Jason Bailey, a member of the 2015 graduating class of the University of Arkansas School of Law, has been awarded one of only 50 Equal Justice Fellowships by Equal Justice Works. The fellowship, funded by the Norflet Progress Fund and hosted by the Lawyer's Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, will support Bailey as he implements a two-year, multifaceted project to address housing discrimination in Arkansas. His project is designed to assist low-income Arkansans facing discrimination-induced housing insecurity – through education, training of advocates, representation, and through the development of impact litigation. 

"Much of the discrimination in Arkansas occurs due to the lack of protections in the state's landlord-tenant laws" said Bailey. "Arkansas law substantially favors landlords, and it is the only state that does not recognize an implied warranty of habitability or doctrine of unconscionability in rental agreements."    

Bailey, who also holds a master's degree in public administration from Arkansas State University, worked as an investigator for the Arkansas Fair Housing Commission prior to attending law school. 

"The experience provides Mr. Bailey with a greater understanding of fair housing issues. The experience, coupled with his educational background, uniquely qualify Bailey to do this important work", said Diane Glauber of the Lawyer's Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law. "Mr. Bailey's project is a perfect complement to the mission of the committee, which is to combat racial discrimination and the resulting inequality of opportunity."

The fellowships are awarded annually through a highly-competitive process and must be funded and hosted by organizations with similar missions. The Norflet Progress Fund finances projects working to benefit African-American communities. Bailey authored Are Landlords the New Police? The Unintended Consequences of the Arkansas Residential Landlord-Tenant Act's Access Provision, published in the Arkansas Law Review (67:3), is the recipient of numerous awards and scholarships, and is the first recipient of the new Criminal Law Certificate issued by the University of Arkansas School of Law.