The William H. Bowen School of Law at University of Arkansas–Little Rock

Law School Admissions

Application

Director of admissions Valerie D. James
Application deadline April 15
Full-time program application fee $0
Part-time program application fee $0
Besides the fall semester, can enter in N/A

The William H. Bowen School of Law at University of Arkansas--Little Rock

Admissions & Enrollment (Overall)

Acceptance rate 31.1% – Medium
Median undergraduate GPA for all program entrants 3.32
Median LSAT score for all program entrants 154

Admissions & Enrollment (Full-time)

Acceptance rate 31.3%
LSAT scores (25th-75th percentile) 153-158
Undergraduate GPA (25th-75th percentile) 3.08-3.69
Median undergraduate GPA for full-time program entrants 3.46
Median LSAT score for full-time program entrants 156

Admissions & Enrollment (Part-time)

Acceptance rate 29.3%
LSAT scores (25th-75th percentile) 149-154
Undergraduate GPA (25th-75th percentile) 2.88-3.46
Median undergraduate GPA for part-time program entrants 3.23
Median LSAT score for part-time program entrants 152

Law School Academics

Academic Program Details

Academic calendar Semester
Joint degrees offered
J.D./M.B.A. J.D./M.P.S.
J.D./M.P.A. J.D./MST
J.D./M.P.H. J.D./PhramD
J.D./M.D.
Special programs offered to J.D. students (as provided by the school)
We offer seven concurrent degrees: JD/MBA, JD/MPA, JD/MPH, JD/MPS, JD/MD, JD/MST and a JD/PharmD. The JD/MPS, with the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service, is the only one of its kind in the United States. We have three clinics: Litigation, Tax, and Mediation. We have a Public Service Externship Program and a Pro Bono Opportunities Program.
Programs/courses offered in
appellate advocacy intellectual property law
clinical training international law
dispute resolution tax law
environmental law trial advocacy
health care law

Curricular Offerings (Overall)

Classroom course titles, beyond the first-year curriculum, offered last year 106
Seminars 16
Positions available in seminars 257
Positions available in simulation courses 362
Positions available in faculty-supervised clinical courses 64
Student activities (as provided by the school)
We have two journals: the UALR Law Review and the Journal of Appellate Practice and Procedure. We participate in national and regional Moot Court Competitions and we have a full complement of student organizations, including an award winning Hispanic Law Students Association.

Curricular Offerings (Full-time)

Typical first-year full-time section size taught by full-time faculty (excludes small sections) 88
Is there typically a full-time “small section” of the first-year class taught by full-time faculty (excluding Legal Writing)? No
Typical size of first-year “small section” N/A
Positions filled in full-time program seminars 84
Positions filled in full-time program simulation courses 261
Positions filled in faculty-supervised full-time program clinical courses 38
Full-time students involved in field placements 63
Full-time students involved in law journals 37
Full-time students involved in advanced moot court or trial competitions 25
Full-time students enrolled in independent study 5

Curricular Offerings (Part-time)

Typical first-year part-time section size taught by full-time faculty (excludes small sections) 56
Is there typically a part-time “small section” of the first-year class taught by full-time faculty (excluding Legal Writing)? No
Positions filled in part-time program seminars 130
Positions filled in part-time program simulation courses 81
Positions filled in faculty-supervised part-time program clinical courses 6
Part-time students involved in field placements 2
Part-time students involved in law journals 17
Part-time students involved in advanced moot court or trial competitions 4
Part-time students enrolled in independent study 1

Faculty Profile (Fall 2011)

Student-faculty ratio 18.3:1 – High
Full- and part-time faculty 61
Full-time minority faculty 15.8%
Part-time minority faculty 7.1%
Total faculty 69
Total faculty (men) 60.9%
Total faculty (women) 39.1%
Total faculty (minorities) 11.6%

Class Size

Law School Ranking

#119 Best Law Schools

(2) Ranking by Specialties

#9 in Legal Writing
#50 in Part-time Law

Law Ranking Scores

Score 36
Peer assessment score (out of 5) 2.2
Assessment score by lawyers/judges (out of 5) 2.7
GPA (25th-75th percentile) 2.99-3.63
Median undergraduate GPA for all program entrants 3.32
LSAT scores (25th-75th percentile) 151-158
Median LSAT score for all program entrants 154
Acceptance rate 31.1% – Medium
Student-faculty ratio 18.3:1 – High
Graduates known to be employed at graduation N/A
Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation 86.1% – Medium
Bar passage rate (first-time test takers) 68.4% – Low
State where the greatest number of first-time test takers took the bar AR
Statewide bar passage rate (first-time test takers) 72.5%

Law School Student Body

Student Body (Overall)

Total Enrolled 476

Student Body (Full-time)

Enrollment (full-time) 325

Student Body (Part-time)

Enrollment (part-time) 151

Attrition Rates for Full- and Part-time Students (2010-2011)

First-year students discontinuing law school 5.7%
Second-year students discontinuing law school 6.2%
Third-year students discontinuing law school 1.4%
Fourth-year students discontinuing law school N/A
Male students discontinuing law school 4.5%
Female students discontinuing law school 4.0%

Law School Cost

Financial Aid Contact Information

Financial aid director Tammy Harrison
Financial aid phone (501) 569-3035
Financial aid application deadline March 1

Expenses

Tuition and fees
Full-time: $12,176 per year (in-state)
Full-time: $24,772 per year (out-of-state)
Part-time: $8,507 per year (in-state)
Part-time: $16,904 per year (out-of-state)
Room and board $8,262
Books $1,623
Miscellaneous expenses $4,720
Is the tuition the same for first-, second-, and third-year students? Yes
Does the university offer housing restricted to law students? No
Does the university offer graduate student housing for which law students are eligible? No
Does the university offer a public-interest scholarship program to current J.D. students? No

Grants (Full-time students)

Students receiving grants of less than one-half tuition 31.7%
Students receiving grants of one-half tuition or more but less than full 20.3%
Students receiving grants of full tuition 5.8%
Students receiving grants of more than full tuition 13.8%
Median grant amount $7,000
Grant range (25th–75th percentile) $2,824–$11,996
Full-time students receiving grants 71.7%

Grants (Part-time students)

Students receiving grants of less than one-half tuition 14.6%
Students receiving grants of one-half tuition or more but less than full 6.6%
Students receiving grants of full tuition 2.6%
Students receiving grants of more than full tuition 7.9%
Median grant amount $3,375
Grant range (25th–75th percentile) $1,500–$9,120
Part-time students receiving grants 31.8%

Indebtedness

Average indebtedness of 2011 graduates who incurred law school debt $63,334
Proportion who borrowed 85.3%
Does the school offer a loan repayment assistance program for 2011 J.D. graduates? No

Law School Library

Library Information Resources

Print titles (excluding nonbook titles) 46,226
Microform titles 56,134
Electronic titles 50,486
Other non-book titles 1,718
Total titles 154,564
Volumes (excluding microforms) 208,029
Volume equivalent microforms 112,378
Total volumes and volume equivalents 320,407
Number of volumes in the collection that are stored off site and are systematically retrievable 0
Library’s online catalog or website includes links to electronic titles or databases made available by another campus library or consortia Yes

Library Schedule of Operation

Number of hours per week library is open on a regular schedule 100
Number of hours per week professional staff are on duty on a regular schedule 70
Number of hours per week only full-time support staff are on duty on a regular schedule 14
Number of hours per week only students or other part-time staff are on duty on a regular schedule 17
Number of hours of reference service provided per week on a regular schedule 60
Number of weeks per year library operates on an abbreviated schedule 10
Number of hours per week library is open on an abbreviated schedule 58
Number of hours per week professional staff are on duty are on an abbreviated schedule 40
Number of hours per week only full-time support staff are on duty on an abbreviated schedule 4
Number of hours per week only students or other part-time staff are on duty on an abbreviated schedule 6
Number of hours of reference service provided per week on an abbreviated schedule 40
Number of weeks per year library operates on expanded schedule 5

Information Technology

Department(s) responsible for the law school information technology operations law school information technology department, law school library, university information technology department
Approximate number of full-time-equivalent information technology staff (excluding hourly students and other temporary staff) 3
Number of open, wired network connections available to students in the law library (excluding computer labs) 0
Number of open, wired network connections available to students in classrooms 0
Number of open, wired network connections available to students in computer labs 1
Number of open, wired network connections available to students elsewhere in the law school 0
Does the law school have a wireless network? Yes
Wireless network is available in the law library, in classrooms, in computer labs, in administrative/faculty offices and work areas, elsewhere in the law school
Does the school require entering students to own a computer? No

Physical Library Facilities

Net square feet of space assigned for library purposes 52,973
Total seats available for library users 400
Details about the library and other facilities (as provided by the school) The library serves both Pulaski County and the academic community. Housed in an outstanding facility, the four-story library seats 400 and has forty closed carrels. The law school is located in downtown Little Rock, less than two miles from the state capitol. It is housed in a spacious building that was completely renovated in 1992.

Law School Careers

Bar Statistics (Winter and Summer 2010 administrations)

State where the greatest number of first-time test takers took the bar AR
Bar passage rate (first-time test takers) 68.4% – Low
Statewide bar passage rate (first-time test takers) 72.5%

Class of 2010 Graduates

Total graduates 122
Graduates known to be employed at graduation N/A
Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation 86.1%

Class of 2010 Graduates-Class Breakdown at Graduation

Graduates whose employment status is unknown N/A
Graduates whose employment status is known N/A
Graduates known to be employed at graduation N/A
Graduates known to be enrolled in a full-time degree program N/A
Graduates known to be unemployed and seeking work N/A
Graduates known to be unemployed and not seeking work N/A

Class of 2010 Graduates-Class Breakdown at Nine Months

Graduates whose employment status is unknown 0.0%
Graduates whose employment status is known 100.0%
Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation 86.1%
Graduates known to be enrolled in a full-time degree program 4.9%
Graduates known to be unemployed and seeking work 8.2%
Graduates known to be unemployed and not seeking work 0.8%

Starting Salaries of Graduates Employed Full-time (Class of 2010)

25th percentile private sector starting salary $42,000
Median private sector starting salary $50,000
75th percentile private sector starting salary $65,000
Percent in the private sector who reported salary information 38%
Median public service starting salary $45,000

Areas of Legal Practice (Class of 2010)

Percent employed in academia 4.8%
Percent employed in business and industry 23.8%
Percent employed in government 18.1%
Percent employed in all judicial clerkships 5.7%
Percent employed in law firms 41.9%
Percent employed in public interest 5.7%
Percent employed in an unknown field 0.0%

Employment Location (Class of 2010)

Graduates employed in-state 82%
Graduates employed out-of-state 17.1%
Graduates employed in foreign countries 1%
Number of states where graduates are employed 11
New England (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT) 0.0%
Middle Atlantic (NY, NJ, PA) 0.0%
East North Central (IL, IN, MI, OH, WI) 0.0%
West North Central (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD) 1.9%
South Atlantic (DE, DC, FL, GA, MD, NC, SC, VA, WV) 3.8%
East South Central (AL, KY, MS, TN) 1.9%
West South Central (AR, LA, OK, TX) 89.5%
Pacific (AK, CA, HI, OR, WA) 0.0%
Mountain (AZ, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, WY) 1.9%
Employment location unknown 0.0%

Career Services

(Data appear as originally submitted by this school)

Career services operations The Career Services Office provides a variety of job search assistance including monthly job listings and educational workshops. Workshop topics include resume writing and job search strategies. Symplicity, an electronic career services management system, is used to facilitate sharing information between students/alumni and employers.

Job Type

Bar admission required/anticipated (e.g., attorney and corporate counsel positions, law clerks, judicial clerks) 64.7%
Bar admission required/anticipated – percent employed in full-time positions 97.1%
J.D. preferred, law degree enhances position (e.g., corporate contracts administrator, alternative dispute resolution specialist, government regulatory analyst, FBI special agent) 12.3%
J.D. preferred – percent employed in full-time positions 69.2%
Professional other (jobs that require professional skills or training but for which a J.D. is neither preferred nor particularly applicable; e.g., accountant, teacher, business manager, nurse) 20.0%
Professional other – percent employed in full-time positions 81.0%
Non-professional other (job that does not require any professional skills or training or is taken on a temporary basis and not viewed as part of a career path) 2.8%
Non-professional other – percent employed in full-time positions 100.0%