Top Law Schools in Arkansas

Thinking about law school in Arkansas? The Natural State has a few standout programs worth your attention.
  • Reviewed by: Matt Riley
  • Arkansas is a landlocked southern U.S. state bordering the Mississippi River and home to the Ozark and the Ouachita Mountains. 

    It’s the 33rd most populous U.S. state, the 29th largest by area, and it’s often been satirized for some of its questionable laws. Some of these are downright hilarious, such as it being illegal to honk your car horn near a sandwich shop in Little Rock past 9 p.m. All kidding aside, the state played an important role in American history, and many consider the integration of Central High School in Little Rock to be a turning point in the Civil Rights Movement.  

    Arkansas is also the birthplace of former President Bill Clinton. His presidential center, which includes the Clinton Presidential Library, the offices of the Clinton Foundation, and the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service, is located in Little Rock. 

    Below are the top law schools in Arkansas, which are steeped in history and filled with possibilities. 

    Top Law Schools in Arkansas

    1. University of Arkansas, Fayetteville School of Law
    2. University of Arkansas, Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law

    These are two high-ranking law schools in Arkansas. Each comes with a top-notch law program and a high acceptance rate. Keep reading to see if either one of these law schools is right for you. 

    1. University of Arkansas, Fayetteville School of Law 

    U.S. News Top Law School Ranking: #115 (Tie)
    Tuition: $18,881 (full-time)
    Median Undergrad GPA of Program Entrants: 3.63
    Median LSAT Score of Program Entrants: 156
    Acceptance Rate: 28%
    First-Time Bar Passage Rate: 81.8%

    The University of Arkansas Fayetteville School of Law offers clinics in civil litigation and advocacy, human trafficking, immigration, community and rural enterprise development, and criminal practice. It also has pro bono programs to help you gain practical legal experience. Students interested in earning dual degrees can earn a JD/MBA (Master of Business Administration), a JD/MA (Master of Arts), a JD/MSW (Master of Social Work), or a JD/MPA (Master of Public Administration). 

    There is also an opportunity to become involved in one of the school’s 27 legal organizations, including the Animal Legal Defense Fund, the Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association, the Black Law Students Association, and the Environmental Law Society. Law journals produced here include the Arkansas Law Review and the Journal of Food Law and Policy

    The Fayetteville School of Law is particularly appealing for its low tuition and the slightly lower median LSAT score of program entrants compared to applicants at the top 50 law schools. 

    2. University of Arkansas, Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law  

    U.S. News Top Law School Ranking: #139 (Tie)
    Tuition: $17,474 (full-time)
    Median Undergrad GPA of Program Entrants: 3.47
    Median LSAT Score of Program Entrants: 151
    Acceptance Rate: 39.2%
    First-Time Bar Passage Rate: 75.4%

    The William H. Bowen School of Law at the University of Arkansas, Little Rock, is a public law school. The Bowen Student Success Program and the Professional Mentor Program pair students with a practicing lawyer and judge in their first year for guidance and practical experience. Before graduation, law school students are required to participate in an externship or clinic, and are also encouraged to participate in the Bowen Concurrent Bar Preparation Program. 

    Students at Bowen enjoy a low student-faculty ratio of roughly 10:1 and can take advantage of the school’s part-time evening program, the only part-time law school in Arkansas. The school has very affordable tuition by law school standards, and a relatively high acceptance rate. Last but not least, Bowen also accepts JD-Next scores if you’re dreading taking the LSAT!


    How Do I Get Accepted to an Arkansas Law School?

    Whether you’re applying to a law school in Arkansas or another part of the country, the process is the same. The first step in the admissions timeline is to take the LSAT. Although there are no required LSAT scores for law school, both of these schools in Arkansas have median LSAT scores that give you a pretty good indication of how you compare to their previous incoming class.

    Remember, law schools want to attract the best, so give yourself the ultimate chance by getting a the best LSAT score you can.

    Ace the LSAT

    Blueprint LSAT Prep has the best LSAT prep courses tailored to your individual learning style. From a DIY Self-Paced Online LSAT Course to a Live LSAT Class and specialized 170+ Course and even private LSAT tutoring, we have the LSAT prep designed to increase your LSAT score by 15 points, on average!

    Don’t want to commit to a prep course right now? Get access to a bunch of free LSAT resources when you start a free Blueprint LSAT trial.