- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock /news-archive/tag/public-service/ ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Tue, 02 Aug 2022 12:14:51 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 Law school concludes judicial listening series /news-archive/2022/08/02/law-school-concludes-judicial-listening-series/ Tue, 02 Aug 2022 12:14:51 +0000 /news/?p=81940 ...]]> Center for Racial Justice and Criminal Justice Reform together with the hosted a Judicial Listening Series from March 28 through April 14. Events were held in each corner of the state and Little Rock, bringing together communities in these areas and the judges serving them. Samantha Alexander, Philip Hood, Elizabeth Kimble, and Zoya Miller, all community engagement fellows at the Center, planned, coordinated, and moderated the events with the assistance of local judges, under the light supervision of Center co-directors, Anastasia Boles and andré douglas pond cummings. “Everyone came to listen,” said Alexander. “There was a lot of conversation between the participating judges and the community. I believe each group walked away with a deeper understanding and broader perspective.” In many cases, community members discussed their experiences or those of loved ones and/or friends, how they believed the system had operated unjustly, and how that influenced their perception of the judiciary. In response, judges were able to explain their roles in the justice system and how factors such as funding and legislation can impact the judicial process. “For example, one concern was that the judges were an extension of law enforcement and that judges, prosecutors, and police officers all work together,” said Hood. “The judges were able to address that concern and explain that the judiciary is the last line of defense for justice, including remedying any bias that might be present.” Another topic was how advocates, such as those for mental health or veterans’ services, might be involved to provide better outcomes for defendants and keep them out of the court system. “Community advocates and pastors encouraged the judiciary to look at the cycle and see the person, not necessarily the recurring behavior,” said Kimble. A common thread in each session was the use of technology in the courts. Attendees discussed how Zoom hearings and virtual attendance had improved access to justice in their communities and what changes they hope will stay in place after Covid restrictions end. “The series was a great opportunity to open a channel that can lead to real change,” said Miller. At each event, the Center gathered data on individuals’ experiences with the Arkansas judiciary. The fellows will use this data to produce a final report that stakeholders can use to assess needs in the areas of racial justice and criminal justice. The Arkansas Judicial Council will continue its ongoing project, through the Center, by conducting future listening series events every few years.�� Community members and judges are eager to see the listening events continue and expand. The fellows echo that hope. “With this series, the judiciary is really doing something out of the box and continuing to restore public trust in the judiciary,” said Kimble. “This is needed and a benefit for the state.” The Judicial Listening Series was created in partnership with the Arkansas Judicial Council and the . The series was funded by a grant from the .]]> Bowen grad dedicates career to immigration law and public service /news-archive/2020/12/18/bowen-edith-chavez-de-oseguera-commencement/ Fri, 18 Dec 2020 15:11:46 +0000 /news/?p=78095 ...]]> A fall 2020 graduate of the William H. Bowen of School of Law at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock with a passion for public service plans to put her law degree to use in immigration law and a life of service.�� “The legal process is already challenging for U.S. citizens,” said Edith Chavez De Oseguera, who is earning a Juris Doctor from Bowen this month. “It’s much more challenging for those who are newcomers. There is such a need for immigration attorneys, especially for those who speak other languages. After graduation and passing the bar, I plan to fulfill my vocation as an immigration attorney, and I plan to continue giving back to my community by doing pro bono work for vulnerable clients.” A native of Cancun, Mexico, Chavez De Oseguera is a 2016 graduate of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in international business. She said her family’s experience with immigration is what motivated her to work in this area of law. “My desire to study law stemmed from my vocation to service, my grandfather’s influence as an attorney, my family’s political persecution, and my own personal experiences as an immigrant,” Chavez De Oseguera said. “My mother is from Nicaragua, I’m from Mexico, and now I live in the U.S. I’m a third culture kid. My mom moved to Mexico as a refugee of the Nicaraguan Revolution. My grandfather was an attorney in Nicaragua and my mother’s family suffered persecution. I think that is what draws me to pursue humanitarian law.” Chavez De Oseguera lives in Bella Vista, Arkansas, with her husband and two daughters. She entered Bowen as a part-time law student in 2017 while also working as a law clerk and interpreter at an immigration law firm. “As I reflect upon my life as a law student, I recognize each and every person who helped me throughout my law school journey,” she said. “Law school is highly demanding, but it is even more rewarding because with one single action, we have the power to instantly improve someone else’s life and effect change.” While at Bowen, Chavez De Oseguera served as president and secretary of the Hispanic Law Students Association. A large part of her life has been dedicated to public service. Her public service has included serving as an interpreter for the Mexican Consulate, volunteering for efforts to encourage voter participation with Indivisible Little Rock, and serving as a panelist to promote diversity in education for groups. In 2019, she received the Dean’s Certificate of Public Service from Bowen. “The emphasis of my career has been helping out people and doing any kind of humanitarian work,” Chavez De Oseguera said. “I truly believe that we live in a community where we all need to help each other. I want to leave a better world for my children.” Chavez De Oseguera has volunteered with the Center for Arkansas Legal Services and a couple of Bowen law clinics that have shown her the need for more lawyers in rural areas and the vulnerabilities in the legal system.�� “From my Bowen professors, I take their passion for the law, their vast knowledge, and their commitment to diversity and inclusion,” she said. “From the many learning experiences, my favorite one was representing low-income clients as a Rule XV law student for the Delta Clinic. Through this experience, I saw the need for attorneys, judges, and non-profit organizations in rural areas. At the beginning of November, I helped a client get a divorce, and she was immensely grateful. Sometimes, people wait 10 or 15 or even more to get a divorce because they can’t afford it. Some of them are victims of domestic abuse and haven’t been able to get away to be free to start a new life.” Chavez De Oseguera hopes her story will inspire others to pursue a career in law. “Although as a newcomer I had self-doubts about entering law school, I was able to overcome them with passion and perseverance,” she said. “Thus, my only advice to potential law students is trust yourself and give it your best.”]]> Felan receives Faculty Excellence in Public Service award for College of Business /news-archive/2020/04/23/felan-faculty-excellence-business/ Thu, 23 Apr 2020 13:16:33 +0000 /news/?p=76751 ...]]> “Dr. Felan’s service to the community and his profession have been exemplary,” said Roger Dorsey, associate professor of accounting. “In particular, his work with Junior Achievement of Arkansas, the Little Rock Diamond Foundation, the Arkansas College Teachers of Business and Economics, the Venture Center, and the Waters Edge Neighborhood Association has been distinguished and is a model for ��Vlog��ý Little Rock faculty.” Since joining ��Vlog��ý Little Rock faculty in 2002, Felan has received two service awards and been named Who’s Who Among American Teachers. Felan has served on nine education-related committees and on six professional boards. The focus of Felan’s volunteer activity is on the education of young people. He has served with Junior Achievement of Arkansas since 2005 on its State Board of Directors, as chair of several board committees, and as a classroom volunteer. Thanks in part to Felan’s fundraising and leadership, Junior Achievement of Arkansas recently offered nearly 600 workforce readiness, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship classes around the state to more than 13,000 students. “Dr. Joe Felan has always shown great passion for our organization, mission, and students,” said Tonya Villines, president of Junior Achievement of Arkansas. “Under his leadership, our organization has seen amazing growth both financially and geographically. All of this is due to Dr. Joe Felan’s dedication, commitment, and leadership.” Felan’s passion for teaching workforce readiness and financial literacy recently extended to a new partnership with James Bobo, Felan’s former Executive MBA student and president of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Alumni Board of Directors. Bobo has founded the Little Rock Diamond Foundation, a nonprofit with a compassionate aim of making a positive difference in the lives of underserved youth in central Arkansas. “Since I started the Little Rock Diamond Foundation, Joe has been behind us 100 percent,” said Bobo. He stepped right in with great advice on moving our programs forward. He also volunteered to conduct a class for a group of young people ages 13-17, who participated in our ‘Huddle Up!’ program. The kids fell in love with Joe and had an awesome learning experience in financial management from Joe’s teaching technique.” In 2017, Felan co-founded “T3” (The Think Tank) with Dr. Joe Bell, associate professor of management, to facilitate discussion among distinguished business leaders and educators about a wide range of topics concerning the community, region, state, and world. T3 discussions at the Venture Center have considered issues such as employment opportunities, entrepreneurship and startups, health care, and community relations. Felan received a Ph.D. from the University of South Carolina, and M.B.A. and B.B.A. degrees from Baylor University.]]> Hudson receives Faculty Excellence in Public Service Award for College of Art, Letters, and Sciences /news-archive/2020/04/23/hudson-faculty-excellence-cals/ Thu, 23 Apr 2020 12:53:54 +0000 /news/?p=76742 ...]]> Since 1997, Hudson has served as director of the Arkansas Space Grant Consortium (ASGC) and chair of the NASA ASGC Board, as well as being director of the Arkansas NASA EPSCoR Research Program. He provides leadership and guidance to faculty and students at the 17 ASGC campuses and to all campuses involved in NASA EPSCoR research. “The Arkansas Space Grant Consortium as directed by Dr. Hudson is recognized by state officers, colleges, and universities as a valuable benefit to the college campuses and the State of Arkansas as a whole,” said Dr. Mariya Khodakovskaya, professor of biology. Thanks in part to Hudson’s direction, portions of the NASA ASGC and NASA EPSCoR programs are now recognized by NASA program managers as best practices for other Space Grant Consortia and state EPSCoR committees. Further, Arkansas is in the top 25 percent in winning EPSCoR research awards. “Dr. Hudson is a valuable asset to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in research and service,” Khodakovskaya said. “His direction of the Arkansas Space Grant Consortium has provided special minority awards to students at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and the 16 other Arkansas member campuses.” With the goal of gathering input across Arkansas for determining EPSCoR goals, Hudson has been involved in national planning sessions and policy determinations for EPSCoR. Hudson visits Capitol Hill on a regular basis to encourage federal legislators to continue funding for agency EPSCoR programs at NASA, the National Science Foundation, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Energy. Hudson’s outstanding record in Arkansas and his service to other state EPSCoR committees landed him an appointment to the five-member NASA EPSCoR Executive Committee in 2012, which provides leadership to the 28 NASA EPSCoR Directors. As such, Hudson is a national senior spokesman in the NASA Space Grant and EPSCoR programs, other agency EPSCoR programs, and STEM programs. Hudson has been instrumental in guiding the course of national efforts for EPSCoR programs within the public sector and universities. “I believe Dr. Keith Hudson to be one of our State’s outstanding people who bring honor to themselves, their home institutions, and to the State of Arkansas,” said Khodakovskaya. Hudson received a Ph.D. from Baylor University, a M.S. degree from Sam Houston State University, and a B.S. degree from East Texas Baptist College.]]> Shroat-Lewis receives Faculty Excellence in Public Service Award for Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology /news-archive/2020/04/22/shroat-lewis-receives-faculty-excellence/ Wed, 22 Apr 2020 17:12:48 +0000 /news/?p=76747 ...]]> , assistant professor in the Department of Earth Sciences, has been awarded the 2020 Faculty Excellence Award for Public Service in the Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology.�� Shroat-Lewis is well known for her tremendous efforts in serving the public good. She has compiled an impressive record of service, including women in the geosciences, K-12 teachers and students, and the university community.�� Shroat-Lewis currently serves on eight ��Vlog��ý Little Rock committees, including the Faculty Senate, and is a member of the Donaghey Scholars program teaching faculty. Nationally, Shroat-Lewis serves on the Association of Women Geoscientists Chrysalis Scholarship committee. “��Vlog��ý Little Rock is a better place because of Dr. Shroat-Lewis’ actions and accomplishments,” said Dr. Margaret McMillan, chair of the Department of Earth Sciences. McMillan noted that in the eight years Shroat-Lewis has been a member of the faculty, she has dedicated her expertise as a geoscience educator and researcher in service to the community, state, and nation in the areas of science advocacy and outreach and in providing opportunities for geoscience students.�� “This is extremely important, as a better understanding of science by all is needed to help us confront the societal challenges of natural hazards such as flooding and earthquakes, energy resources such as the use of fossil fuels versus renewables, and the impacts of a changing climate,” said McMillan. Shroat-Lewis has given public presentations on the paleontology of Arkansas, coral reefs, Darwin and the Galapagos Islands, and the geology and ecology of the Bahamas. She has also served as a fossil expert at the Museum of Discovery. She provides science content and merit badges for the Boy Scouts of America and the Girl Scouts of America as well as serves as a judge for numerous science fairs and the Arkansas Science Olympiad. Shroat-Lewis received a Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and M.S. and B.S. degrees from the University of North Carolina, Willmington.]]> Bowen Law graduate continues to demonstrate mastery with highest bar exam score in state /news-archive/2019/11/19/highest-bar-exam-score-in-state/ Tue, 19 Nov 2019 14:46:26 +0000 /news/?p=75685 ...]]> Achievement is no stranger to University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law summa cum laude graduate Cara Tomlinson Butler. Making the highest score among all statewide participants on the Arkansas Bar Examination in July 2019 was just one of her many accomplishments.�� Between 2016 and 2019, Bowen honored Butler with 12 Top Paper awards, including awards in the subjects of constitutional law, contracts, federal income taxation, research writing and analysis, and professionalism and the work of lawyers. Bowen also selected Butler among the top 10 percent of students to serve on the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Law Review Editorial Board as notes and comments editor.�� Since graduating from Bowen in May 2019, Butler has been serving in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit as a clerk for Chief Judge Lavenski Smith. The Eighth Circuit has federal appellate jurisdiction over district courts in Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota.�� “Working as an appellate clerk in the Court of Appeals has been a great learning experience,” Butler said. “Not only have I sharpened my skills, but I now have a good sense of what types of legal cases appeal to me most.” Next fall, Butler hopes to engage in public sector work, possibly civil litigation. “I enjoyed my previous clerkships with the Arkansas Municipal League and state Attorney General’s office,” Butler said. “I look forward to expanding my opportunities to provide legal services for the public good.” Public service was the inspiration that originally drew Butler to the Bowen School of Law. “Bowen has a big push for public service, which was a good fit for me,” Butler said. “Bowen is also a really special school. There are opportunities to clerk in the capital city of Little Rock. Gaining hands-on experience while you are still in law school is a rare opportunity. It’s a really special school, and I’m glad to be a Bowen graduate.” Butler is thankful for her professors at Bowen who helped provide her with opportunities. “Professors George Mader and Josh Silverstein have been very influential in shaping my legal writing, which is so important,” Butler said. “They also helped provide me opportunities by writing letters of recommendation for clerkships, and I served as a research assistant for Silverstein.” Originally from Searcy, Arkansas, Butler graduated in May 2016 from Lyon College with degrees in English and economics before pursuing a law degree at the William H. Bowen School of Law, which she completed in May 2019.]]> Law students’ elbow grease makes a big impact /news-archive/2019/09/09/elbow-grease/ Mon, 09 Sep 2019 16:25:06 +0000 /news/?p=75036 ...]]> Incoming students at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law began their first fall semester on Aug. 10 with a day of public service at Booker T. Washington Elementary School on South Main Street in Little Rock.�� After a welcome from law school administration, 161 students converged on Washington’s campus in record-breaking rain. Little Rock received 3.87 inches of rain, beating a record that had stood since 1915. Through it all, the students, their group leaders, and Bowen Law School staff completed projects both inside and outside the elementary school. “We did an ambitious project last year at Rockefeller Elementary,” Assistant Dean of Student Affairs Rejena Grotjohn said. “This year was even larger. Rebecca Nugent, our student affairs program manager, put a lot of time, effort, and energy into ensuring everything ran as smoothly as possible.” Students worked in teams under the supervision and encouragement of upper-level law students. It was a chance to get acquainted, build support networks, and learn Bowen Law School’s core values first-hand. “Bowen’s core values are access to justice, public service, and professionalism,” Bowen Dean Theresa Beiner said. “That’s applicable not only in the legal profession, but in teaching students to see a need in their own neighborhoods and know it’s possible to fill those needs. Today, it’s paint and gravel. In the future, it may be representing a client pro bono, drafting legislation, or lobbying for policy changes.” Once the lightning stopped, students in rain gear went to work reclaiming an existing arboretum, contributed by former principal Katherine Snyder, on the north side of the campus by trimming trees and laying a gravel pathway to allow easier access. In the playground, students planted a tree to honor Snyder, who recently retired after 30 years at the elementary school. The tree was donated by Bemis Tree Farm in Little Rock. In addition, Bowen Law School students created a new seating area. “The school said they had a shaded area under an awning, but nowhere to sit if they wanted to have outdoor activities,” Kristen Minton, director of academic support and bar success, said. Using tires donated by Minton’s father and child-safe paint and metal benches donated by Bowen’s Student Bar Association, students created a bright spot for students and staff to enjoy the outdoors. “The new class/reading area under the awning is a big hit,” Assistant Principal Hazel Harris said. “Many students spend their recess time congregating there.” Teams of Bowen Law School students also refreshed the paint on “peace paths” at every entrance to the elementary school. “The peace paths encourage students to take a moment to think before they act, to express their anger and frustrations in a respectable manner using effective language, and to repair harm inflicted, intentionally or unintentionally, on others,” Harris said. “The peace paths correlate with our move toward restorative justice.” Bowen Law School students were just as busy inside the building, and the school’s media center was the hub of activity. This year, incoming law students participated in a book drive conducted by the Student Bar Association. New students were encouraged, through some friendly competition, to bring new books suitable for children in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. The 161 incoming students collected almost 1,200 books. They stuffed over 400 sacks, one for each elementary student, with a book, eraser, stickers, and a personal note of encouragement from a law school student. Harris said the students will receive their books during a special presentation. “I cannot wait to see their expressions when they open their book bags,” Harris said. “This will be an amazing treat for our students. The handwritten note just makes it even more special.” The remaining books will be available in the Booker T. Washington Elementary School library. On the other side of the media center, law students worked in groups to create colorful origami butterflies that were then used to decorate an encouraging bulletin board in the main entry hall. The message “Until you spread your wings you’ll have no idea how far you can fly” welcomed elementary students back to school. Down another hallway, a group of students worked on their math and art skills by painting a colorful fraction mural to help students visualize measurements. “The fraction wall is not only beautiful, but it provides a bigger than life view of how fractions relate to each other,” Harris said. “On several occasions, I have walked by and noticed students studying the wall.” Some students found ways to assist individual teachers. A group helped teacher Stephany Fields get her classroom ready for students. “It was going to take me most of the day to get this finished,” Fields said. “This group accomplished many of my tasks in under an hour.” “You would be amazed at the impact just a small word of encouragement has on a child,” Harris said. “It may seem small at the time, but the law students’ sacrifice of their time and the wonderful acts of kindness they extended are going to mean the world to our students.” The event made a lasting impression on Bowen Law School students, as well. By the time they sat down for a barbecue lunch, they’d begun bonding with classmates. “None of us got here on our own. We’ve all had people in our lives who valued our education and the opportunities it creates for us,” Charles Case, an incoming law student, said. “I think this was a chance for us to help someone else feel the same way about their education. We got a little wet, but what a great way to get to know some of our new classmates here at Bowen.”]]> Bowen Law Students Help Provide Legal Services for Rural Arkansans /news-archive/2019/06/20/bowen-legal-aid/ Thu, 20 Jun 2019 13:41:45 +0000 /news/?p=74521 ...]]> After spending her spring break providing pro bono legal services to rural Arkansas residents, a recent graduate of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law is more committed than ever to providing legal help for state residents that have restricted access to lawyers.�� Students from the William H. Bowen School of Law spent their spring break providing legal services on the road to rural communities in Arkansas. Abigail Brenneman, Andrew Rogers, Libby Nelson, and Lisa Roam took part in Legal Aid of Arkansas’s Spring Break on the Road to Justice program in March. “This program definitely increased my awareness of the lack of access to legal services in rural areas of Arkansas and reinforced my decision to try to make my services accessible to folks in some of those underserved areas,” said Brenneman, 25, of Hot Springs. In partnership with students from the University of Arkansas School of Law, they provided estate-planning services to elderly residents under the supervision of Legal Aid and volunteer attorneys. “With the Road to Justice Program, we wanted the students to get practical experience as well as understand the importance and the need for pro bono service,” said Greneda Johnson, director of pro bono for Legal Aid. “The students helped ease the burden of 74 individuals by helping them to plan for their future and save their family from having to make difficult decisions in the event that they become incapacitated or after their gone.” While traveling the state, the students volunteered in Flippin, Newport, Jonesboro, and Brockwell. The first day took the group to a wills clinic at Marion County Senior Activity Wellness Center, where they worked with 30 clients to produce 84 documents. Next, the students helped 24 people and drafted 73 documents in Newport and Jonesboro. On the third day, the students served 20 clients and created 50 documents in Brockwell. “The key take away from my experience is that it is not an attorney’s job to tell a client what to do, even if they literally say, ‘Tell me what to do.’ Instead, It is the attorney’s job to explain to them, efficiently and effectively, the consequences and implications of the client’s various options and then allow them to make their choices,” Brenneman said. Access to legal services is a problem for many Arkansans living in rural areas with low income. The Spring Break on the Road to Justice program is one of many initiatives by Legal Aid of Arkansas to address access-to-justice issues in Arkansas, which has the fewest attorneys per capita in the country with approximately one attorney for every 400 residents in the state. Brenneman will take the bar exam in July and eventually wants to open her own law firm in Montgomery County. The skills she learned during her spring break experience has helped prepare her for the future. “I decided to participate in the program because I wanted to gain practical knowledge about estate planning and client interviewing in general,” Brenneman said. “Most memorable to me, were the amazing people at Legal Aid of Arkansas. They were so patient and encouraging.”]]> Bowen Law School grad plans to right rural wrongs with second career in legal aid /news-archive/2018/12/14/cynthia-aikman-gradu/ Fri, 14 Dec 2018 14:05:45 +0000 /news/?p=72977 ...]]> A U.S. Army veteran has plans to spend her “second act” helping local residents in her rural home county of Yell gain access to legal representation.�� “The reason I went to law school is I want to do legal aid in my community,” said Cynthia Aikman, 55, of Bluffton. “We don’t have any legal aid services in Yell County. The closest one is an hour away. It is a major problem for this rural county, so that’s my goal.” Aikman will graduate from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law on Dec. 15. Although she already has an MBA, Aikman was inspired to attend law school after seeing so many changes that hurt her local community. “Our school district consolidated after 50 years. We thought we were protected because we were so isolated. Kids are on the school bus up to two hours each way,” Aikman said. “There is also the whole cell tower issue. I testified in front of our state senators about how not having cell phone coverage affects our lives, and we need it more than anyone. We are away from our houses doing possibly dangerous jobs in agriculture, and we can’t dial 911. Many of our rural post offices were closed. All of this stuff was happening, and I decided I needed to go to law school to get on the other side of things. I am just trying to right some of these rural wrongs. I’ve learned a lot. I might even run for the legislature one day.” While starting law school with the best of intentions in 2013, Aikman was forced to leave after a year due to health problems. “I have Lupus, and stress is a trigger,” she said. “Everyone in my family was worried that I wouldn’t be able to do it. The second time, I decided I am going to do it for fun, and I won’t be stressed out. The Disability Resource Center had lots of ideas. I wasn’t trying to be the top of the class. I was just in it to learn it.” Living nearly two hours away, Aikman drove in weekly and stayed with her daughter on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday nights so she could attend night classes at Bowen. While in law school, she was a member of the Christian Legal Society, where she ran a multi-year Bible study, as well as the Black Law Students Association and Outlaw, a student organization dedicated to promoting diversity, raising awareness of legal issues affecting Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) people, and maintaining an open atmosphere of respect, equality, and justice for all. “Cindy is loved by her fellow students and respected by her professors,” said Jessie Burchfield, Bowen’s associate dean for information and technology services. “In the fall semester of 2018, she volunteered over 200 hours at the Center for Arkansas Legal Services. Her passion is to provide pro bono services to those who need legal help and can’t afford it.” Aikman said she loved working pro-bono cases for people in need but found the experience eye opening. “It’s crazy what the full-time lawyers take care of. The lawyer I worked for probably had 80 cases at any one time,” she said. “There are so many cases coming in, and there is such a need for it. You knock out case after case after case. Anyone who volunteers there wants to work in legal aid because you see such a need for it.” Aikman credits Sarah Jenkins, Charles C. Baum Distinguished Professor of Law, and Burchfield, who have both served as advisors to the Christian Legal Society, for serving as her mentors at Bowen. “They made themselves available to all the students and especially everyone who was in the club,” she said. “They would take us to lunch if any of the students had any problems. When students have personal problems, they show up, and they are interested. They are accessible, and they are sincere.” In January, Aikman will begin a two-month course to help her study for the bar exam, which she will take later in the semester. As she reflects on her time at Bowen, she is sad to see that part of her life come to an end, but excited to start the next chapter in her career. “I just loved every minute at Bowen,” Aikman said. “I loved all my classes and all my professors. I would recommend it to anyone. You are never too old to change careers, and law is a good one.”]]> New Bowen Law School students give back by volunteering at Rockefeller Elementary /news-archive/2018/09/17/bowen-rockefeller-elementary/ Mon, 17 Sep 2018 09:07:23 +0000 /news/?p=71866 ...]]> William H. Bowen School of Law has always emphasized the importance of public service to its students.�� This year was no different as the 141 new first-year students, as well as 15 upper-class Dean’s Fellows, began the 2018 school year by volunteering at Winthrop Rockefeller Elementary School and Early Childhood Center for their First Week community service project on Aug. 11. The goal of this project was to allow law students to put Bowen’s core value of public service to work. “So many of our students enter law school with aspirations of public service that tend to get buried beneath a stressful first-year curriculum,” said Rejena Grotjohn, assistant dean for student affairs. “The purpose of the First Week community service project is to keep our first-year students focused on the reason many of them chose to apply to law school.” At Rockefeller, law students repainted basketball goals and attached new nets, repainted the U.S. map on the playground, as well as constructed a paper tree in the cafeteria that they filled with encouraging notes to students and teachers. Additionally, Bowen students landscaped Rockefeller’s main entry by planting flowers and greenery, mulching and irrigating the flowerbeds, painting retaining walls, weeding around the grounds, and trimming crepe myrtles on the campus. Sarah Fendley, a second-year law student and Dean’s Fellow who participated in this project, said it was very important to remember that children are part of the future of our community in Little Rock, as well as the nation. “Ensuring that these children feel engaged and wanted in their schools and communities is a crucial step in helping them complete their education and become engaged members and leaders in society,” she said. “It’s more than mulch and paint, it is an investment in our future.” Dr. Shoutell Richardson, principal of Rockefeller, said the staff members at Rockefeller were delighted to enter the doors for the new school year, surrounded by a positive climate that is conducive to learning. “Everything you touched made a difference in the life of a child,” she said. “Thanks for being heroes to Rockefeller, ordinary people doing extraordinary things.”]]>