UA Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law

08/29/2026

Bowen’s First Week events gave our newest students an early opportunity to begin building the professional relationships that will shape their law school experience and future careers.

As part of orientation, Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, PLLC hosted a reception for Bowen’s incoming first-year students. The first floor of the law library was filled with Mitchell Williams attorneys, faculty, staff and members of the new class enjoying conversation, networking and time together as the semester began.

We are especially grateful to our friends at Mitchell Williams Law for their continued support of Bowen and for helping welcome the next generation of lawyers into our professional community.

08/28/2026

Bowen’s newest out-of-state students received a warm Arkansas welcome before the start of the semester.

For the past several years, Bowen alumnus Chad Cu***ng Jr. '07, shareholder and director at Gill Ragon Owen P.A., has hosted a dinner reception at his home for students who are new to Arkansas. The gathering gives students a chance to build friendships, connect with the Bowen community and learn more about Little Rock and central Arkansas as they settle into their new home.

This year, Dean Colin Crawford joined the students for the evening along with MaryScott Polk Timmis, assistant dean of admissions, and Blake Buchanan, director of development and external relations.

For dessert, attendees enjoyed Bowen-themed sugar cookies from Community Bakery.

We are grateful for alumni like Chad whose generosity and hospitality help make Bowen a welcoming community from the very beginning.

08/27/2026

Finding your place at Bowen starts early.

During First Week, our newest students had the chance to meet members of Bowen’s student organizations, learn about opportunities to get involved and begin building connections with classmates across the law school.

From professional interests and public service to leadership and community, student organizations are one of the many ways Bowen students can shape their law school experience beyond the classroom.

We loved seeing our students make those first connections before the semester even began.

08/26/2026

Bowen is teaming up with Legal Aid of Arkansas for a Facebook Live presentation on back-to-school tax credits this Thursday, Aug. 27, at noon.

Jennifer Gardiner, director of Legal Aid of Arkansas’s Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic, and Xul Perez, assistant professor of clinical education and director of Bowen’s Tax Clinic, will lead two 20-minute sessions designed to help families understand valuable tax credits from childhood through college.

The presentation is open to students, parents, faculty, staff and members of the broader community.

Watch live on Facebook at Legal Aid of Arkansas, Inc.

08/26/2026

Becoming a lawyer begins with more than the first day of class. It begins with a commitment to the profession and the community you will serve.

Last week, Bowen welcomed our incoming students at the annual Pledge of Professionalism and Pinning Ceremony. Arkansas Supreme Court Associate Justice and Bowen alumnus Cody Hiland ’98 delivered the keynote address, encouraging students to approach their legal education and careers with hard work, resilience, civility and integrity.

Dean Colin Crawford also welcomed the class and reminded students that their professional reputations begin from their first days in law school.

Following the ceremony, that connection to the profession continued at the Dean’s Reception, where Pulaski County Bar Association President Erin Lewis '15 and Arkansas Bar Association Young Lawyers Section Chair Eli Cummins '22 joined Dean Crawford in welcoming students to Arkansas’s legal community and encouraging them to get involved.

For our newest Bowen students, it was an introduction not only to law school, but to the lawyers, judges and professional organizations that will be part of their journey from the beginning.

Read more about the Pinning Ceremony: https://ualr.edu/law/2026/08/20/bowen-law-pinning-ceremony-cody-hiland/

08/25/2026

A new semester starts long before the first class.

Over the past few weeks, Bowen has been hard at work getting ready to welcome students back, inside and out. Windows were cleaned, the entry sign was restored, and the grounds were tended and spruced up, while faculty and staff prepared for another academic year.

Classes began yesterday, and we are glad to see Bowen filled with students again. Here’s to a strong start to the new academic year.

08/25/2026

Last Thursday and Friday, Bowen students took another step toward their legal careers through On-Campus Interviews.

OCIs give students the opportunity to connect directly with legal employers, learn more about different practice settings and explore where their skills and interests might lead after law school.

We are grateful to Mitchell Williams Law for sponsoring lunch during Thursday’s interviews and to Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC for sponsoring Friday’s lunch. Their support helped us welcome students and employers while making two busy days of interviews a little more hospitable.

Thank you to both firms for investing in Bowen students and supporting their professional development.

08/22/2026

Congratulations to Bowen alumnus Cory Cox ’00, who has been appointed to serve as a special justice of the Supreme Court of Arkansas.

Cox brings decades of public service and legal experience to the role, including work in state government, public policy and criminal justice. He will serve temporarily in place of fellow Bowen alumna Justice Barbara Webb ’82.

We are proud to see Bowen graduates continuing to serve Arkansas at the highest levels of the legal profession. We congratulate Cory on this appointment and wish Justice Webb well.

08/21/2026

Last night, Bowen Law welcomed its newest law students with a commitment to the values that will guide them throughout law school and their legal careers.

At this year’s Pledge of Professionalism and Pinning Ceremony, Arkansas Supreme Court Associate Justice Cody Hiland '98 encouraged students to work hard, remain resilient, act with integrity and approach the practice of law with civility and professionalism.

The ceremony marks an important first step as our newest students begin preparing to serve clients, communities and the justice system.

Read more about the ceremony and Justice Hiland’s message to the incoming class:

At the Bowen Law pinning ceremony, Arkansas Supreme Court Justice Cody Hiland welcomed new students with a message of resilience, integrity and professionalism.

08/20/2026

BTS of today’s official 1L headshots before the Pinning Ceremony!