Twenty years ago, the U of A School of Law led the nation in establishing the first student-run journal focused on publishing articles and essays about food law and its impact on society.

The law school commemorated the publication's milestone during the Journal of Food Law & Policy 20th Anniversary Celebration on April 4 at the Law School with two special guest speakers: the Journal's first editor-in-chief, Margie Alsbrook (J.D. '05, LL.M. '06), assistant professor at the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University, and the Journal's first faculty adviser, Michael Roberts (LL.M. '00), professor and the founding executive director of the Resnick Food Law & Policy Center at the UCLA School of Law.

"It was a huge endeavor to start the Journal," Alsbrook said. "Our staff took it from an idea and made it into a publication. We took a leap of faith."

Alsbrook explained that the original Journal staff began with no foundation, sending proposals to faculty to outline how the publication would be organized and operated. The students secured authors and a printer, developed a calendar outlining all key deadlines and created a staff handbook, training materials and even assembled their desks.

Today, the Journal, published biannually, remains committed to publishing and promoting exceptional legal scholarship on issues that impact our food system. The Journal has consistently evolved under the guidance of Susan Schneider (LL.M. '90), the William H. Enfield Professor of Law and director of the LL.M. Program in Agricultural and Food Law who serves as co-adviser with Kelly Nuckolls (LL.M. '08), assistant professor of law and assistant director of the LL.M. program.

Schneider said, "I give Professor Roberts credit for coming up with the idea for the Journal and helping the students get it off the ground. He worked tirelessly to make sure it had a strong foundation and a solid reputation. It's been my honor to serve as faculty adviser to the Journal since then. Our students work with excellent food law authors from across the world and publish articles on relevant and timely issues. Our issues are now all online, expanding our reach. Our readership is impressive, with more than 5,000 downloads to date in 2025."

When the Journal first started posting digital content on ScholarWorks in 2018, it saw nearly 2,000 downloads that year. By 2024, this number had increased to nearly 22,000 downloads.

"From the beginning we treated the Journal like it was going to endure," Alsbrook said. "We gave it the same level of prestige as established journals, and I believe that's why it has lasted this long. Fortunately, we're located in a region that deeply appreciates food and agriculture, understanding their critical roles in the national economy."

Alsbrook added that the publication showcases the work of outstanding authors focused on an area of law that influence's everyone's daily life. "It has been amazing to see the Journal's ripple of influence spread across the country," she said. "It raised awareness of this new and blossoming area of law. It's remarkable to witness the achievements of former editors in food law and other fields. It was a significant honor and one of my proudest accomplishments. I never doubted that we would succeed."

Roberts reflected on his time as the faculty adviser, saying, "Being an adviser to the Journal of Food Law & Policy when it launched 20 years ago was one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. It has been a joy to see the Journal succeed under the outstanding leadership of Professor Susan Schneider and the dedicated law students at the University of Arkansas. Initially, we all wondered about the Journal's longevity, but I am proud and thankful that its pioneering role in establishing food law and policy as a respected academic field has endured. What an impressive achievement!"

About the Journal of Food Law and Policy: The Journal of Food Law and Policy has long been recognized as a leader in publishing articles and essays on food law and its impact on society. When the journal's inaugural issue was published, no other student-edited journal was devoted to the topic, and few law schools recognized the emerging discipline of food law and policy. Since that time, the journal has led the nation in recognizing the significance of studying the legal framework of our food system. It is published twice a year and is edited by dedicated law students at the University of Arkansas School of Law.

About the School of Law: The law school offers a competitive J.D. and is home to the nation's first LL.M. program in agriculture and food law. Led by nationally recognized faculty, the school offers students pro bono work, live client clinics, public service fellowships, competitions, and much more. Students also benefit from our location in one of the fastest growing, most livable, and economically vibrant regions in the U.S., and from our corporate externship partnerships with Fortune 500 companies. Our alumni have gone on to become judges, senators, and governors, and we serve communities throughout our state and nation through programs such as the Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative. Follow us at @uarklaw.