Third-year students and alumni of the U of A School of Law were recognized during the 2025 Arkansas Access to Justice Month Kickoff in North Little Rock. Themed "Beyond the Courthouse," the event celebrated outstanding pro bono attorneys, volunteers, institutions and community leaders across Arkansas who advance the mission of ensuring that all Arkansans have access to the justice system.

"I am deeply proud of our students and alumni whose dedication to serving others continues to create meaningful change for individuals and communities in need," said Dean Cynthia Nance. "Pro bono service is woven into the fabric of our law school, and it's inspiring to see our Law Hogs continue that spirit of service throughout their professional lives."

The student and alumni awardees included:

Carter Horton – Law Student Scholarship Winner
For the scholarship essay competition, students were invited to submit a 1,000-word essay exploring how technology can be leveraged to improve access to justice or how law schools can help advance that goal. Horton was selected for his essay proposing the establishment of a Rural Legal Practice Student Loan and Scholarship Program aimed at attracting attorneys to underserved communities and strengthening access to legal services across rural Arkansas.

Originally from Pottsville, he earned his undergraduate degree in agricultural business from Southern Arkansas University. Following graduation, Horton plans to return to rural north central Arkansas to practice in the areas of estate planning and elder law.

Gabrielle Rancifer – Law Student Award
Rancifer has participated in 10 legal clinics and completed more than 100 hours of pro bono work, including service with the Arkansas Access to Justice Free Legal Answers Clinic, where she was featured in a 2024 Volunteer Spotlight.

A Little Rock native, she holds both a bachelor's and a master's degree in journalism from Northwestern University. At the School of Law, Rancifer serves as a Dean's Student Ambassador, Symposium Chair for the Intellectual Property Law Student Association and Notes & Comments Editor for the Arkansas Law Review. She has led multiple student organizations, founded the school's annual World Intellectual Property Day Symposium and directed the 2025 Delta Initiative Pro Bono trip as a member of the inaugural Student Pro Bono Board. She also competed on the 2024-25 Moot Court, where her team placed third overall and earned fourth-best brief in the Burton D. Wechsler National First Amendment Moot Court Competition.

Her professional experience includes operating her own notary and apostille business, clerking for Cascade Law Group and Hall Booth Smith, P.C. and externing with Chief Magistrate Judge Christy D. Comstock. She worked as a summer associate with Kutak Rock LLP, where she will join the Omaha office as an associate in Intellectual Property and Technology Transactions after the bar exam.

Samantha Doss (J.D. '24) – Outstanding Legal Aid Attorney of the Year
Doss introduced an innovative strategy to mitigate one of the primary barriers to housing stability—eviction records. Her work to establish a process for sealing eligible cases has expanded opportunities for families to obtain secure and affordable housing without the lasting impact of prior evictions.

Barbara Mariani (J.D. '96) – Outstanding Pro Bono Service Lawyer/Public Interest
After retiring as a prosecutor, Mariani has remained dedicated to public service through her advocacy for survivors of domestic violence. She now trains attorneys handling order-of-protection cases and collaborates with circuit judges to strengthen support for survivors and respondents alike.

Cliff McKinney (J.D. '02) - Free Legal Answers Pro Bono Leader of the Year
McKinney has served as president of the Arkansas Access to Justice Foundation Board for over five years and has answered 428 questions through Arkansas Free Legal Answers, underscoring his commitment to public service.

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About the University of Arkansas 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 exceptional opportunities in pro bono work, live-client clinics, public service fellowships, competitions and much more. It also has a rich history and tradition of leadership—from admitting the Six Pioneers, the first African American students to attend a Southern law school without a court order, to graduating governors, judges, prosecutors and faculty members who have gone on to serve as President of the United States and Secretary of State. Follow us at @uarklaw.