Making History

The School of Law was established in 1924 by the late Dean Julian S. Waterman, a native of Dumas, Ark., who graduated at the top of his class at the University of Chicago Law School. Dean Waterman served as the School of Law's first dean until his death in 1943. The School of Law was approved by the American Bar Association in 1926, and the first class of 10 students graduated in 1927. Since 1927, the School of Law has been a member of the Association of American Law Schools.

The School of Law is proud of the successes of our distinguished alumni, who include former U.S. Ambassador to The Gambia George Haley, '52; U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor, '88; former Arkansas Gov. and U.S. Sen. David Pryor, '64, LL.D., '97; former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Rodney Slater, '80; Gov. Mike Beebe '72; and many more.

On our faculty we have had such notable professors as former President Bill Clinton, U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, the late U.S. Sen. J. William Fulbright, and the late U.S. Sen. Claude Pepper.

Throughout the year, students and faculty have the opportunity to interact with esteemed visitors and panels through the law school's lecture series.