LITTLE ROCK — The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has selected Washburn University School of Law Associate Dean Michael Hunter Schwartz as the next dean of its H.W. Bowen School of Law, the university announced Tuesday.

Schwartz will replace professor Paula Casey, who has served as interim dean of UALR’s law school since former Dean John DiPippa returned to the classroom last year.

Schwartz, who comes to UALR with more than 20 years of experience in legal education, is currently associate dean for faculty and academic development at the Washburn Law School in Topeka, Kan. He is also a professor and co-director of the Institute for Law Teach- ing and Learning.

Bowen’s emphasis on preparing students to effectively practice immediately after graduation attracted Schwartz, who has committed much of his career to researching innovation and effective teaching in legal education, he said.

“It was sort of a perfect fit of the things I most value at Bowen,” Schwartz said. “Students need to be better trained for practice. They need to be able to hit the ground running right when they graduate.”

Schwartz received his law degree from the University of California Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco in 1987 and his bachelor’s degree in mass communications from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1984.

Before joining Washburn in 2006, he was a professor at the Charleston School of Law in South Carolina and at Western State University College of Law in Fullerton, Calif.

He gained professional experience in California as an associate attorney at Graham & James law firm in Newport Beach and as an associate attorney at Hufstedler, Miller, Kaus & Beardsley law firm in Los Angeles. He practiced in contracts, insurance and construction law.

“This is a very exciting time for the UALR Bowen School,” UALR Provost Zulma Toro said in a statement. “The fact that we have been able to hire a nationally and internationally recognized leader in legal education will bring many opportunities for the law school to reach an even higher academic level.”

Bowen enrolls about 450 students and offers concurrent degree programs with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service.

Schwartz said the college’s tuition, which is low compared with many other law schools, allows students to practice in areas that match their ideals, rather than taking the highest paying job to help them tackle student debt.

A semester’s tuition for an in-state student taking 15 credit hours is $5,509, according to the law school’s website.

“I’m sort of stunned that I get to join that school,” he said. “I’m feeling so fortunate.”

Schwartz’ salary will be $230,000, a UALR spokesman said.

Arkansas, Pages 7 on 01/16/2013