Submit a personal statement discussing your reasons for wanting to attend law school and aspects of UA Little Rock, William H. Bowen School of Law that interest you. We are particularly interested in reading about your commitment to our core values of access to justice, professionalism, and public service. The personal statement should be double-spaced and around 500-750 words.

This section is optional.

Because you have answered "yes" to the Character and Fitness question regarding professional discipline, you must attach a supplemental sheet specifying in detail:

a. The nature of the proceedings;

b. The tribunal, court, regulatory body, or administrative agency conducting the proceedings;

c. The date of the proceedings;

d. The case number, if any;

e. The disposition of the proceedings;

f. Include a copy of the final order; and,

g. If the matter is pending, submit a copy of the original complaint and documentation sufficient to describe the proceeding.

Failure to adequately disclose can lead to denial of admission, rescinding of admission, expulsion, or a rescinding of the law degree after conferral.

This section is optional.

Because you have answered "yes" to the Character and Fitness question regarding misconduct at academic institutions, you must attach a supplemental sheet specifying all details, including the custodian of the records of such incidents.

Failure to adequately disclose can lead to denial of admission, rescinding of admission, expulsion, or a rescinding of the law degree after conferral.

This section is optional.

Because you have answered "yes", you must attach a supplemental sheet explaining and supporting your answer.

Failure to adequately disclose can lead to denial of admission, rescinding of admission, expulsion, or a rescinding of the law degree after conferral.

This section is optional.

You may provide any additional, pertinent documentation you would like the Admissions Committee to review.

This section is optional.

Because you have answered "yes" to the Character and Fitness question regarding criminal misconduct, for each incident, regardless of the disposition, you must attach a supplemental sheet specifying in detail the following information:

a. A detailed description of the charge;

b. The date the charge was filed;

c. The location of the Court where the charge was considered or filed;

d. The name, address, and telephone number of each attorney you retained to assist you in defending the charge;

e. The alleged factual basis for the charge;

f. The final disposition of the charge, including probationary conditions. Any asserted probation violations must be detailed.

g. Include copies of the final order of the Court sufficient to describe the resolution of the proceeding. If the matter is pending, submit a copy of the original complaint and documentation sufficient to describe the proceeding.

Failure to adequately disclose can lead to denial of admission, rescinding of admission, expulsion, or a rescinding of the law degree after conferral.

This section is optional.

Because you have answered "yes" to the Character and Fitness question regarding protective orders, you must attach a supplemental sheet specifying in detail:

a. The nature of the proceedings (state the underlying facts in detail and list all parties involved);

b. The court or administrative agency conducting the proceedings;

c. The date of the proceedings;

d. The case number, if any; and,

e. The disposition of the proceedings.

Failure to adequately disclose can lead to denial of admission, rescinding of admission, expulsion, or a rescinding of the law degree after conferral.

This section is optional.

Because you have answered "yes" to the Character and Fitness question regarding fraud, you must attach a supplemental sheet specifying all details, including the person or entity making the charge, the circumstances surrounding the charge, and the disposition of the charge.

Failure to adequately disclose can lead to denial of admission, rescinding of admission, expulsion, or a rescinding of the law degree after conferral.

A one-page résumé is required for all applicants. However, applicants with extensive professional, academic, leadership, or service experience may submit résumés of up to three pages.

In addition to the bar examination, there are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every U.S. jurisdiction. Applicants are encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission by contacting the jurisdiction. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners. Admission to UA Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law does not guarantee that you will meet the requirements of the state bar to which you seek admission.

As of February 2020, the State of Arkansas has adopted the Uniform Bar Examination. As such, the State now requires candidates for the State's bar admission to disclose all character and fitness infractions going back to the time when the applicant was a minor, even if those records have been expunged. Please note that the list of questions below is only a portion of the potential infractions listed on the State of Arkansas' Bar character and fitness section of the application to sit for the bar examination. For more information or to speak with a State of Arkansas Bar Examination Administrator about this matter, please contact Robert Brech, Executive Director at Robert.Brech@arcourts.gov. We advise individuals who have a reasonable concern about past or current infractions prohibiting them from being admitted to the Arkansas bar in the future to seek advice from the Arkansas Supreme Court, Office of Professional Programs.

All applicants must respond to the following questions. If you answer "yes" to any question in this section, you must attach an addendum completely stating the facts relating to the disclosed incident(s) and the ultimate disposition of the matter. Sealed and expunged records should be disclosed. Failure to adequately disclose can be sufficient reason for refusal of admission, expulsion, or a rescinding of the law degree after conferral. In addition, please be on notice that bar jurisdictions will have access to your responses and compare them to the results of your background check performed during the bar examination application process.

1. CF1 -- Have you ever been arrested, served a summons, cited, questioned, indicted, taken into custody, charged, tried, or investigated for a felony, misdemeanor, infraction (not including traffic tickets), or probation violation and/or had a restraining order issued against you?

• In answering this question, include all incidents as a juvenile or adult, no matter how minor the charge, whether guilty or not, whether exonerated or not, whether sentencing was withheld or suspended. Criminal and/or juvenile matters that have been expunged or sealed should also be included.
• If yes, for each incident, regardless of the disposition, attach a supplemental sheet specifying in detail the following information:
  • A detailed description of the charge;
  • The date the charge was filed;
  • The location of the Court where the charge was considered or filed;
  • The name, address, and telephone number of each attorney you retained to assist you in defending the charge;
  • The alleged factual basis for the charge;
  • The final disposition of the charge, including probationary conditions. Any asserted probation violations must be detailed.

Include copies of the final order of the Court sufficient to describe the resolution of the proceeding. If the matter is pending, submit a copy of the original complaint and documentation sufficient to describe the proceeding.

CF2 - Have you ever been accused of assault or battery of another in any civil proceeding and/or had any form of a protective order issued against you? If yes, attach a supplemental sheet specifying in detail:

• The nature of the proceedings (state the underlying facts in detail and list all parties involved);
• The court or administrative agency conducting the proceedings;
• The date of the proceedings;
• The case number, if any; and,
• The disposition of the proceedings.

3. CF3 - Have you ever been accused, formally or informally, with misrepresentation, fraud, misapplication, perjury/false swearing, or misappropriation of property, either individually or in a representative capacity (i.e. as an officer of a business entity, partner, or other fiduciary relationship)? __________ If yes, attach a supplemental sheet specifying all details, including the person or entity making the charge, the circumstances surrounding the charge, and the disposition of the charge.

4. CF4 - Have you ever been investigated, suspended, expelled, or disciplined, formally or informally, by any school, college or university above the high school level for academic or any other misconduct? ______ (This includes academic probation.) If yes, attach a supplemental sheet specifying all details, including the custodian of the records of such incidents.

CF5 - Have you ever been subject to any grievance, complaint, or proceeding which either sought or resulted in your admonition, reprimand, censure, suspension, discipline, citation for contempt, or fine as a member of any profession or occupation, or as the holder of public office? _____ This includes attorney disciplinary or grievance proceedings in other states. If yes, attach a supplemental sheet specifying in detail:

• The nature of the proceedings;
• The tribunal, court, regulatory body, or administrative agency conducting the proceedings;
• The date of the proceedings;
• The case number, if any;
• The disposition of the proceedings;
• Include a copy of the final order; and,
• If the matter is pending, submit a copy of the original complaint and documentation sufficient to describe the proceeding.

6. CF6 - Are there any facts not disclosed by your previous answers concerning your background, history, experience, or activities which may cause one to question your character, fitness, or ability to practice law? If yes, attach a supplemental sheet specifying all relevant details.

UA Little Rock, William H. Bowen School of Law values inclusion and is committed to enrolling students with unique experiences and perspectives. The Admissions Committee reviews applications holistically and does not merely rely on LSAT and undergraduate GPA to make admissions decisions.

The application deadline is June 1st. There is no separate application for the part-time evening program. We enroll first-year students in the fall only. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit all required documents by March 1st. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, as they are received, and earlier applicants tend to have an advantage over later applicants. In addition, if your admission is denied by May 5th, you may be invited to apply for our Legal Education Advancement Project (LEAP). Applications for LEAP are due by May 7th.

Pathway Programs

The Bowen Pathway Programs provide highly qualified and motivated students from select institutions and programs with exclusive opportunities to attend the UA Little Rock, William H. Bowen School of Law. Our partner schools include:

• Arkansas Baptist College
• Arkansas State University
• Arkansas Tech University
• Centenary College
• Central Baptist College
• Harding University
• Henderson State University
• Hendrix College
• John Brown University
• Lyon College
• Ouachita Baptist University
• Philander Smith University
• Southern Arkansas University
• University of Arkansas at Fort Smith
• University of Arkansas at Little Rock
• University of Arkansas at Monticello
• University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
• University of Arkansas - Pulaski Technical College
• University of Central Arkansas

Submitting Your Application

You must submit your application online through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC).

A complete application consists of the following:

• A completed application form
• A 500-750 word, double-spaced personal statement explaining your reasons for attending law school and your interest in Bowen
• A one-page résumé
• A Credential Assembly Service (CAS) Report
• All post-secondary academic transcripts submitted through CAS
• A valid Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) score (within the past five years).
• If applicable, any required addenda (see "Required Application Addenda")

Optional application material consists of the following:

• Up to two letters of recommendation
• A Statement of Uniqueness (found in section 4) which allows for the opportunity to explain or demonstrate characteristics and experiences unique to applicant's personal, professional, or educational growth and development and how applicant will uniquely contribute to the Bowen Community

Required Application Addenda

You must submit an addendum with your application if you:

• Have previously enrolled in Bowen or another law school. The addendum should explain the circumstances under which you left your previous law school. In addition, you must request that your previous law school send an official copy of your transcript and a letter of standing. Please note that, under our admissions rules, if you were academically dismissed from another law school, you must sit out for approximately one year before we will consider your application.
• Answer "yes" to any of the character and fitness questions. Each character and fitness question specifies the additional documentation which should be submitted. It is very important that you answer these questions honestly, completely, and forthrightly. If you are in doubt as to whether to disclose information, it is better to err on the side of disclosure. Material misrepresentations and failures to disclose can lead to denial of admission, cancellation of acceptance, or expulsion from law school.

Information for International Applicants

Applicants whose native language is not English, and whose undergraduate education is from outside the U.S., are encouraged to submit a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score. If this applies to you, contact the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and request that your TOEFL score be sent to the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). LSAC's TOEFL code for the JD Credential Assembly Service is 8395. Your score will be included in the Foreign Credential Evaluation document that will be included in your CAS Report.

Our minimum accepted score on the TOEFL examination depends upon which version of the test you take. We accept a minimum score of 600 on the paper-based test, 250 on the computer-based test, and a total score of 100 on the internet-based test.

To receive information concerning the TOEFL, contact an ETS Customer Service Representative.

Concurrent Degree Programs

In conjunction with other schools within the University of Arkansas system, Bowen allows students to pursue the following degrees concurrently.

• JD/Master of Business Administration (UA Little Rock School of Business)
• JD/Master of Public Administration (UA Little Rock School of Public Affairs)
• JD/Master of Public Health (University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health)
• JD/Master of Public Service (University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service)
• JD/Master of Social Work (UA Little Rock School of Social Work)
• JD/Doctor of Pharmacy (University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Pharmacy)

Scholarships

All admitted applicants are considered for available scholarships. Scholarship offers are included in the acceptance packet that is mailed to admitted students. There is no separate scholarship application process for incoming students. Scholarship offers are non-negotiableand non-stackable, except for the non-resident scholarship. Scholarship possibilities include:

Merit Scholarships:

• Awards are offered in amounts of 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% of tuition.

Non-Resident Scholarships:

• Non-resident scholarship for 1st year only. For 2nd and 3rd years, students must establish Arkansas residency to pay in-state tuition.

Core Value Scholarships:

• First-Generation College Student Scholarship is awarded to admitted students who self-identify as an Arkansas resident and as a first-generation college student who has graduated or is about to graduate from an Arkansas college or university.
• Public Service Merit Scholarship is awarded to admitted students who have worked for Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, Teach for America, or City Year for at least one year.

Bar Admission

American Bar Association Standard 504 requires disclosure regarding qualifications for admission to the bar. In addition to a bar examination, there are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every U.S. jurisdiction. Applicants are encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission by contacting that jurisdiction. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners. Graduation from the UA Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law does not guarantee admission to the bar of any state. 

Outreach & Privacy

Information obtained from the application such as name, email, phone number, city and state, undergraduate institution and major, graduate studies, age, race and ethnicity, and legal interests, may be used for the purpose of contacting applicants and connecting applicants with Bowen faculty, staff, alumni, and student organizations with similar backgrounds, interests, and affinities.

Contacting Us

We are delighted you are applying to Bowen! If you have any questions after reviewing this material, please contact us.

Admissions Office
UA Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law
1201 McMath Avenue
Little Rock, AR 72202-5142
Telephone: 501.916.5431
Fax: 501.916.3967
E-mail: lawadmissions@ualr.eduWebsite: www.ualr.edu/law

UA Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law is approved by the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association, 321 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654, 312-988-6738.

This section is optional.

If you answered "yes" to having attended another law school, you should attach an addendum explaining the circumstances under which you left your previous law school. In addition, you must request that your previous law school send LSAC an official copy of your transcript and email law-admissions@ualr.edu a letter of standing.