 Improving Justice for All |
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THE MISSION To improve justice for all Arkansans by promoting The Arkansas Bar Foundation is the charitable arm of the Arkansas Bar Association. The Foundation was formed in 1958 to support efforts at improving the administration of justice. These efforts include financially supporting the Arkansas Bar Association, other foundations, and organizations which promote the goals of the Foundation. The Foundation also supports continuing legal education for lawyers, efforts to diffuse knowledge of the law, and publishing reports and other literary works on legal subjects. Other objectives are acquiring, preserving, and exhibiting rare books, documents and objects of art that have legal significance. The need for funding has never been greater. The support of all Arkansas lawyers is needed to meet this challenge. Our goal is lofty, but many share in this mission. We invite you to read about some of our projects in the next few paragraphs. We challenge you to join us in improving justice for all. Each year, the Foundation awards approximately 40 endowed law school scholarships to students at the University of Arkansas Law Schools. The faculty of each university also is allotted three scholarships for students who show potential and who are deserving of financial award. These scholarships have produced fine lawyers who otherwise would not have been able to afford the costs of law school without the Foundation's help. Many of the ideas for special projects come from organizations seeking grants for law- related projects. These projects must fall within the guidelines set out in the Foundation's goals and objectives. Over the years, the Foundation has also been a major supporter of efforts by the Arkansas Bar Association to educate the public about their rights and to make justice more accessible to thousands of Arkansans. These goals are often met by the publication of informational brochures and booklets dealing with topics such as Consumer Law, Veterans' Rights and Small Claims Court. The Arkansas Bar Foundation established an Arkansas Bar Foundation Professorship at each Arkansas law school. The Foundation at times funds major projects such as the recent renovation of the new Arkansas Bar Center. The new Arkansas Bar Center, is located at 2224 Cottondale Lane in Little Rock, Arkansas. The Arkansas Bar Foundation and Arkansas Bar Association annually present several awards to recognize leaders in the legal community. The Outstanding Lawyer, Outstanding Lawyer-Citizen, James H. Mckenzie Professionalism Award, Outstanding Local Bar, C.E. Ransick Award of Excellence, and Equal Justice Distinguished Service Award are eagerly anticipated at the Annual Meeting in June. Outstanding lawyers who are members of the Bar of the State of Arkansas are invited to become Fellows of the Foundation. Upon invitation, a Fellow must contribute or pledge to contribute an amount designated by the Foundation Board. The current financial contribution to become a Fellow is $2,000.00. The pledge may be paid over a three-year or five-year period. After the contribution has been paid, the Fellow's picture will be displayed on the Fellows' Plasma Screen at the Arkansas Bar Center. The cost of operation of the Foundation is paid by the rent received from the Arkansas Bar Association as a tenant in the Arkansas Bar Center and from Sustaining Fellows contributions. Fellows who have completed payment of their pledges are invited to become Sustaining Fellows. Lawyers who wish to be considered for
selection as Fellows and Fellows who wish to become Sustaining Fellows
should contact Ann Dixon Pyle, Executive Director of the Arkansas
Bar Foundation by email at apyle@arkbar.com
or by contacting: The Arkansas Bar Foundation is governed by an 18-member Board of Directors. The Board is composed of five lawyers elected by the Foundation members from each of the three bar districts plus the Arkansas Bar Association President, the Immediate Past President of the Foundation and the Chair of the Trust Committee. The officers of the Foundation are the President, Vice President and Secretary-Treasurer, who are elected by the Board for one-year terms. Members of the Board are elected at a Foundation business meeting held in conjunction with the Annual Meeting of the Arkansas Bar Association. The Foundation has a Fellows Dinner the evening following the business meeting. The 18-member Trust Committee is composed of experienced lawyers who serve six-year terms. Two are appointed by each President and confirmed by the Board. Other members are the Foundation Officers and the Deans of the two law schools, and the President of the Arkansas Bar Association. The Trust Committee manages the Trust Fund to generate income for the good works of the Foundation. A separate operating account pays the costs of running the Foundation. |
