FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The University of Arkansas School of Law presents Conversations with the Academy a podcast designed to explore the scholarship and background of some of the nation's leading legal scholars.  

This monthly podcast features wide-ranging interviews with renowned legal academics and practitioners from all over the country.

"Top legal scholars come to the law school to share their research and experience with our students and faculty," said Brian Gallini, associate dean and professor of law. "As part of a land grant institution, we were looking for a way to share their ideas with the rest of campus, northwest Arkansas and the larger legal community nation wide. A podcast seemed like a great way to accomplish that goal."

Three episodes are now available at law.uark.edu or KUAF.com:

Episode 1: Deborah Jones Merritt

Merritt is the John Deaver Drinko-Baker and Hostetler Chair in Law at Ohio State University. She discussed her research in cognitive science and the law when she was on campus as part of the Hartman Hotz Lectures in Law and Liberal Arts.

Episode 2: Stacey Lantagne

Lantagne is an assistant professor at the University of Mississippi School of Law who studies copyright and trademark law.  She discussed her current research on legal issues with fan fiction while she was on campus as part of the law school's speaker exchange program.

Episode 3: Joel Goldstein

Joel Goldstein, the Vincent C. Immel Professor of Law at Saint Louis University School of Law, is a noted expert on the United States vice presidency. He discussed his research while on campus as a Hartman Hotz Lecturer.

Future episodes include:

• David Epstein, George E. Allen Chair at the University of Richmond School of Law and former dean of the University of Arkansas School of Law, on third party beneficiary law.
• John Newman, assistant professor at the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphries School of Law, on "The Myth of Free."
• Michael Vandenbergh, David Daniels Allen Distinguished Chair of Law at Vanderbilt Law School, on climate change and the law.

The podcast is co-hosted by School of Law director of communications Darinda Sharp and academic programs coordinator Collin Hesse. Listeners can subscribe to Conversations with the Academy through iTunes and SoundCloud.

About University of Arkansas School of Law: The University of Arkansas School of Law prepares students for success through a challenging curriculum taught by nationally recognized faculty, unique service opportunities and a close-knit community that puts students first. With alumni in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, two territories and 20 countries, it has been ranked among the top 10 "Best Values in Legal Education" by the National Jurist magazine for three consecutive years and is among the top 42 public law schools, according to U.S. News and World Report.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.