Forty Under 40: Tyler Farrar

Tyler Farrar has enjoyed a varied exposure to the legal field during the past six years but found his way back to higher education.

While studying at the University of Arkansas School of Law, Farrar held a clerkship in the office of general counsel at the UA, a position he said afforded him great mentorship and exposure to broad, exciting issues. Serving as general counsel in higher education became his primary interest.

After finishing his law degree, Farrar worked as a staff attorney in the housing division of the nonprofit Legal Aid of Arkansas, handling mortgage foreclosures, evictions and the occasional domestic violence case. It was high-volume work, and he tried a case before a jury during his first year.

Farrar then took a job back at the UA as the university’s first full-time Title IX coordinator, tasked with ensuring university compliance with Title IX.

In January, Farrar was hired as the first general counsel of the Arkansas Colleges of Health Education (ACHE) in Fort Smith. The private institution is home to the Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine and soon the College for Health Science, with programs for physical therapy, occupational therapy and physician assistants.

Farrar is involved in creating university policy, reviewing all contracts, a litany of regulatory issues, and matters of employment, human resources and student affairs.

“I don’t think I could have done all of this without outstanding mentorship,” Farrar said. “I’ve had the benefit of working under several good lawyers.”

The Springdale native continues to live in his hometown and commute to Fort Smith.

“There’s a great diversity of issues here,” Farrar said. ACHE also has a diversity of new mentors — the CEO is an attorney and the president, a former judge.