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The School of Law
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University of Arkansas School of Law
107 Leflar Law Center
Waterman Hall
Dean of the School
107 Leflar Law Center
575-5601
Law School Admissions
575-3102
National Center for Agricultural Law
Research and Information
575-7640
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Dean
Robert B. Moberly, B.S., J.D.
University of Wisconsin
Associate Dean of Academic Affairs
Carol R. Goforth, B.A., J.D.
University of Arkansas
Associate Dean for Students
James K. Miller, B.S.B.A., J.D.
University of Arkansas
World Wide Web
http://law.uark.edu
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FACULTY
- Distinguished Professor Gitelman
- Distinguished Professor Emeritus Looney
- Professors Ahlers, Beard, Brill, Flaccus, Goforth, Guzman, Judges,
Killenbeck, Laurence, Leflar, Matthews, Moberly, Mullane, Norvell, Richards,
Steinkamp, Watkins
- Professors Emeriti Carnes, Copeland, Pedersen, Witte
- Associate Professors Atkinson, Bailey, Brummer, Kilpatrick, Nance,
Seligmann, Sheppard
- Research Associate Professors Harbison, Sampson
- Assistant Professors Ewelukwa, Kelley, Schneider
- · Research Assistant Professors Coats, Foster, Tarvin
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The primary goal of the University of Arkansas School of Law is to prepare
lawyers who will render high-quality professional service to their clients,
who are interested in and capable of advancing legal progress and reform,
and who are prepared to fill the vital role of the lawyer as a community
leader.
The School of Law has certain widely shared objectives for its educational
program. There are a number of important skills and qualities every lawyer
should possess. The major objectives of legal study are to see that graduates
possess these skills and qualities upon completion of their legal studies.
These objectives can best be realized by a competent and dedicated full-time
faculty working in partnership with an interested and involved bench and
bar. The faculty and administrative staff at the School strive to maintain
mutually beneficial relationships with judges and practicing lawyers.
Appellate courts regularly schedule cases at the School. The judges meet
with students informally after the arguments.
While only full-time faculty members teach first-year courses and other
required substantive law courses, practice skill courses such as legal
clinic and trial advocacy and activities such as client counseling depend
on the assistance of the practicing bar.
The School of Law educational program is directed to lawyers and judges
as well as to law students. The study of law cannot end with the receipt
of a diploma. Significant and rapidly changing developments in substantive
and procedural law and in the way that law is practiced has created the
need for a quality program of continuing legal education. Recognizing
this need, the University of Arkansas School of Law, in cooperation with
the organized bar, provides lawyers and judges with the opportunity to
enhance their knowledge and skills through seminars, workshops, and publications.
These programs attempt to blend practical considerations in the solution
of legal problems with policy, theoretical, and ethical considerations.
The University of Arkansas School of Law also has a strong sense of responsibility
to the people of Arkansas. Thus, members of the faculty and student body
are active in numerous public service activities. Legal counsel to the
indigent is provided through the clinical education program at the School
and by special court appointments from time to time. Students and faculty
also serve on bar, civic, and legislative committees and task forces.
A number of faculty and students contribute time and expertise to state
agencies and law reform groups. All of these activities offer to students
a laboratory of legal work that is eminently real, while at the same time
enabling the University of Arkansas School of Law to be of service to
the people of Arkansas.
FACILITIES
The School of Law is housed in Waterman Hall in the Robert A. Leflar
Law Center. An addition completed in 1975 greatly increased the library,
classroom, and office space for the School. The building was again expanded
and renovated in 1986 to create additional library space, courtrooms,
seminar rooms, office space for the faculty and staff. In the past two
years, there have been substantial renovations to improve student lounges
and classrooms.
The Law Programs Center, a three-story building across the street from
Waterman Hall, provides space for the legal clinic, the Arkansas Law Review
and the National Center for Agricultural Law Research and Information.
ROBERT A. AND VIVIAN YOUNG LAW LIBRARY
The Young Law Library, named for its benefactors, contains more than
250,000 volumes. The case reports and statutes in the library cover every
American jurisdiction, and there is an current and complete collection
of legal encyclopedia, digests, tests, treatises, law reviews, reports
of administrative agencies, and other government publications.
The Young Law Library is a depository for federal documents. Court records
and documents are also available through the library. Included in the
library is a growing collection of agricultural law materials developed
through the National Center for Agricultural Law Research and Information.
Students researching legal problems may use not only the above described
"traditional" legal materials but also computer-assisted legal
research. Resources such as Loislaw.com, LEXIS, WESTLAW and others are
available on the Web. A special computer lab is available for student
use.
While primarily designed for the use of Arkansas students, the Young
Law Library also serves the research needs of the bench, the bar, and
the University faculty. The Young Law Library provides an attractive and
comfortable atmosphere for study and research. Included within the law
library is the Barrett Hamilton Law Library Mezzanine, a particularly
attractive study and shelf space area. In addition, the other University
libraries are located near the School of Law and are available to law
students.
TEACHING METHODS
Legal training involves the learning of principles through discussion
and of skills by practice. The student must be, by definition, an active
participant in that process.
Socratic or Inductive Teaching
The "case method" is the basic tool of traditional American
legal education. This method involves the study and discussion of litigated
cases. The teacher calls upon the student to respond in a stimulating
question-and-answer dialogue, frequently involving several class members
and often including more questions than answers. The learning experience
occurs not only in the interchange between teacher and student, but also
among the students themselves. The perceptive student will soon learn
that a key to the realization of maximum benefit from these interchanges
is the ability to listen with discrimination.
This process, applied skillfully by expert teachers and by students possessing
a sense of awareness and curiosity, hones the minds of students, develops
their respect for facts, and creates a sensitivity to essential differences
among issues, policies, reasons, and arguments. Intensive and consistent
daily preparation is necessary for students to participate effectively
in this process.
Problem Solving
In a portion of the first-year course, and in later courses, students
are given practical legal problems. These problems may involve the drafting
of legal documents or the formulation of a course of action for a hypothetical
client.
Seminars
By the time students reach their third year, and sometimes earlier, they
will be prepared to engage in significant legal research in selected areas
of specialization. A primary source for such experience will be seminars
taught informally in small groups by professors who are experts in selected
subjects. Frequently, a student will be expected to defend a seminar paper
before classmates under circumstances that provide lively and constructive
discussion.
Each student is required to complete an upper-level research and writing
project. Seminar papers may be used to satisfy this requirement.
Clinical Experience
Of increasing importance in legal education is the role of practical,
on-the-job training involving the legal problems of actual clients. Legal
clinic courses provide valuable client counseling experience, as well
as participation in actual trials and appeals under the supervision of
a member of the faculty and a licensed attorney.
The clinic has offices in the Law Programs Center near the School of
Law; representation is provided for students and indigent local residents.
Both civil and certain referred criminal cases are accepted by the clinic.
Individual Research
During the second and third years, students will be permitted to engage
in research and writing projects for credit under the supervision of,
and in consultation with, a selected faculty member, in an area of particular
interest to the student. Research papers may be used to satisfy the upper-level
research and writing requirement.
ADMISSION
TO THE SCHOOL OF LAW
For complete details concerning admission to the University of Arkansas
School of Law, see the School of Law Catalog or write to Dean of Admissions,
Robert A. Leflar Law Center, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR
72701, telephone (479) 575-3102.
General Information
Except for students in the "3/3 Programs" described later,
applicants must have completed all requirements for a bachelor's degree
from an accredited institution prior to the date of enrolling in the School
of Law.
All applicants must take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) administered
by Law School Admission Services.
Admission of most students is based on the applicant's undergraduate
grade-point average and his or her LSAT test score. However, the School
of Law also seeks a diverse student body with a broad set of backgrounds,
interests, life experiences, perspectives, qualifications and career objectives.
In selecting a small percentage of applicants, therefore, the admissions
committee may consider a number of factors relevant to a determination
of how the applicant might contribute to such diversity within the School
of Law.
There is no predetermined satisfactory grade-point average or law school
admission test score. Admission is on a selective basis.
While admissions personnel are happy to answer any questions that an
applicant may have, the interview as a device for the applicant to "sell"
herself or himself is not a part of the admissions process. The admissions
committee works only with the written materials in an applicant's file.
LSAT
The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is given four times a year in Fayetteville
and at other locations throughout Arkansas, as well as in other states.
Arrangements may be made by writing to Law School Admissions Services,
Box 2000, Newton, PA 18940. Applicants for admission are urged to take
the test at least nine months prior to expected entrance to law school.
LSDAS
The University of Arkansas participates in the Law School Data Assembly
Service (LSDAS). The LSAT/LSDAS registration packet may be obtained by
writing directly to Law School Admissions Services, Box 2000, Newton,
PA 18940. The packet includes instructions for providing transcripts of
scholastic work for analysis by the LSDAS. The applicant should see that
the LSAT score and LSDAS reports are sent to this school.
Pre-Law Study
No pre-law curriculum is prescribed at the University of Arkansas School
of Law or at any other American law school. Experience has shown that
students do equally well in law school and in law practice regardless
of their differing educational backgrounds. As a result, no single "pre-law
major" is required or even recommended.
Students in a position to structure their college curricula should select
courses that emphasize analytical and problem-solving skills and courses
in which written work is vigorously edited.
Arkansas admits applicants from a wide variety of college majors. The
resulting diversity enhances and enriches the educational experience of
all students.
The Admission Process
The University of Arkansas School of Law admits one beginning class in
August of each year. Applications for admission may be obtained from the
Dean of Admissions, University of Arkansas School of Law, Robert A. Leflar
Law Center, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701.
Applications should be completed as early as possible. While applications
are considered as long as there are openings in the entering class, few
applications received after April 1 receive favorable action.
The admission process at Arkansas is a continuing one. As test reports
and scores are received, admission decisions are made. It is impossible
to give a final decision on some applicants until late spring.
An applicant whose admission has been approved will receive a tentative
admission notice. The applicant will be required to deposit a $75 pre-registration
fee. This fee is not refundable but is applied to the regular registration
fee when the student registers.
Other Admission Information
Persons who have attended other law schools should not follow the above
procedure but should apply to the dean of the School of Law as a transfer
student, indicating previous attendance at another school. Failure to
indicate such attendance will automatically void a tentative admission
granted to such person.
A student may not register in the School of Law for any course without
first complying with all admission requirements for regular law students.
3/3 Programs
The School of Law and the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences
have agreed on a program that will enable outstanding students to enter
law school after their third year of college. A student enrolled in the
Fulbright College is eligible to begin study in
the UA School of Law after the completion of at least 94 hours of college
work if the following criteria are met:
1. he or she has completed all University, College, and major course
requirements for their undergraduate degree,
2. he or she has acquired a cumulative grade-point average of at least
3.50, and
3. he or she has scored at least 159 on the Law School Admissions Test.
Such students will receive a bachelor of arts or a bachelor of science
degree after the completion of sufficient hours of law school work to
meet the regular requirements of Fulbright College. These students will
then receive a juris doctor (J.D.) degree after completing the required
number of hours of law school work.
In addition to the 3/3 program with the J. William Fulbright College
of Arts and Sciences, the Law School has a similar program with the department
of agricultural economics and agribusiness in the Dale Bumpers College
of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences. Exceptional students may enroll
in the Law School in their fourth year of undergraduate study. Students
will be required to have (1) completed at least 95 credit hours in the
pre-law program, (2) a cumulative grade-point average in all college or
university course work of at least 3.50 without grade renewal, and (3)
an LSAT score of at least 159. The B.S.A. Agricultural Business degree
will be granted after successfully completing 29 credit hours from the
first year law school course work.
It is a requirement of the Law School's accreditation standards that
no student be admitted to the University of Arkansas Law School until
they have completed a least three-fourths of the work necessary for the
baccalaureate degree. The requirements embodied in these 3/3 programs
satisfy this requirement.
Joint J.D./M.B.A. Program
The School of Law and the Sam M. Walton College of Business cooperate
in offering an opportunity for a student to pursue a juris doctor (J.D.)
degree and a master's of business administration (M.B.A.) degree concurrently.
Students working to pursue their degrees concurrently must gain admission
to both the School of Law and the Graduate School and be accepted into
the program of study leading to the M.B.A. degree. If the student is accepted
into both programs, a maximum of six hours of approved upper-level elective
law courses may be used as duplicate credit toward the M.B.A. degree and
a maximum of six hours of approved graduate courses in business administration
may be used as duplicate credit toward the J.D. degree, thus reducing
the total time necessary for completion of the degrees.
Joint J.D./M.P.A. Program
The department of political science, the Graduate School, and the School
of Law cooperate in offering a dual degree program that allows a student
to pursue a juris doctor (J.D.) degree and a master's of public administration
(M.P.A.) degree concurrently. Students must be admitted to the M.P.A.
program, the School of Law, and the dual degree program. If a student
seeks to enter the dual degree program after enrolling in either the law
school or the M.P.A. program, he or she must obtain admission to the other
degree program and the dual program during the first year of study.
The School of Law accepts a maximum of nine hours of M.P.A. courses to
satisfy requirements for the J.D. degree. To qualify for J.D. credit,
the M.P.A. courses must come from a set of core courses and must be approved
by the School of Law. For purposes of the M.P.A. degree, 15 hours of elective
courses may be taken in the School of Law, provided they are in an area
of concentration approved by the director of the M.P.A. program. Students
must earn a grade of B or higher in any M.P.A. course offered for credit
toward the J.D.
Students admitted to the dual degree program may commence their studies
in either the School of Law or in the M.P.A. program but must complete
first year course requirements before taking courses in the other degree
program. If they do not maintain the academic or ethical standards of
either degree program, students may be terminated from the dual degree
program. Students in good standing in one degree program but not the other
may be allowed to continue in the program in which they have good standing
and must meet the degree requirements of that program. If for any reason
a student admitted to the dual degree program does not complete the M.P.A.
degree, he or she cannot count any hours of M.P.A. courses toward the
J.D. degree. Likewise, M.P.A. students may not be able to count certain
law courses if they decide to discontinue their studies in the School
of Law. The J.D. degree will be awarded upon completion of all degree
requirements; the M.P.A. will be awarded upon completion of the comprehensive
examination and the internship (and internship report), or alternately,
six hours of additional coursework.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Students are expected to make sufficient financial arrangements for the
first year of study without the necessity of seeking employment. All law
students are required to be full-time students, and no law student is
permitted more than 20 hours per week of employment. First-year students
are strongly discouraged from working while enrolled in classes. First-year
students are expected to adhere to a standard curriculum; also, some courses
in the upper-division curriculum are required.
Applications for financial aid may be obtained from the Office of Financial
Aid, University of Arkansas, Hunt Hall 114, Fayetteville, AR 72701, (479) 575-3806. This information must be submitted to the Office of Financial
Aid by April 1. Specific fees and costs are listed in the School of
Law Catalog.
TRANSFER STUDENTS
A law student who has received a degree from an approved college and
thereafter has completed work with satisfactory scholarship in a law school
accredited by the American Bar Association is eligible to be considered
for transfer to the University of Arkansas School of Law. The amount of
transfer credit to be granted will depend upon the quality of performance
and the relation of completed courses to the program of this school. Only
credits or units (not grades) are transferable in any case, and even credits
will not be accepted for any course or other work in which a grade below
2.0 or the equivalent has been given from the other law school. To qualify
for a degree, the student must complete the final two semesters of law
study at the University of Arkansas School of Law.
Failure to disclose attendance at another college or law school or expulsion
or suspension therefrom is sufficient grounds to require withdrawal.
VISITING STUDENTS
A student in good standing at another fully accredited law school may
apply for admission as a visiting student. Enrollment restrictions may
limit class selection, and visiting students are not eligible to receive
degrees from the School of Law.
Law (LAWW)
For course information, see the School of Law Catalog. Contact
the School of Law dean's office for a copy of the current catalog: University
of Arkansas School of Law, Leflar Law Center, Waterman Hall 107, Fayetteville,
AR 72701, (479) 575-3102.
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