The Study of Law at ARKANSAS
Fayetteville is the original campus of the University of Arkansas. It has its beginnings in 1871. Since then the University has grown to five campuses throughout the state. Approximately 15,000 students enroll each year at the Fayetteville campus.
The School of Law was established in 1924. Julian S. Waterman, a native of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, who had graduated at the top of his class at the University of Chicago Law School, was the first dean.
He served as dean until his death in 1943. The classroom and office areas of the Robert A. Leflar Law Center are named for Dean Waterman in recognition of his significant contributions to legal education, the University, and the state of Arkansas.
The University of Arkansas School of Law was approved by the American Bar Association in its second year of operation, 1926. Since 1927, the Law School has been a member of the Association of American Law Schools.
The rich history of the School of Law is exemplified by the outstanding contributions of its faculty and alumni to the world, the nation and the state. President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton were members of the faculty. The late senators J. William Fulbright and Claude Pepper were members of the faculty. Alumni of this school have held and continue to occupy important judicial posts in both the federal and state judiciaries. Alumni have also made outstanding contributions to society in legislative and administrative governmental bodies.
