糖心Vlog传媒

Bowen grad plans to utilize legal skills for JAG career

A University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law graduate has plans to put his legal skills to use in a career as a Judge Advocate General (JAG) officer.听 Jason Cline, of North Little Rock, will graduate this month from Bowen. Cline said he鈥檚 a completely different person since he began law school during Bowen鈥檚 part-time program in 2015.听 Originally from Anchorage, Alaska, which includes a few summers working as a commercial fisherman, Cline moved to Arkansas in 2011 to work on political campaigns for a strategic communications firm. In November 2014, Cline and his then-girlfriend, Janelle Cline, an anchor for KATV, took on the challenge of law school together. They took the LSAT (Law School Admission Test) after only four weeks of study, and were both accepted to Bowen鈥檚 part-time law school program, the only program of its kind in the state, on a full ride. 鈥淭he benefit of the part-time program is that law school can be part of your life. It doesn鈥檛 have to dominate your life,鈥� Cline said. 鈥淲hile we were in law school, we were able to buy a house and have a kid and participate in the Army training that I鈥檓 passionate about. Taking time off for Infantry Officers School and Air Assault School added to these challenges, and law school was a major commitment, but the part-time program allowed us to do all those things we wanted to accomplish. Janelle just got the top bar score in the state, so obviously there was nothing missing from her education by doing the night program.鈥� Overall, 2015 proved to be an eventful year for Cline. He started law school, became a registered yoga instructor, and began his lifelong goal of entering the military and joined the Arkansas National Guard. 鈥淚鈥檝e got a lot of family in the military,鈥� Cline said. 鈥淢y father, brother, and uncle have all served. After college, I moved around a lot and traveled for work. I kept thinking that the older I got, the harder it will be to join. It鈥檚 always something I saw myself doing. I went to basic training when I was 28, when most of the other soldiers there are fresh out of high school.鈥� The Clines got engaged and married in 2017 and welcomed their son, Luke, in 2018, the timing of which caused the Clines to have to reschedule and shuffle some final exams. 鈥淚t was good to have a spouse with you in law school,鈥� Cline said. 鈥淛anelle and I put ourselves through the ringer. We had a kid in spring 2018. We both had finals with a newborn. Kids change your priorities completely. Having a kid while working full time and going to law school at night was difficult. I lost my dad while I was in law school right around the same time our son Luke was born. My dad passed from complications from Agent Orange contact from his deployments in Vietnam. Janelle and I experienced and fought through so much during law school that we are different people than we were when we started this journey.鈥� At Bowen, Cline was able to gain practical legal knowledge through work opportunities. He externed with the Pulaski County Prosecutor鈥檚 Office and served as a student attorney at Bowen鈥檚 Business Innovations Clinic.听 鈥淚 took part in the Business Innovations Clinic that was funded by a grant from the Arkansas Attorney General鈥檚 Office,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 got to work with a great startup based out of Little Rock and North Carolina. They provide transitional assistance for veterans who are leaving the service to get careers in the tech industry. I鈥檓 very passionate about helping service members and veterans, and getting to use my legal experience to do that is one experience that I am very appreciative of from law school.鈥� He鈥檚 thankful to Cody Hiland, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, for serving as his mentor during law school. 鈥淚 had an existing friendship with Cody Hiland. He was a great mentor my first year,鈥� Cline said. 鈥淚 got to observe him during his workday and meet with his trial team. It was great to see him grow from a local prosecutor to a federal prosecutor, and we鈥檝e maintained a good relationship through law school.鈥� Once Cline passes the bar exam, he plans to combine his passion for law and the military by pursuing a career as a JAG officer with the Army. In the end, he鈥檚 grateful he and his wife chose Bowen鈥檚 part-time program, because it鈥檚 allowed them to live the life they wanted while earning a law degree at the same time. 鈥淚鈥檓 a big advocate for Bowen,鈥� Cline said. 鈥淭he part-time program was fantastic. My wife and I will have law degrees and be able to practice law without having to give up three or four years of earning. We were able to still live our lives and get a great education at the same time. I鈥檝e enjoyed the professors and made relationships I鈥檒l keep up the rest of my life.鈥�