A law firm inside the law school, the Legal Clinic enables students to work with real clients, the community and the court system. The Clinical Programs consist of three clinics, two clinical projects, and a Public Service Externship Program. Each of the clinics offers distinct experiences while emphasizing a similar approach to clinical legal education. Clinic courses bring the theory of the classroom to life. Many of our graduates refer to their Clinic experience as the best course they took in law school. We are one of the few law schools to offer both day and evening students the opportunity to participate in a clinical course. In addition to providing law students with extraordinary educational experiences, our clinical programs also fill many unmet legal needs of the community.
In the Litigation Clinic, qualified UALR law students receive a special license to practice law in Arkansas under the guidance of a supervising attorney. Clinic students learn the substantive law involved in each case while enhancing the important skills of client interviewing, fact investigation, drafting pleadings and papers, witness preparation, negotiation, trial strategy and trial presentation. Most Litigation Clinic cases deal with family law or juvenile delinquency. Students may represent clients who are victims of domestic violence, children accused of delinquent acts, parents seeking to establish or modify visitation or custody arrangements, or spouses seeking divorce.
Litigation Clinic Contacts
Suzanne Penn, Director of Litigation Clinic / Supervising Attorney
501-324-9443
Beth D. Levi, Litigation Instructor
501-324-9949
The Mediation Clinic assists courts, families, and state agencies by providing multiple types of mediation for the community. Mediation is a rapidly expanding area of modern legal practice. In the Mediation Clinic, law students gain the listening and communication skills vital to any successful law practice while they increase their knowledge of substantive law and alternative dispute resolution procedures. After extensive training, Mediation Clinic students act as mediators in cases involving allegations of child abuse and neglect, juvenile delinquency, small claims issues, and access and visitation disputes which have been referred to the Clinic by the court system.
The Arkansas Dependency Neglect Mediation Project allows parties to participate in a mediation process to help children achieve permanency and safety in a timely and effective manner. Courts statewide may order cases to the Mediation Clinic. Trained mediators travel around the state to conduct the mediations. For information on how to prepare for dependency and neglect mediation, see the Dependency Neglect Parent's Guide.
The Arkansas Special Education Mediation Project (ASEMP) is different from other mediation programs in that it is not court-centered. The method for resolving special education disputes is an administrative hearing process. The ASEMP gives parents and schools an alternative. Trained professional mediators assist parties in finding effective solutions to the problems affecting educational services for children with disabilities. Mediations of this project as well as the Dependency Neglect Project are also open to Clinic students for observation and participation.
Mediation Clinic Contact
Kelly Browe Olson, Director of Clinical Programs
501-324-9452
The Tax Clinic is funded by the Internal Revenue Service through its Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic Program (LITC). The LITC serves taxpayers involved in disputes with the IRS who cannot otherwise afford legal services. Tax Clinic students gain many of the same representational skills involved in the Litigation Clinic while focusing more on negotiation skills as well as learning the specific procedures and laws of the Tax Code. The Tax Clinic also provides education and outreach services to communities where English is a second language to inform them of their rights and responsibilities as taxpayers.
Tax Clinic Contact
Alicia Mitchell, Tax Clinic Director
501-324-9948
Clinical Programs Contact Information
UALR William H. Bowen School of Law
Legal Clinic, Room 105
1201 McMath Avenue
Little Rock, AR 72202-5142
Office: 501-324-9441
Fax: 501-324-9911
Administration
Kelly Browe Olson, Director of Clinical Programs
501-324-9452
Terry Harrison, Office Administrator
501-324-9939
Jerre Jones, Office Manager
501-324-9442
Melanie Ewell, Clinical Programs Administrative Assistant
501-324-9966
Revised: 3/4/2008