Richard Kilpatrick, who joins the UA 糖心视频logo William H. Bowen School of Law this fall as an Associate Professor of Law after serving as a visiting professor, studies maritime law, international commercial law and geopolitical disruption in global trade. His new book, , explores how war, sanctions and political instability create complex commercial disputes across the shipping industry.

In this Q&A, Kilpatrick discusses the ongoing Strait of Hormuz crisis, its impact on global shipping and the legal questions emerging from the disruption.

How is the Strait of Hormuz crisis affecting global shipping?

Shipping Disruptions and Navigation Concerns
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world鈥檚 true maritime chokepoints: there is only one route for ships to get in and out of the Persian Gulf. As of mid-May, nearly three months after the war in Iran started, freedom of navigation in the Strait remains impeded in two ways: First, Iran has attacked and threatened to continue attacking merchant ships if they move through the Strait without its authorization. And second, the US military has imposed a purported 鈥渂lockade鈥� on Iran-linked ships. Neither the Iranian nor the American-imposed measures are totally effective. Some ships have been allowed safe passage due to ad hoc diplomatic arrangements negotiated on a case-by-case basis and others have slipped through the Strait at night after turning off their navigation transponders. But due to the risk of attack, the vast majority of ships trapped in the Gulf are just waiting for the conflict鈥檚 resolution. For perspective, during peacetime upwards of 150 ships move through the Strait in a given day. For the past few months, this number has dropped to single digits.

Humanitarian Concerns for Seafarers
The biggest logistical hurdle at the moment is the humanitarian concern for professional seafarers who remain on board these vessels. Recent reports suggest that as many as 20,000 seafarers are still trapped in the Gulf. Most of them are citizens of countries that are not at all associated with the war, such as the Philippines, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and India. They are genuinely innocent civilian bystanders that happen to have been performing their work in the wrong place at the wrong time. So first and foremost, many in the shipping industry are hoping that a sustained peaceful resolution will be achieved to open the Strait and allow the ships to depart the Gulf and the seafarers to be repatriated back to their home countries after a rather traumatic few months. Some good news is that recent reports indicate that during the ceasefire some of the seafarers have been able to evacuate or at least to receive supplies.

Supply Chain and Commercial Impacts
Another major problem flowing out of the Strait closure is the strain this has placed on global supply chains. In normal times, a significant proportion of the world鈥檚 supply of crude oil, refined oil products, liquified gas, and chemicals including fertilizer is exported out of the region to global markets. This includes Persian Gulf loadings out of Qatar, the UAE, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, and parts of Saudi Arabia. With the Strait of Hormuz effectively shuttered and some of the energy export infrastructure damaged by the war, this is putting major stress on supply chains and driving up costs for consumers worldwide. But this turmoil is creating its own form of challenges within the shipping industry. During the current ceasefire, there has been an open question as to whether vessels should attempt to depart the Gulf, and who among the commercial actors with a stake in the voyage should have the right and responsibility to decide. This question of navigational safety is weighing heavily on the minds of those involved in the decision-making process, including shipowners in consultation with the shipmasters and crew, as well as other third parties such as insurers and vessel charterers.

鈥淭here is only one route for ships to get in and out of the Persian Gulf.鈥�

What kinds of legal and commercial disputes are emerging from the crisis?

Marine War Risk Insurance
When assessing the broad commercial impact of this kind of disruption, it may be useful to think about the problem in terms of layers. The blockage of the Strait is impacting contracts for the sale of goods, vessel chartering agreements, insurance arrangements, trade financing and brokering services, and a number of other ancillary forms of transactions. As a maritime lawyer, I find the impact on insurance and vessel chartering agreements particularly fascinating.

The insurance dimensions have been in the news recently as it has been widely reported that insurance companies have cancelled cover due to the outbreak of war. This is not totally accurate. Marine war risk insurance is usually purchased separately from standard marine insurance, in part because war risks have long been viewed as special risks with premiums calculated based on a different set of factors. One of the peculiarities of war risk insurance is that there are actually two premiums, including one 鈥渁dditional premium鈥� that may change depending on the status of the risk. For instance, a war risk premium may be set at one rate for worldwide trading, but there may be an additional war risk premium assessed for vessels that are navigating in particularly dangerous zones. The risk status of maritime zones can change quickly as security situations evolve, which has been the case in the Persian Gulf. At present, additional war risk premiums for vessels navigating in the Gulf are extremely high, especially for vessels with any US or Israeli nexus. There have been some discussions about the US government providing a form of state-backed war risk insurance in case the commercial supply of war risk insurance is no longer available, but apparently this has not been necessary in part because the high premiums make commercial war risk insurance quite lucrative for those willing to underwrite the risk.  

Who Pays the Additional Costs?
One of the remaining commercial questions, however, is who bears the burden of paying for this additional war risk premium. The answer to this question may depend on other contracting arrangements, such as the terms of any underlying vessel chartering agreement made between the shipowner and the vessel charterer. If the vessel is on a voyage charter under which the charterer has agreed to make a lump sum payment of freight, it may be the shipowner who is responsible to cover the additional war risk premium if it was not included in the initial freight calculation, but if the vessel is on a longer term time charter, depending on the terms of the contract, the charterer may be on the hook for reimbursing the shipowner for the additional premium. Another larger scale insurance problem could take place if the blockage of the Strait protracts into 2027. If vessels are trapped for more than 12 months, this could lead to widespread insurance claims of constructive total loss, which could put severe pressure on the insurance industry as a whole. This eventuality is a long way off at the moment, but it is something industry participants are already concerned about.

Delays, Chartering and Risk Allocation
Beyond insurance, the blockage of the Strait is giving rise to further contractual questions of risk allocation between shipowners and charterers. One question is who鈥攕hipowner or charterer鈥攎ust bear the burden of the delay costs. The familiar maxim 鈥渢ime is money鈥� is certainly true in the vessel chartering context. Ships are expensive to build and to operate and due to the daily exposure to harsh elements like salt water and inclement weather, they have a relatively short useful life in which they must generate revenue to cover the costs of their construction. For this reason, shipowners of large ocean-going vessels routinely charter their ships to charterers for the purpose of ensuring the vessels consistently have commercial employment. This might be on a time or voyage basis. If for instance, a vessel is under time charter, the charterer must engage in commercial voyages to generate at least enough revenue to pay the shipowner an agreed daily rate of 鈥渉ire.鈥�

Questions of Contract Interpretation
When the vessel is trapped in the Gulf, it cannot engage in commercial employment to generate this revenue, which raises the question of whether the vessel should be placed 鈥渙ff-hire鈥� during the delay. The answer to this question is ultimately one of contract interpretation, but in general time-chartered vessels remain on hire unless an enumerated off-hire event has occurred, such as fire or machinery breakdown. If a vessel鈥檚 machinery is destroyed by an Iranian drone or missile, it very well may be off-hire which would have the effect of placing the delay risk on the shipowner. But if there is merely a threat of attack that does not actually prevent the vessel from its ability to mechanically function as a ship, hire likely continues to run throughout the delay even though the ship is prevented from performing trades. If the vessel is indeed on hire while trapped in the Gulf, the charterer may have a financial incentive to try to push the shipowner to move through the Strait even though it is dangerous to do so. Whether the charterer has the right to issue such an order is yet another question of contract interpretation potentially implicating other terms in the contract, such as the so-called 鈥渟afe port warranty鈥� or perhaps other more explicit war risk clauses. The point is these commercial law questions do not always have easy solutions that will apply seamlessly to every ship trapped in the Gulf.

Are There Historical Parallels to Today鈥檚 Shipping Disruptions?

The Iran-Iraq War and the 鈥淭anker War鈥�
The short answer is yes, although none of the previous conflicts are identical to the current crisis. At the outbreak of the Iran/ Iraq war in 1980, dozens of vessels became trapped in the Shatt-al-Arab鈥攖he river that divides the two countries This led to commercial litigation and arbitration as to whether it was safe for merchant vessels to depart the river during the war. These vessel trappings led to seminal caselaw addressing the application of contract clauses and common law doctrines both in the insurance and the vessel chartering context. But then, several years into the conflict, the Persian Gulf became a very dangerous place as both Iran and Iraq began attacking neutral merchant ships to prevent the other side from being able to generate revenue by exporting oil. This period, known as the 鈥淭anker War,鈥� gave rise to additional insurance and vessel chartering disputes. Eventually, the US military attempted to intervene by reflagging and escorting tankers exporting oil out of Kuwait, which serves as a sort of precedent for the recent discussions about possible US-led convoys through the Strait. 聽

The Suez Canal and Maritime Blockages
A second set of scenarios that has given rise to important caselaw on the subject are those involving blockages of the Suez Canal. It was closed due to regional fighting for a few months during the mid 1950s and again for eight years from 1967-1975. Vessel traffic was also impeded by non-state security threats, including the Somali piracy crisis of 2008-2012 and more recent attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels from 2023 to the present. The so-called 鈥淪uez cases鈥� dealt with the questions of whether Suez closures amounted to contract frustration, impossibility, and impracticability, or whether they triggered more explicit contract clauses. But since there is actually another route via the Cape of Good Hope, the scenario is slightly different than the Strait of Hormuz crisis because there is simply not an alternative route available for vessels currently trapped in the Persian Gulf.

The War in Ukraine and Black Sea Shipping
Another relatively similar dynamic arose during the early months of the war in Ukraine, as the Black Sea was mined and vessels were attacked by drones and missiles. Others were trapped along Ukraine鈥檚 coasts. Some ships were unable to depart for more than a year, which ultimately did lead to insurance claims for constructive total loss. The initial danger in the Black Sea also created supply chain turmoil, particularly because much of the world鈥檚 supply of grains and fertilizers had previously been exported out of Black Sea ports. In the summer of 2022, the UN helped broker a temporary diplomatic solution, which allowed many ships to export grains and fertilizers out of a 鈥渉umanitarian corridor鈥� carved through the Black Sea. The agreement lapsed within a year and shipping in the Black Sea has been risky ever since. Caselaw addressing the commercial shipping dimensions of the war in Ukraine has been gradually trickling out, some of which may provide guidance when the inevitable stream of Strait of Hormuz cases makes its way to courts and arbitration tribunals in the months and years to come.

What Inspired Your New Book on Geopolitical Disruption in Shipping?

Geopolitical Disruption and Commercial Law
The central focus is the notion that political volatility in the modern world is disrupting shipping activities and causing disputes that raise fundamental questions of commercial law. Geopolitics has been affecting shipping activities quite a lot in recent years, not only due to war and terrorism, but also due to sanctions, export controls, tariffs, and other measures that might be described as 鈥渢rade war鈥� techniques. I have been writing law review articles about these kinds of issues for a number of years, but over time I started noticing broader trends and decided to dig deeper to try to understand historical patterns in geopolitical maneuvering, shipping industry adaptation, and how these measures have impacted the resolution of related commercial disputes.

Physical Risk and Regulatory Risk
To keep the book in balance, I broke the forms of disruption into two sections: those that deal with physical risks and those that deal with regulatory risk. The first part of the book explores the commercial implications of physical disruption across three categories: war, unrest, and piracy. The second part of the book turns to purely economic measures, including sanctions and other forms of statecraft like embargos and tariffs. I aim to tie all of these issues together by examining how courts and arbitration tribunals have resolved these kinds of problems by reference to common law avoidance doctrines as well as bespoke contract clauses addressing force majeure or related categories. The book ultimately argues that this rapidly evolving area of international commercial law demands a readiness to borrow analytical approaches across categories of business disruption.

A Timely Study of Maritime Disruption
For better or worse, I completed the manuscript for the book prior to the full-scale war breaking out in Iran. Even so, it had already become clear that something like this could happen in the near future. Iran-backed militias have been attacking merchant ships in the Red Sea since 2023, and Israel and the US directly bombed Iranian nuclear sites in 2025. Iran had been threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz for years. For those of us who pay close attention to maritime security matters, once a full-scale regional war began to unfold in 2026, it was not a surprise to see the scope of the commercial disruption. My hope is that the principles examined in the book will aid the resolution of these emerging disputes along with others that may be looming on the horizon.

鈥淭he rapidly evolving area of international commercial law demands a readiness to borrow analytical approaches across categories of business disruption.鈥�

How Does Your Scholarship Shape Your Teaching at Bowen?

Bringing Real-World Disputes Into the Classroom
While serving as a Visiting Professor at Bowen, I had the pleasure of teaching courses in contract law, sales, and maritime law. In each of these courses, we discussed contract avoidance doctrines, including frustration, impossibility, and changes in circumstances, as well as contract-based defenses such as force majeure provisions. In the maritime law course in particular, we spent several class sessions examining some of the key caselaw involving kinetic wars and trade wars. Given that the Iran conflict broke out right in the middle of our course last spring, this led to some lively discussions about what this might mean for maritime commerce.

Connecting Arkansas to Global Commerce
As an incoming Associate Professor, I hope to continue cultivating student interest in this area. As I tell my students, Arkansas is not as landlocked as people may think. A major navigable river cuts right past our law school campus before flowing into the Mississippi River to access some of America鈥檚 busiest ports. My hope is that pushing students to examine the complexities of international commercial law, maritime law, and geopolitics will spark interest in new career opportunities and further reveal the interconnected nature of the modern world.

鈥淎rkansas is not as landlocked as people may think.鈥�

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For months, Hawkins had studied cases in classrooms at the UA 糖心视频logo William H. Bowen School of Law, reading opinions, analyzing arguments and learning the mechanics of legal procedure. At the courthouse, the work felt different. The complaints and motions she had spent so much time reading were no longer abstract documents inside a case file.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a person behind the complaint that comes across your desk,鈥� Hawkins said. 鈥淲hen you鈥檙e talking to them, you realize sometimes that it was just one misstep along the way that completely changed the trajectory of someone鈥檚 life.鈥�

The externship became one of the defining experiences of Hawkins鈥� time at Bowen Law, not because it pointed her toward a single career path, but because it showed her how differently the profession could look in practice than it did in classrooms and casebooks.

As Hawkins prepares to graduate this weekend, she leaves Bowen with a broader view of the legal profession than the one she carried into law school.

Law school was not always the plan.

Hawkins arrived at Central Baptist College intending to pursue physical therapy before realizing the coursework was pulling her in the wrong direction. An uncle working in government law encouraged her to take the LSAT, and the possibility of a legal career quickly clicked into place. She graduated from Central Baptist with a degree in business management before enrolling in law school.

Growing up in Stuttgart, Hawkins said her parents, both educators and administrators, made sure she understood where she came from and the barriers some people still faced around her. Her father became the first Black administrator in one of the school districts where he worked. Her mother also stepped into leadership roles where representation mattered.

鈥淚 felt like I was living in Black history in the making,鈥� Hawkins said.

The experiences shaped her early interest in civil rights and public-facing legal work, but Hawkins said she entered law school determined not to limit herself too quickly to one version of the profession.

Some of the courses Hawkins expected to enjoy never fully clicked. Others surprised her. Contracts and business associations quickly became some of her strongest areas academically, building on the business background she brought with her from college. Criminal law and criminal procedure also came naturally to her, even though she never envisioned herself working in those spaces professionally.

鈥淎 lot of things on paper didn鈥檛 sound appealing,鈥� Hawkins said. 鈥淏ut once I got to experience those areas of law, it changed the way I thought about them.鈥�

That growing interest in transactional and business-related work also reshaped the way Hawkins thought about impact. She said she had long seen talented people with strong business ideas struggle to access the resources and opportunities needed to move those ideas forward.

Hawkins said law school helped her recognize that work connected to contracts, licensing and access to funding can shape communities in quieter but equally meaningful ways. Through clerkships at firms of different sizes, Hawkins also saw how differently legal work could operate depending on the environment, the clients and the type of cases involved.

鈥淚 had to be intentional about not getting complacent in what I thought I knew,鈥� she said.

Hawkins said that same willingness to reevaluate herself became important during her externship at the federal courthouse, where a miscommunication challenged the way she believed she was coming across in the workplace.

鈥淚t would have been easy for me to just shut down,鈥� Hawkins said. 鈥淏ut I had to take a step back and ask myself, 鈥極K, what are you actually doing? How are people perceiving what you鈥檙e doing?鈥欌��

Hawkins said those experiences changed the way she approached both the work and the people helping her navigate it. Two faculty members became especially influential during Hawkins鈥� time at Bowen Law.

Dean Beiner provided the kind of steady support Hawkins said every student needs, offering guidance that extended beyond academics and coursework. 鈥淗er door was always open,鈥� Hawkins said. 鈥淚 think that鈥檚 important for every student to have, a member of faculty that you can go to and just talk to as a person.鈥�

Professor Cain challenged her differently. A former college athlete, Hawkins said she has always responded well to pressure and high expectations. During her second semester of 1L year, she remembered Cain telling her he had heard strong things about her and expected her to succeed.

鈥淵ou鈥檙e going to be good at this,鈥� he told her.

For Hawkins, hearing that from a professor with Cain鈥檚 reputation carried weight, not because she needed reassurance she belonged, but because she valued being pushed by people who expected her to rise to the occasion.

Now, as graduation approaches, Hawkins said she no longer feels pressure to define her future too narrowly. She still sees herself in the values that first drew her toward the law, but her time at Bowen showed her those goals can take shape through many different kinds of legal work.

Hawkins said she still does not know exactly where the profession will take her after graduation. But after three years of clerkships, coursework and courtroom experience, she feels more prepared for whatever comes next.

鈥淚鈥檓 a lot more capable of handling things than I was giving myself credit for,鈥� Hawkins said.

The post A Wider Lens: How Erica Hawkins Broadened Her View of Legal Work appeared first on William H. Bowen School of Law.

In communities like her hometown of Newport, families often face legal issues long before they understand how to navigate the systems meant to resolve them.

Now preparing to graduate from the UA 糖心视频logo William H. Bowen School of Law, Davis spent the past three years developing the legal knowledge and practical experience to serve communities like hers.

Davis鈥� long-term goals began taking shape in third grade after she read 鈥淭he Kid Who Became President,鈥� a book about a child determined to make a difference in his community despite being underestimated by those around him. She said the story resonated with her desire to help others. By the end of the book, Davis had decided she wanted to become president someday, too. When she told her parents about that goal, they didn鈥檛 dismiss it or tell her it was impossible. Instead, they encouraged her to pursue it, and her dad suggested law as a practical starting point to help her get there.

Even at that age, she was already familiar with some of what that path could look like. During her parents鈥� lengthy divorce and custody proceedings, Davis and her siblings spent years moving in and out of courtrooms. 鈥淚 remembered lawyers who sat down with me and talked to me without being on an adult level,鈥� Davis said. 鈥淚t was scary being in there, but there were people who made it less scary.鈥�

Davis learned early how much work her goals would require. After missing kindergarten, she entered first grade at 8 years old, older than her classmates and still unable to read. By the end of the year, she was reading at a fifth-grade level and had advanced enough academically to skip second grade and enter the school鈥檚 gifted and talented program.

After deciding she wanted to pursue law, Davis and her father began shaping many of her academic decisions around that goal. 鈥淢y dad was like, 鈥榊ou鈥檙e going to have to bridge the gaps other students don鈥檛 have,鈥欌�� Davis said. 鈥淣ot only was I catching up to the other students, but I had to stay ahead of them.鈥� By eighth grade, Davis had started concurrent college coursework, eventually taking full college schedules while still in high school.

The path Davis built for herself required years of sacrifice and discipline. That level of focus meant she opted out of sports and social activities that usually dominate high school life, because she knew they wouldn鈥檛 help her meet her goals.

鈥淚 spent 10 years forming a path leading to where I was going,鈥� Davis said. 鈥淚 haven鈥檛 strayed from it.鈥�

Davis credits much of her progress to the adults who invested time in her early education. Among them was Jennifer Keedy, who worked closely with her in her first-grade classroom and later wrote a reference letter for Davis鈥� bar application. Her grandfather created stacks of handwritten index cards from which he quizzed her to help improve her vocabulary and reading comprehension. Her father often stayed up late after work helping her study. Later, as she began taking concurrent college classes in high school, he drove her an hour each way, often waiting in the truck while she attended class.

After graduating high school in 2020, Davis earned an associate degree and technical certificate from the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville in 2021 before completing her bachelor鈥檚 degree in English with a concentration in creative writing at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville in 2022. For Davis, the degree carried particular meaning.

鈥淭o go from not being able to read to getting a degree focused on reading and writing, that was really special to me,鈥� Davis said.

When she arrived at Bowen in 2023, the experience felt more surreal than triumphant. After spending years building her life around the goal of becoming a lawyer, she suddenly found herself entering a profession no one in her family had firsthand experience navigating. During Bowen鈥檚 first-week program, Davis realized many of her classmates came from backgrounds that made law school feel more familiar.

鈥淚t was like a sick feeling,鈥� Davis said. 鈥淚鈥檓 finally here, and at this point I know my family can no longer prepare me further.鈥�

But at Bowen, Davis began finding new forms of guidance. She said many professors taught from their own experiences in practice, helping students understand not only legal theory, but also how attorneys navigate difficult conversations, building trust and managing professional relationships.

In courses such as Property Law, Decedents鈥� Estates and Business Associations, Davis said she began connecting the legal systems she was studying with the realities she had already seen growing up in rural Arkansas, an approach she said made the coursework feel more practical and grounded.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 something I really appreciated,鈥� Davis said. 鈥淚t can be hard when you haven鈥檛 experienced things. Otherwise, it鈥檚 just regurgitating law.鈥�

Outside the classroom, Davis sought out opportunities to work directly with rural communities across Arkansas, work she said felt closely connected to the same motivations that first drew her toward law as a child. As a Bowen Public Service Fellow, she completed more than 1,600 public service hours during law school and recently received the law school鈥檚 Distinguished Public Service Award in recognition of that work.

Her internships, externships and pro bono service included work with Legal Aid of Arkansas, the Arkansas Access to Justice Commission, the Arkansas Public Defender Commission and the Office of General Counsel for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The work gave Davis a broader understanding of what practicing law in rural Arkansas often requires. Attorneys, she said, frequently become not only legal advocates, but also connectors to services, relationships and resources that clients may not know exist.

One project that stayed with her most involved compiling legal and community resources across 15 Arkansas counties for Legal Aid of Arkansas. Davis worked to identify attorneys, housing resources, veterans services, food banks, shelters and other programs that could help connect residents with support beyond immediate legal representation.

鈥淚鈥檓 not even out of law school yet, and I already know that work is helping people,鈥� Davis said.

She also brought those interests into her academic leadership at Bowen. As this year鈥檚 symposium editor for the Arkansas Journal of Social Change and Public Service, Davis organized a symposium examining agriculture and legal issues affecting Arkansas farming communities.

After graduation this weekend, Davis plans to continue preparing for rural practice through the University of Arkansas School of Law鈥檚 LL.M. program in agricultural and food law while studying for the bar exam this summer. While completing the program in Fayetteville, Davis plans to work alongside Newport attorney Jim McLarty, a longtime family friend she has known since childhood. McLarty, who is approaching retirement, will help mentor Davis as she begins preparing to build her own rural practice focused on agriculture law, estate planning and family law.

For Davis, every stage of preparation has pointed back toward Newport.

鈥淏eing able to go back is keeping my promise,鈥� she said.

The post A Promise Kept: How Sarah Davis Prepared for a Law Career in Rural Arkansas appeared first on William H. Bowen School of Law.

He had worked construction and carpentry through college. He taught percussion in public school. He earned a real estate license. He worked retail in Nashville during the height of COVID-19 while trying to build a career in music. Through it all, he kept playing drums and singing with his band, Blackstrap, booking gigs and managing the business side of the work himself.

What connected those experiences was not a straight path toward law school, but a pattern.

鈥淚 would pick things up really quickly,鈥� Gathright said. 鈥淭hen I鈥檇 hit a ceiling.鈥�

One of the clearest examples came during his time working at a JD Sports store in Franklin, Tennessee. Hired first as a sales associate, Gathright quickly moved into leadership roles, becoming a supervisor within weeks and an assistant manager shortly afterward. Before long, the company offered him his own store.

On paper, it looked like success. But the offer forced him to confront a question that had followed him through several jobs already: Was he building a career he wanted, or simply succeeding at the next thing put in front of him?

鈥淚 only really liked selling,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 liked working with people. The further up you got, the less you actually get to do that.鈥�

At the same time, the music career that had brought him to Nashville had begun to stall as the live entertainment industry struggled to recover from the pandemic. When his lease ended, he packed up and moved home to El Dorado.

Looking back, Gathright now sees those years less as false starts and more as a process of elimination. Each job taught him something about the kind of work that energized him and the kind that did not. He liked solving problems. He liked working directly with people. He wanted autonomy. What wore him down was micromanagement, routine administration and work that felt static once he mastered it.

鈥淚 learned early on that I鈥檓 going to swim regardless,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 may not know what I鈥檓 doing when I start, but I鈥檓 going to figure it out.鈥�

For most of his life, Gathright had never imagined becoming an attorney 鈥� he had earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in music. Then he took a job working for a lawyer in El Dorado. The opportunity came through a connection he made while working in real estate, and at first, the position was practical. The firm needed help, and Gathright needed work. What surprised him was how much he enjoyed it.

鈥淚 enjoyed finding the missing pieces,鈥� he said.

The work felt different from anything he had done before. Instead of reaching a point where everything became routine, the legal field seemed to expand the deeper he got into it. There was always another angle to consider, another layer of analysis beneath the surface.

At one point, Gathright mentioned pursuing a paralegal certification to increase his earning potential. The attorney he worked for had another suggestion.

鈥淲hy don鈥檛 you just go to law school?鈥� he remembered him saying.

The idea had never seriously crossed his mind before.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 even know that I could go back to law school after the degrees that I got,鈥� Gathright said.

Still, Bowen offered something important: proximity to the life he had already built. The law school allowed him to remain connected to his family, his music network and the people who had supported him through years of uncertainty and career changes.

So he took the LSAT, applied to Bowen before receiving his score and committed fully to the opportunity in front of him.

鈥淚f I didn鈥檛 get into Bowen,鈥� he said, 鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 going to law school.鈥�

Like many of the decisions that brought him there, Gathright approached law school without having everything perfectly figured out. During his first semester at Bowen, he was commuting daily from El Dorado to 糖心视频logo while planning a wedding and trying to avoid taking on significant student debt. To make morning classes, he often left home around 6 a.m. and did not return until late in the evening.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 have time to read,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 have time to do anything.鈥�

Eventually, after conversations with attorneys and mentors, he realized the arrangement was not sustainable. He moved to 糖心视频logo during his first semester, and later, his wife, Emilia, joined him.

That support system, combined with Bowen鈥檚 hands-on approach to legal education, helped steady the transition into law school.

Outside the classroom, Gathright continued performing with his band while building legal experience through clerkships and externships at places including the Arkansas Municipal League, Simmons Bank, Nash Law Firm, and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

The experiences exposed him to a wide range of legal work, from estate planning and secured transactions to bankruptcy proceedings and business-related matters. Along the way, he also learned what did not fit.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 really want to litigate at all,鈥� he said with a laugh.

Instead, he found himself increasingly drawn toward transactional and tax-related work, particularly the strategic problem-solving involved in business and finance.

Then he took Federal Income Tax.

鈥淚t was my favorite class I鈥檝e taken in law school,鈥� Gathright said. 鈥淚t just made sense.鈥�

For Gathright, the appeal of tax law was not simply the subject matter. It was the realization that he had finally found a field that could continue challenging him long term.

鈥淭his is a field that keeps evolving,鈥� he said.

The more he studied business and tax law, the more Gathright recognized connections to experiences he had already accumulated outside the classroom. Years of managing bookings, contracts, payments and logistics for his band had given him an unexpected introduction to the business side of professional life. His work in retail, real estate and sales had also shaped the way he thought about systems, negotiation and client relationships.

As his interest in tax law grew, Gathright began talking with faculty mentors and practicing attorneys about what it would take to build a career in the field. Following graduation from Bowen this weekend and the bar exam this summer, he plans to begin the Tax LL.M. program at the University of Florida Levin College of Law while working with RMP in 糖心视频logo.

In some ways, the direction surprised him. Tax law had never been part of the original plan because there had never really been an original plan. Instead, his path to law school was built piece by piece through experience, trial and error, and a willingness to keep moving toward opportunities that felt meaningful.

鈥淚 think something I鈥檝e noticed,鈥� he said, 鈥渋s that it really is never too late to start over or find a different path.鈥� That perspective has become one of the clearest lessons he carries from his journey to Bowen. 鈥淒on鈥檛 be afraid to pivot into something,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f you think you鈥檇 like it, go try it.鈥�

For Gathright, the willingness to step into unfamiliar territory repeatedly led him somewhere unexpected: a legal career that finally felt expansive enough to grow alongside him.

The post No Ceiling: How James Gathright Found Room to Grow in Law appeared first on William H. Bowen School of Law.

It is the kind of moment that does not show up on a r茅sum茅, but over time, it became a familiar one. Schoeppel Wilcox, who is nearly a decade older than many of her classmates, took on a big sister role for many during her time at the UA 糖心视频logo William H. Bowen School of Law. They turned to her, not just for help with coursework, but for guidance on the practical decisions that shape daily life and professional confidence. She has talked peers through mock interviews, how to get a car loan, and how to choose a primary care provider.

In a place where students spend long hours together, often learning how to navigate unfamiliar environments alongside one another, those moments of trust can carry real weight. For Schoeppel Wilcox, they became some of the most meaningful parts of her experience at law school.

Schoeppel Wilcox was recently awarded the Bogle-Sharp Award, which goes to the graduate who is voted 鈥渕ost likely to succeed in the practice of law鈥� by their peers. 鈥淚 can’t think of any honor greater than one from those that have endured the trenches of law school with you,鈥� she said.

Long before classmates began turning to her for advice, Schoeppel Wilcox was learning from the people who quietly showed up for others in her own life.

She grew up in Fairview, Oklahoma, a rural town where her graduating class numbered just 36 students. Her mother taught middle school and often found understated ways to help families around them. If a student came to school without a winter coat, one might quietly appear a few days later in exactly the right size.

鈥淣o one needed to know that she did it,鈥� Schoeppel Wilcox said. 鈥淵ou just meet people鈥檚 needs where you can.鈥�

She saw the opposite side of that reality, too. Her father, a lawyer, died when she was seven after what she describes as a difficult and often painful marriage for her mother. Even with a college degree, a stable job and support from family, her mother was left trying to navigate financial systems and responsibilities she had never been allowed to manage on her own.

Over time, Schoeppel Wilcox began to recognize how many forms uncertainty can take, especially for people trying to enter unfamiliar professional spaces. She said she was fortunate to grow up surrounded by friends whose parents stepped in to help fill gaps when they saw them. 鈥淥ne of my friends鈥� dads taught me how to get a car loan,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hose aren鈥檛 things everyone gets taught.鈥�

Before law school, she worked in public service roles in Oklahoma and Arkansas, spent time working for a nonprofit in South Africa and helped run internship programs in multiple settings. Again and again, she found herself working with people who often already knew what they wanted for themselves and their families, but lacked access to resources, information or professional networks that could help them get there.

鈥淚 think people usually know what they need,鈥� she said. 鈥淪ometimes they just need someone to help guide them through it.鈥�

During law school, life outside the classroom rarely slowed down for Schoeppel Wilcox.

She and her wife Amie married just weeks before classes began at Bowen. During her first year, they renovated a 100-year-old home in Hillcrest while she adjusted to the demands of legal education. Throughout law school, she balanced classes with clerkships, externships and research work at the school.

Then, during her second year, just weeks after she was named editor-in-chief of the UALR Law Review, her mother died unexpectedly.

During that same period, Schoeppel Wilcox and her wife navigated fertility treatments, a miscarriage, the responsibility of settling her mother鈥檚 estate and helping care for her aunt in hospice in Oklahoma, all while continuing through law school.

鈥淵ou want to show up for everybody and do a good job and do it right,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 hard to balance it sometimes.鈥�

At home, she and her wife relied on a simple framework for making decisions during overwhelming seasons: knowing which responsibilities were 鈥済lass balls鈥� and which were 鈥渞ubber balls.鈥�

鈥淭he rubber balls bounce back,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he glass balls break.鈥�

Sometimes that meant missing a class to handle a family emergency and catching up later. Other times, it meant accepting support from the same community she had spent years supporting herself.

When her mother died, several classmates drove from 糖心视频logo to Oklahoma for the funeral, a 14-hour round trip. Friends brought freezer meals, shared class notes and helped however they could. Faculty members, including Dean Gustafson and Professor Laura Bates, became steady sources of support and guidance throughout law school.

For Schoeppel Wilcox, those experiences reinforced the kind of community she had found at Bowen 鈥� one built not only through academic rigor, but through people continuing to show up for one another when life became difficult.

As editor-in-chief of the Law Review, Schoeppel Wilcox found herself responsible for keeping one of the law school鈥檚 most demanding student organizations moving forward.

鈥淭he role of the editor-in-chief is keeping the train on the tracks,鈥� she said.

The position required her to manage the publication process, coordinate with students and faculty and review every article that moved through the Law Review, all while balancing coursework, externships and responsibilities outside the classroom.

For Schoeppel Wilcox, leadership was less about authority than consistency. Early on, she worked to make sure everyone understood their responsibilities and trusted one another to carry them out. 鈥淭he clearest communication and assuming best intent of somebody,鈥� she said, 鈥渢hose are the two things I always try to take into a role like that.鈥�

The experience reinforced what had already become central to her time at Bowen: leadership often meant helping other people do their best work.

This weekend, Schoeppel Wilcox will graduate from Bowen Law after years defined as much by service and resilience as academic achievement. Following graduation, Schoeppel Wilcox will begin a two-year judicial clerkship with Chief U.S. District Judge Kristine G. Baker before joining the Rose Law Firm as a litigation associate. She said her externship with Judge Baker reaffirmed her belief in the legal system at its best: one grounded in preparation, fairness and respect for the people moving through it.

鈥淭here really is no substitute for being in the courtroom and watching it happen,鈥� she said.

For Schoeppel Wilcox, the path to this point has rarely been linear or uncomplicated. But as she prepares to graduate, she is thinking less about achievement than about the opportunities people create for those who come after them.

She recently learned that her grandfather once started law school himself before leaving to support his family, a decision that shaped the choices available to those around him. Her father eventually became a lawyer, while her mother, the first in her family to attend college, became a teacher because, as Schoeppel Wilcox recalls, she 鈥渄idn鈥檛 really know what else you could be other than that or a secretary.鈥�

Now, as she and her wife prepare to welcome their first child later this summer, Schoeppel Wilcox hopes the life they are building will offer their child more freedom and possibility than earlier generations had themselves.

The post A Community Built: How Chacey Schoeppel Wilcox Became the Person Classmates Turned To appeared first on William H. Bowen School of Law.

It鈥檚 a place defined by structure鈥攂y process, order, and systems built to hold everything in place.

Nearly a decade ago, Linch was sleeping in his car.

Growing up in 糖心视频logo with a loving family and a diploma from Catholic High, Linch鈥檚 path initially looked like that of many Arkansans: he headed to Fayetteville to attend the University of Arkansas.

But after a year of battling an undiagnosed anxiety disorder and a growing dependence on substances, he flunked out. That setback spiraled into years of addiction, homelessness, and brushes with the law. 鈥淚 really thought life was over,鈥� he said.

It wasn鈥檛.

Through the grace of a compassionate prosecutor and a passionate defense attorney, Linch was offered a second chance instead of a criminal record. He took it.

That second chance led him to Renewal Ranch, a faith-based recovery program in Perryville. For the first time in years, he saw what he describes as 鈥渁 glimmer of hope.鈥�

He stayed, completed the program, and later joined the organization in fundraising and marketing. From there, he returned to school and earned his psychology degree from Central Baptist College. With that progress came a new goal. Linch began to see law school as the path forward, a way to help others the same way he had been helped.

鈥淚 knew I wasn鈥檛 done,鈥� Linch said. 鈥淚 wanted to keep going, but my grades from Fayetteville followed me. On paper, law school just didn鈥檛 seem possible.鈥�

Part-Time Law Program for Working Professionals

At Bowen, that path became possible. When Linch learned about the UA 糖心视频logo William H. Bowen School of Law鈥檚 LEAP Program, a six-week pathway for students whose transcripts might not reflect their true potential, he saw an opening. He applied, got in, and found the momentum he鈥檇 been missing.

鈥淟EAP demystified law school,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 walked into my first day with study partners, real experience, and six weeks of contracts under my belt. It changed everything.鈥�

From there, his path began to take shape.

Linch is now a second-year part-time student at Bowen, balancing coursework with a full-time role as Director of Communications and Legislative Affairs for Arkansas Lieutenant Governor Leslie Rutledge. He worked on Rutledge鈥檚 early campaign before addiction sidelined his future. She has remained a consistent supporter, something Linch says is rare in politics.

His experiences have shaped his focus.

鈥淚鈥檝e been to 11 funerals in five years,鈥� he said. 鈥淔riends who didn鈥檛 make it. I had access to a resource that changed my life. That was a good attorney. I want to be that for someone else.鈥�

At Bowen, Linch has found more than academic redemption. He鈥檚 found a community that meets students where they are and pushes them forward.

He points to professors like John Cook, who teaches legal writing and analysis, as a defining part of that experience. Cook is known for meeting with students after class ends at 9 p.m. or on weekends, doing whatever it takes to help them succeed.

That mentorship has already made a tangible impact. Linch is now a member of UA 糖心视频logo Law Review, and his note has been selected for publication, an opportunity he credits in part to Cook鈥檚 encouragement to join and strengthen his writing.

Even while undergoing cancer treatment, Cook adjusted his own schedule to ensure students were prepared for finals. That level of commitment left an impression. 鈥淗e鈥檚 the best educator I鈥檝e ever had,鈥� Linch said. 鈥淗e wants you to understand it, not just get through it.鈥�

For Linch, that kind of support isn鈥檛 the exception. It鈥檚 part of what makes Bowen different.

The part-time program at Bowen has made that path possible. It allows Linch to work full time at the Capitol while continuing his legal education, balancing coursework with the responsibilities that matter most at home.

He and his wife, Ellie, recently welcomed their first child, adding a new layer of purpose to an already demanding season of life. Grounded in his faith, Linch approaches that responsibility with a clear sense of direction and calling.

It is not easy.

But it is exactly the kind of path Bowen is designed to support, one where students can build a career that matters without putting their lives on hold.

Learn more about Bowen’s Part-Time Program.

The post A Future Reclaimed: Jon-Austen Linch鈥檚 Path from Addiction to the Law appeared first on William H. Bowen School of Law.

This year鈥檚 lecture brings together Professor John Yoo of the University of California at Berkeley and Professor Vikram Amar of the University of California, Davis, for an in-depth discussion on the scope of executive authority in the American legal system. Both are widely published legal thinkers whose perspectives offer valuable insights into the evolving balance of powers between the executive branch, Congress and the courts.

鈥淭his lecture provides a timely forum for informed discussion on the constitutional boundaries of executive power,鈥� said Colin Crawford, dean of the William H. Bowen School of Law. 鈥淏y hosting legal scholars with contrasting ideological and political perspectives, we aim to foster thoughtful dialogue that reflects Bowen鈥檚 commitment to public service, professionalism and legal understanding.鈥�

About the Speakers

John Yoo is the Emanuel Heller Professor of Law at the University of California, Berkeley, and a nonresident senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. He is also a distinguished visiting professor at the University of Texas at Austin鈥檚 School of Civic Leadership and a senior fellow at its Civitas Institute. A former law clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, Yoo served in the U.S. Department of Justice on 9/11 and has worked in all three branches of government. He has authored more than 100 academic articles and numerous books and is a frequent contributor to major national publications such as the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and the Washington Post.

Vikram Amar is the Daniel J. Dykstra Endowed Chair and Distinguished Professor of Law at UC Davis School of Law. He previously served as dean of the University of Illinois College of Law and has held faculty positions at Berkeley, UCLA, and Northwestern, among others. Amar clerked for Justice Harry A. Blackmun of the U.S. Supreme Court and is a widely cited scholar in constitutional law, federal courts and civil procedure. He is a contributing columnist for Justia and SCOTUSblog, and a co-author of leading legal treatises and casebooks.

About the Arnold Lecture

The Arnold Lecture series, an occasional event hosted by the UA 糖心视频logo William H. Bowen School of Law, honors the late Judge Richard Arnold and Judge Morris 鈥淏uzz鈥� Arnold, distinguished Arkansas jurists appointed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. In past years, the Arnold Lecture has welcomed U.S. Supreme Court justices and other celebrated legal scholars to Arkansas to examine issues central to the rule of law and democratic governance.

This event is free and open to the public, but seating is limited. Reserve your seat at .

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Dean Colin Crawford opened the ceremony by reflecting on the perseverance shown by the graduating class. Many had completed their degrees through Bowen鈥檚 part-time evening program while balancing full-time jobs and other responsibilities, a commitment Crawford described as 鈥渧ery special鈥� to Bowen鈥檚 faculty and staff. 鈥淢ost of these students have been laboring at this for at least four years while also holding a full-time job,鈥� he said.

Judge Wendy Scholtens Wood of the Arkansas Court of Appeals delivered the keynote address. A 1996 Bowen alumna and accomplished attorney, Judge Wood offered graduates heartfelt advice rooted in both personal experience and the collective wisdom of her peers. In preparing her remarks, she consulted ten of her former classmates, now serving across sectors including public defense, nonprofit leadership, the judiciary, and private practice.

Her classmates included a federal magistrate judge, a venture capitalist, a nonprofit executive director, and attorneys in government and private roles. Wood emphasized civility as essential in Arkansas鈥檚 close-knit legal community, urged graduates to seek mentors and stay curious, and reminded them to prioritize personal well-being alongside professional achievement.

鈥淎s you begin your legal careers, I hope the advice from my class to yours serves you well,鈥� she said. 鈥淧lay the long game. Ask for help. Find mentors. And don鈥檛 be so focused on the pursuit of success that you sacrifice your health or your family.鈥�

Special guests at the ceremony included Chief Judge Phyllis M. Jones 鈥�97 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas, who was joined by her judicial clerk, Louis Houser 鈥�25; and Paul Wood 鈥�96, husband of keynote speaker Judge Wendy Wood.

A reception followed the ceremony in the Law Library. Graduates also participated in UA 糖心视频logo鈥檚 university-wide commencement exercises on Saturday, Dec. 13.

Fall 2025 Bowen School of Law Graduates
Juris Doctor

• Samuel Patrick Bell
• Kristen Mary Corley
• Christina Marie Doncell, magna cum laude
• James Daniel French II
• Sonora Faye Gillespie
• James Thomas Herrod
• Sarah Khatib
• Elizabeth Jayne Kimble
• April Rene Muhammad
• Natalie Christine Rachel
• Kirsten Richey
• Johndrea Earlisha Tatum
• Verenice Perez Taylor, summa cum laude
• Mark Steven Young

The ceremony reflected Bowen鈥檚 mission to prepare students for meaningful legal careers grounded in public service, professionalism, and access to justice. As these graduates step into their legal careers, they carry forward that mission into courtrooms and communities across Arkansas and beyond.

The post Bowen Law Celebrates Fall 2025 Graduates with Hooding Ceremony and Keynote from Arkansas Court of Appeals Judge appeared first on William H. Bowen School of Law.

Leaving television was not just a career decision. It meant stepping away from a path he had spent decades building in Memphis. Returning home to Nashville, Arkansas, Young moved in with his parents to regroup and prepare for the LSAT as his first step toward law school. 鈥淚f I didn鈥檛 do it then, in my early 40s, I never would,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t was time to figure out how I could help people and help Arkansas in a more lasting way.鈥�

Young had always been self-reliant. Even while preparing for law school, he worked full time at a 糖心视频logo television station. When it came time to apply, the decision was easy. Bowen offered the flexibility and support he needed through its part-time evening program, along with proximity to family and access to Arkansas鈥檚 legal and political center. 鈥淚t was designed for working adults like me,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 could still pay my bills, still support myself, and get the education I had put off for years.鈥�

Starting law school in his 40s was not easy. Young had not been in a classroom in two decades, and the adjustment was steep. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 do very well my first two semesters,鈥� he said. Learning how law school worked 鈥� how professors taught, how exams were written, how answers were expected 鈥� took time. But with guidance from faculty and steady support from his classmates, he began to find his footing. Each semester, his confidence grew. 鈥淚f I didn鈥檛 understand something, I could go to a professor and ask. That made a big difference.鈥�

Throughout law school, Young balanced a heavy workload. At any given time, he held at least three jobs, including his long-standing role as a Broadcast Technical Director for the Memphis Grizzlies and Memphis Tigers. He made regular trips to Memphis for games while also launching a mobile notary service in Central Arkansas. Over the years, he worked for the Arkansas Department of Human Services, clerked at the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas, and joined the Municipal League as an inquiry clerk. 鈥淚 stayed busy, but I always found a way to make it work,鈥� he said.

It was at the Arkansas Municipal League that Young found a sense of clarity. As an inquiry clerk, he fielded questions from mayors, city attorneys and council members across the state, helping them navigate legal questions and access resources. For someone who grew up in a small town and saw firsthand the challenges rural communities face, the work felt deeply personal. 鈥淪mall towns are the backbone of Arkansas,鈥� he said. 鈥淕etting to support them, even in small ways, has been incredibly rewarding.鈥�

As Young gained momentum, law school became more than just a professional turning point. It was a place of connection and growth. 鈥淚t鈥檚 harder to make good friends as you get older,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut with our part-time class, we bonded almost immediately.鈥� He found support in study groups and peer conversations, especially during challenging courses. Each semester, he improved, not just in grades but in confidence. One of his favorite spots on campus was the Bowen Mart, where he often spent time with Harley Anderson-Croot, a close friend and fellow student who worked behind the counter. He also served as a student senator and Phi Alpha Delta fundraising chair, finding ways to represent and advocate for other part-time students like him.

Young graduates from the UA 糖心视频logo William H. Bowen School of Law this weekend, completing his degree in just three and a half years. He took courses every summer and maximized his course load each semester to get ahead.

Looking forward, Young is keeping his options open. He recently completed the Mediation Clinic and will soon be certified as a mediator in Arkansas. He continues to run his notary business and holds a real estate license, alongside years of media and legal experience. 鈥淚 will always have a backup plan,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd a backup to that backup plan.鈥� Whether he continues in municipal law or takes another path, Young is prepared and grounded in a commitment to help Arkansas communities thrive. For other working professionals considering law school later in life, his advice is simple: 鈥淒on鈥檛 be afraid to try it. You can always figure it out.鈥�

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At the time, Muhammad was already enrolled in a Ph.D. program in business leadership 鈥� but the work felt hollow. The more she studied, the more she realized it wasn鈥檛 what she was meant to do. What pulled at her instead was a deeper need she couldn鈥檛 ignore: the persistent gap between people in crisis and the legal help they needed. She had grown up in a place where families struggled in silence, and now she saw how many others still faced those same barriers. If she was going to start over, she wanted it to matter.

Muhammad鈥檚 path to law school began with Bowen鈥檚 LEAP program, a selective summer initiative that gives high-potential students a chance to prove they are ready for the demands of legal education. She was one of just four students to matriculate that year. 鈥淟EAP was harder than any semester of law school,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t was daily classwork, new material, and it came fast. You couldn鈥檛 slack, and I鈥檓 thankful for that because it prepared me for what was to come.鈥�

Muhammad made that commitment from Pine Bluff, driving nearly two hours each day to attend classes and study at Bowen. A mother of eight, she balanced coursework with caregiving and a full household, often spending eight to ten hours a day in her carrel on campus. Her youngest son, Ausar, a high school student in 糖心视频logo, spent countless hours with her at the law school, reading in the library or waiting outside classrooms. She began in the part-time program and later transitioned to full time, taking on heavy course loads without slowing down. She completed her degree in just three and a half years, a reflection of her focus, discipline and determination.

At Bowen, Muhammad found more than academic rigor. She found mentors who saw her potential and helped shape her into a practicing advocate. As a Rule XV certified student, she represented real clients in the Delta Divorce Clinic, arguing their cases in court under the supervision of Professor Suzanne Penn. 鈥淚 was so nervous, but when the judge said I did a good job, I knew I was exactly where I was supposed to be,鈥� she said. She also completed an externship with Chief Judge Phyllis Jones of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, gaining insight into how judges interpret complex legal issues. Faculty members like Danna Young and Dean Rejena Grotjohn were never far when Muhammad had questions or needed encouragement. Their couches, as she fondly described them, were places to learn and be heard.

While her professors helped shape her as a lawyer, Muhammad鈥檚 greatest champions were often behind the scenes. A few years ago, she remarried, and her husband, Bilal Muhammad, supported her every step of the way, from cooking and cleaning to giving her space to study. Her sisters, Carolyn and Lydia, were constant encouragers, sending shirts with messages like 鈥淛.D. Loading鈥� and reminding her that she could do anything she set her mind to. Muhammad also carried the quiet motivation of her mother, who spent her career cooking in a hospital cafeteria but once confided that she had always dreamed of being a nurse. That revelation stayed with Muhammad. 鈥淚 have one life,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 want to do what I was born to do.鈥�

This weekend, Muhammad will graduate from the UA 糖心视频logo William H. Bowen School of Law and begin a prestigious clerkship in the chambers of Chief Judge Jones of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas, where she once served as a student extern. The courtroom is no longer a dream. It is where she belongs, where purpose meets preparation, and where she is ready to lead.

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