter the school鈥檚 gifted and talented program.

After deciding she wanted to pursue law, Davis and her father began shaping many of her academic decisions around that goal. 鈥淢y dad was like, 鈥榊ou鈥檙e going to have to bridge the gaps other students don鈥檛 have,鈥欌�� Davis said. 鈥淣ot only was I catching up to the other students, but I had to stay ahead of them.鈥� By eighth grade, Davis had started concurrent college coursework, eventually taking full college schedules while still in high school.

The path Davis built for herself required years of sacrifice and discipline. That level of focus meant she opted out of sports and social activities that usually dominate high school life, because she knew they wouldn鈥檛 help her meet her goals.

鈥淚 spent 10 years forming a path leading to where I was going,鈥� Davis said. 鈥淚 haven鈥檛 strayed from it.鈥�

Davis credits much of her progress to the adults who invested time in her early education. Among them was Jennifer Keedy, who worked closely with her in her first-grade classroom and later wrote a reference letter for Davis鈥� bar application. Her grandfather created stacks of handwritten index cards from which he quizzed her to help improve her vocabulary and reading comprehension. Her father often stayed up late after work helping her study. Later, as she began taking concurrent college classes in high school, he drove her an hour each way, often waiting in the truck while she attended class.

After graduating high school in 2020, Davis earned an associate degree and technical certificate from the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville in 2021 before completing her bachelor鈥檚 degree in English with a concentration in creative writing at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville in 2022. For Davis, the degree carried particular meaning.

鈥淭o go from not being able to read to getting a degree focused on reading and writing, that was really special to me,鈥� Davis said.

When she arrived at Bowen in 2023, the experience felt more surreal than triumphant. After spending years building her life around the goal of becoming a lawyer, she suddenly found herself entering a profession no one in her family had firsthand experience navigating. During Bowen鈥檚 first-week program, Davis realized many of her classmates came from backgrounds that made law school feel more familiar.

鈥淚t was like a sick feeling,鈥� Davis said. 鈥淚鈥檓 finally here, and at this point I know my family can no longer prepare me further.鈥�

But at Bowen, Davis began finding new forms of guidance. She said many professors taught from their own experiences in practice, helping students understand not only legal theory, but also how attorneys navigate difficult conversations, building trust and managing professional relationships.

In courses such as Property Law, Decedents鈥� Estates and Business Associations, Davis said she began connecting the legal systems she was studying with the realities she had already seen growing up in rural Arkansas, an approach she said made the coursework feel more practical and grounded.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 something I really appreciated,鈥� Davis said. 鈥淚t can be hard when you haven鈥檛 experienced things. Otherwise, it鈥檚 just regurgitating law.鈥�

Outside the classroom, Davis sought out opportunities to work directly with rural communities across Arkansas, work she said felt closely connected to the same motivations that first drew her toward law as a child. As a Bowen Public Service Fellow, she completed more than 1,600 public service hours during law school and recently received the law school鈥檚 Distinguished Public Service Award in recognition of that work.

Her internships, externships and pro bono service included work with Legal Aid of Arkansas, the Arkansas Access to Justice Commission, the Arkansas Public Defender Commission and the Office of General Counsel for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The work gave Davis a broader understanding of what practicing law in rural Arkansas often requires. Attorneys, she said, frequently become not only legal advocates, but also connectors to services, relationships and resources that clients may not know exist.

One project that stayed with her most involved compiling legal and community resources across 15 Arkansas counties for Legal Aid of Arkansas. Davis worked to identify attorneys, housing resources, veterans services, food banks, shelters and other programs that could help connect residents with support beyond immediate legal representation.

鈥淚鈥檓 not even out of law school yet, and I already know that work is helping people,鈥� Davis said.

She also brought those interests into her academic leadership at Bowen. As this year鈥檚 symposium editor for the Arkansas Journal of Social Change and Public Service, Davis organized a symposium examining agriculture and legal issues affecting Arkansas farming communities.

After graduation this weekend, Davis plans to continue preparing for rural practice through the University of Arkansas School of Law鈥檚 LL.M. program in agricultural and food law while studying for the bar exam this summer. While completing the program in Fayetteville, Davis plans to work alongside Newport attorney Jim McLarty, a longtime family friend she has known since childhood. McLarty, who is approaching retirement, will help mentor Davis as she begins preparing to build her own rural practice focused on agriculture law, estate planning and family law.

For Davis, every stage of preparation has pointed back toward Newport.

鈥淏eing able to go back is keeping my promise,鈥� she said.

The post A Promise Kept: How Sarah Davis Prepared for a Law Career in Rural Arkansas appeared first on William H. Bowen School of Law.

He had worked construction and carpentry through college. He taught percussion in public school. He earned a real estate license. He worked retail in Nashville during the height of COVID-19 while trying to build a career in music. Through it all, he kept playing drums and singing with his band, Blackstrap, booking gigs and managing the business side of the work himself.

What connected those experiences was not a straight path toward law school, but a pattern.

鈥淚 would pick things up really quickly,鈥� Gathright said. 鈥淭hen I鈥檇 hit a ceiling.鈥�

One of the clearest examples came during his time working at a JD Sports store in Franklin, Tennessee. Hired first as a sales associate, Gathright quickly moved into leadership roles, becoming a supervisor within weeks and an assistant manager shortly afterward. Before long, the company offered him his own store.

On paper, it looked like success. But the offer forced him to confront a question that had followed him through several jobs already: Was he building a career he wanted, or simply succeeding at the next thing put in front of him?

鈥淚 only really liked selling,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 liked working with people. The further up you got, the less you actually get to do that.鈥�

At the same time, the music career that had brought him to Nashville had begun to stall as the live entertainment industry struggled to recover from the pandemic. When his lease ended, he packed up and moved home to El Dorado.

Looking back, Gathright now sees those years less as false starts and more as a process of elimination. Each job taught him something about the kind of work that energized him and the kind that did not. He liked solving problems. He liked working directly with people. He wanted autonomy. What wore him down was micromanagement, routine administration and work that felt static once he mastered it.

鈥淚 learned early on that I鈥檓 going to swim regardless,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 may not know what I鈥檓 doing when I start, but I鈥檓 going to figure it out.鈥�

For most of his life, Gathright had never imagined becoming an attorney 鈥� he had earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in music. Then he took a job working for a lawyer in El Dorado. The opportunity came through a connection he made while working in real estate, and at first, the position was practical. The firm needed help, and Gathright needed work. What surprised him was how much he enjoyed it.

鈥淚 enjoyed finding the missing pieces,鈥� he said.

The work felt different from anything he had done before. Instead of reaching a point where everything became routine, the legal field seemed to expand the deeper he got into it. There was always another angle to consider, another layer of analysis beneath the surface.

At one point, Gathright mentioned pursuing a paralegal certification to increase his earning potential. The attorney he worked for had another suggestion.

鈥淲hy don鈥檛 you just go to law school?鈥� he remembered him saying.

The idea had never seriously crossed his mind before.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 even know that I could go back to law school after the degrees that I got,鈥� Gathright said.

Still, Bowen offered something important: proximity to the life he had already built. The law school allowed him to remain connected to his family, his music network and the people who had supported him through years of uncertainty and career changes.

So he took the LSAT, applied to Bowen before receiving his score and committed fully to the opportunity in front of him.

鈥淚f I didn鈥檛 get into Bowen,鈥� he said, 鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 going to law school.鈥�

Like many of the decisions that brought him there, Gathright approached law school without having everything perfectly figured out. During his first semester at Bowen, he was commuting daily from El Dorado to Little Rock while planning a wedding and trying to avoid taking on significant student debt. To make morning classes, he often left home around 6 a.m. and did not return until late in the evening.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 have time to read,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 have time to do anything.鈥�

Eventually, after conversations with attorneys and mentors, he realized the arrangement was not sustainable. He moved to Little Rock during his first semester, and later, his wife, Emilia, joined him.

That support system, combined with Bowen鈥檚 hands-on approach to legal education, helped steady the transition into law school.

Outside the classroom, Gathright continued performing with his band while building legal experience through clerkships and externships at places including the Arkansas Municipal League, Simmons Bank, Nash Law Firm, and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

The experiences exposed him to a wide range of legal work, from estate planning and secured transactions to bankruptcy proceedings and business-related matters. Along the way, he also learned what did not fit.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 really want to litigate at all,鈥� he said with a laugh.

Instead, he found himself increasingly drawn toward transactional and tax-related work, particularly the strategic problem-solving involved in business and finance.

Then he took Federal Income Tax.

鈥淚t was my favorite class I鈥檝e taken in law school,鈥� Gathright said. 鈥淚t just made sense.鈥�

For Gathright, the appeal of tax law was not simply the subject matter. It was the realization that he had finally found a field that could continue challenging him long term.

鈥淭his is a field that keeps evolving,鈥� he said.

The more he studied business and tax law, the more Gathright recognized connections to experiences he had already accumulated outside the classroom. Years of managing bookings, contracts, payments and logistics for his band had given him an unexpected introduction to the business side of professional life. His work in retail, real estate and sales had also shaped the way he thought about systems, negotiation and client relationships.

As his interest in tax law grew, Gathright began talking with faculty mentors and practicing attorneys about what it would take to build a career in the field. Following graduation from Bowen this weekend and the bar exam this summer, he plans to begin the Tax LL.M. program at the University of Florida Levin College of Law while working with RMP in Little Rock.

In some ways, the direction surprised him. Tax law had never been part of the original plan because there had never really been an original plan. Instead, his path to law school was built piece by piece through experience, trial and error, and a willingness to keep moving toward opportunities that felt meaningful.

鈥淚 think something I鈥檝e noticed,鈥� he said, 鈥渋s that it really is never too late to start over or find a different path.鈥� That perspective has become one of the clearest lessons he carries from his journey to Bowen. 鈥淒on鈥檛 be afraid to pivot into something,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f you think you鈥檇 like it, go try it.鈥�

For Gathright, the willingness to step into unfamiliar territory repeatedly led him somewhere unexpected: a legal career that finally felt expansive enough to grow alongside him.

The post No Ceiling: How James Gathright Found Room to Grow in Law appeared first on William H. Bowen School of Law.

It is the kind of moment that does not show up on a r茅sum茅, but over time, it became a familiar one. Schoeppel Wilcox, who is nearly a decade older than many of her classmates, took on a big sister role for many during her time at the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law. They turned to her, not just for help with coursework, but for guidance on the practical decisions that shape daily life and professional confidence. She has talked peers through mock interviews, how to get a car loan, and how to choose a primary care provider.

In a place where students spend long hours together, often learning how to navigate unfamiliar environments alongside one another, those moments of trust can carry real weight. For Schoeppel Wilcox, they became some of the most meaningful parts of her experience at law school.

Schoeppel Wilcox was recently awarded the Bogle-Sharp Award, which goes to the graduate who is voted 鈥渕ost likely to succeed in the practice of law鈥� by their peers. 鈥淚 can’t think of any honor greater than one from those that have endured the trenches of law school with you,鈥� she said.

Long before classmates began turning to her for advice, Schoeppel Wilcox was learning from the people who quietly showed up for others in her own life.

She grew up in Fairview, Oklahoma, a rural town where her graduating class numbered just 36 students. Her mother taught middle school and often found understated ways to help families around them. If a student came to school without a winter coat, one might quietly appear a few days later in exactly the right size.

鈥淣o one needed to know that she did it,鈥� Schoeppel Wilcox said. 鈥淵ou just meet people鈥檚 needs where you can.鈥�

She saw the opposite side of that reality, too. Her father, a lawyer, died when she was seven after what she describes as a difficult and often painful marriage for her mother. Even with a college degree, a stable job and support from family, her mother was left trying to navigate financial systems and responsibilities she had never been allowed to manage on her own.

Over time, Schoeppel Wilcox began to recognize how many forms uncertainty can take, especially for people trying to enter unfamiliar professional spaces. She said she was fortunate to grow up surrounded by friends whose parents stepped in to help fill gaps when they saw them. 鈥淥ne of my friends鈥� dads taught me how to get a car loan,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hose aren鈥檛 things everyone gets taught.鈥�

Before law school, she worked in public service roles in Oklahoma and Arkansas, spent time working for a nonprofit in South Africa and helped run internship programs in multiple settings. Again and again, she found herself working with people who often already knew what they wanted for themselves and their families, but lacked access to resources, information or professional networks that could help them get there.

鈥淚 think people usually know what they need,鈥� she said. 鈥淪ometimes they just need someone to help guide them through it.鈥�

During law school, life outside the classroom rarely slowed down for Schoeppel Wilcox.

She and her wife Amie married just weeks before classes began at Bowen. During her first year, they renovated a 100-year-old home in Hillcrest while she adjusted to the demands of legal education. Throughout law school, she balanced classes with clerkships, externships and research work at the school.

Then, during her second year, just weeks after she was named editor-in-chief of the 糖心Vlog传媒LR Law Review, her mother died unexpectedly.

During that same period, Schoeppel Wilcox and her wife navigated fertility treatments, a miscarriage, the responsibility of settling her mother鈥檚 estate and helping care for her aunt in hospice in Oklahoma, all while continuing through law school.

鈥淵ou want to show up for everybody and do a good job and do it right,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 hard to balance it sometimes.鈥�

At home, she and her wife relied on a simple framework for making decisions during overwhelming seasons: knowing which responsibilities were 鈥済lass balls鈥� and which were 鈥渞ubber balls.鈥�

鈥淭he rubber balls bounce back,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he glass balls break.鈥�

Sometimes that meant missing a class to handle a family emergency and catching up later. Other times, it meant accepting support from the same community she had spent years supporting herself.

When her mother died, several classmates drove from Little Rock to Oklahoma for the funeral, a 14-hour round trip. Friends brought freezer meals, shared class notes and helped however they could. Faculty members, including Dean Gustafson and Professor Laura Bates, became steady sources of support and guidance throughout law school.

For Schoeppel Wilcox, those experiences reinforced the kind of community she had found at Bowen 鈥� one built not only through academic rigor, but through people continuing to show up for one another when life became difficult.

As editor-in-chief of the Law Review, Schoeppel Wilcox found herself responsible for keeping one of the law school鈥檚 most demanding student organizations moving forward.

鈥淭he role of the editor-in-chief is keeping the train on the tracks,鈥� she said.

The position required her to manage the publication process, coordinate with students and faculty and review every article that moved through the Law Review, all while balancing coursework, externships and responsibilities outside the classroom.

For Schoeppel Wilcox, leadership was less about authority than consistency. Early on, she worked to make sure everyone understood their responsibilities and trusted one another to carry them out. 鈥淭he clearest communication and assuming best intent of somebody,鈥� she said, 鈥渢hose are the two things I always try to take into a role like that.鈥�

The experience reinforced what had already become central to her time at Bowen: leadership often meant helping other people do their best work.

This weekend, Schoeppel Wilcox will graduate from Bowen Law after years defined as much by service and resilience as academic achievement. Following graduation, Schoeppel Wilcox will begin a two-year judicial clerkship with Chief U.S. District Judge Kristine G. Baker before joining the Rose Law Firm as a litigation associate. She said her externship with Judge Baker reaffirmed her belief in the legal system at its best: one grounded in preparation, fairness and respect for the people moving through it.

鈥淭here really is no substitute for being in the courtroom and watching it happen,鈥� she said.

For Schoeppel Wilcox, the path to this point has rarely been linear or uncomplicated. But as she prepares to graduate, she is thinking less about achievement than about the opportunities people create for those who come after them.

She recently learned that her grandfather once started law school himself before leaving to support his family, a decision that shaped the choices available to those around him. Her father eventually became a lawyer, while her mother, the first in her family to attend college, became a teacher because, as Schoeppel Wilcox recalls, she 鈥渄idn鈥檛 really know what else you could be other than that or a secretary.鈥�

Now, as she and her wife prepare to welcome their first child later this summer, Schoeppel Wilcox hopes the life they are building will offer their child more freedom and possibility than earlier generations had themselves.

The post A Community Built: How Chacey Schoeppel Wilcox Became the Person Classmates Turned To 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.

鈥淚t is easy to get lost in the paperwork,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut the difference you make is not always on the page. Clients are grateful to have someone walking alongside them through the process.鈥�

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 糖心Vlog传媒 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鈥檛 just the content that resonated 鈥� 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 鈥� and Fouz responded with a series of weekly meetings that turned writing into a manageable, confidence-building process. 鈥淢eeting once isn鈥檛 always enough,鈥� she said. 鈥淔or some students, consistent and individualized support makes a bigger difference.鈥�

Teaching has also deepened her own skills. 鈥淲hen I help someone work through an argument or organize a brief, I have to explain why something works, and that鈥檚 made me more intentional about my own writing.鈥�

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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Dean Colin Crawford opened the ceremony by reflecting on the perseverance shown by the graduating class. Many had completed their degrees through Bowen鈥檚 part-time evening program while balancing full-time jobs and other responsibilities, a commitment Crawford described as 鈥渧ery special鈥� to Bowen鈥檚 faculty and staff. 鈥淢ost of these students have been laboring at this for at least four years while also holding a full-time job,鈥� he said.

Judge Wendy Scholtens Wood of the Arkansas Court of Appeals delivered the keynote address. A 1996 Bowen alumna and accomplished attorney, Judge Wood offered graduates heartfelt advice rooted in both personal experience and the collective wisdom of her peers. In preparing her remarks, she consulted ten of her former classmates, now serving across sectors including public defense, nonprofit leadership, the judiciary, and private practice.

Her classmates included a federal magistrate judge, a venture capitalist, a nonprofit executive director, and attorneys in government and private roles. Wood emphasized civility as essential in Arkansas鈥檚 close-knit legal community, urged graduates to seek mentors and stay curious, and reminded them to prioritize personal well-being alongside professional achievement.

鈥淎s you begin your legal careers, I hope the advice from my class to yours serves you well,鈥� she said. 鈥淧lay the long game. Ask for help. Find mentors. And don鈥檛 be so focused on the pursuit of success that you sacrifice your health or your family.鈥�

Special guests at the ceremony included Chief Judge Phyllis M. Jones 鈥�97 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas, who was joined by her judicial clerk, Louis Houser 鈥�25; and Paul Wood 鈥�96, husband of keynote speaker Judge Wendy Wood.

A reception followed the ceremony in the Law Library. Graduates also participated in 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 university-wide commencement exercises on Saturday, Dec. 13.

Fall 2025 Bowen School of Law Graduates
Juris Doctor

• Samuel Patrick Bell
• Kristen Mary Corley
• Christina Marie Doncell, magna cum laude
• James Daniel French II
• Sonora Faye Gillespie
• James Thomas Herrod
• Sarah Khatib
• Elizabeth Jayne Kimble
• April Rene Muhammad
• Natalie Christine Rachel
• Kirsten Richey
• Johndrea Earlisha Tatum
• Verenice Perez Taylor, summa cum laude
• Mark Steven Young

The ceremony reflected Bowen鈥檚 mission to prepare students for meaningful legal careers grounded in public service, professionalism, and access to justice. As these graduates step into their legal careers, they carry forward that mission into courtrooms and communities across Arkansas and beyond.

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