Patrick Harris

Patrick Harris is the Director of Advocacy at the William H. Bowen School of Law, University of Arkansas at Little Rock. His roles include supervising adjunct faculty teaching Lawyering Skills courses, instructing trial advocacy, and leading mock trial and moot court competition teams.

Before joining academia, Harris spent 37 years in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Arkansas, holding prominent positions such as Acting U.S. Attorney, First Assistant U.S. Attorney, Criminal Chief, Senior Litigation Counsel, and Assistant U.S. Attorney. He specialized in high-profile cases including RICO violations, murder, arson, public corruption, financial fraud, and large-scale drug conspiracies. Notably, he prosecuted a county coroner for faked kidnapping involving a bomb threat, corrupt law enforcement agents, and a drug dealer who bribed a grand juror. His 2022 appointment leverages his decades of federal litigation experience to strengthen the school’s advocacy programs.

• Evaluated other U.S. attorney offices for the Department of Justice 23 times
• Argued cases before the 8th and 10th Circuit Courts of Appeal

Harris has twice received the DOJ Director’s Award from the Attorney General, recognizing his contributions to federal legal practices and institutional evaluations. His career also includes recovering an $18 million insurance check in a fraud case and managing a 53-defendant trial with 11 defense counsels.

In advising and mentorship, he oversees mock trial and moot court teams, emphasizing practical skill development. His advocacy programs serve as critical platforms for experiential learning in legal strategy and courtroom dynamics.