Graduate Assistantship Opportunities

Each year, the LL.M Program offers a limited number of Graduate Assistantships (GAs). Our GA positions offer educational opportunities beyond the classroom, providing agricultural and food law research, writing, and teaching opportunities.

To be eligible for a GA, a student must:

  • Be admitted to the LL.M. Program
  • Attend the Program on-campus in Fayetteville
  • Have a Law School G.P.A. of at least 3.0 or demonstrated excellence in practice
  • Have a U.S. law degree from an ABA accredited law school. Our GAs are largely grant-funded and their work may involve the analysis of U.S. law.

Graduate assistantship opportunities offer a tuition-free way to earn an LL.M. degree in just two semesters while doing impactful work. GAs receive a full tuition-waiver and a stipend, and they are eligible for health benefits. In exchange, GAs agree to work 15-20 hours per week during the regular semester. GAs are generally awarded for two semesters, Fall and Spring, allowing the GA to earn their LL.M. degree in 9 months.

Spending two semesters in Fayetteville is itself an excellent opportunity. Located in the foothills of the Ozarks, Fayetteville is a forward-thinking college town that is often included as one of the best places to live in the U.S. Surrounded by natural beauty, Northwest Arkansas offers a vibrant local food community, is home to artisans and musicians, and is connected by an extensive system of family friendly bike and walking trails. The Walton Art Center and Crystal Bridges American Art Museum provide unique cultural experiences. As the headquarters of major corporations such as Walmart, Tyson Foods, and J.B. Hunt, the area also offers many business opportunities. Northwest Arkansas is served by a convenient regional airport with direct flights to more than 20 cities across the country.

Past GA assignments have included:

Old Main walk in the fall

The Food & Agriculture Impact Project

The Impact Project supports the farm and food community with a range of assistance on current legal and policy topics, including the sustainable agriculture, environmental regulation, the farm bill, animal welfare, farm tax education, food safety regulation, climate smart agriculture, supply chain issues, land tenure and food justice, food access, and nutrition assistance. GAs have helped to create legal and policy documents, answered complex research questions, and contributed their analysis in educational forums.

Food Law & Policy

A Teaching Assistant has assisted with the JD level Food Law & Policy course designed to serve the 2L staff editors for the Journal of Food Law & Policy. GAs serving in this position must have journal, law review, or similar experience and an interest in teaching and scholarship in food law & policy.

Indigenous Food & Agriculture

The Indigenous Food & Agriculture Initiative (IFAI) provides strategic legal analysis, policy research, and educational resources to empower Indian Country through food sovereignty, agriculture, and economic development. GAs have worked directly with the IFAI, furthering their mission.

LL.M. Program and Alumni

GAs have assisted the LL.M. Program Director with research and helped to maintain connections with our network of almost 400 alumni, many of whom are leaders in the agricultural and food law community. GAs have shared information about our activities and our alumni accomplishments. They have also helped us to monitor developments in agricultural and food law, maintaining our national leadership position.