About the Lawyers

Bill Stanley

Bill Stanley attended Arkansas State University from 1984-1989, receiving his B.S. in Accounting in 1989. A four-year letterman in football, he played offensive line for the Indians during his time at A-State and served as captain of the 1988 team. He is also a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. After his time at Arkansas State, Bill attended law school and received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Arkansas School of Law in 1991.

Bill is licensed to practice in Arkansas State Court, the United States District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. He has been practicing in Jonesboro since 1995 and has established himself as a distinguished trial lawyer, widely recognized as one of the top criminal defense attorneys in the State of Arkansas. His expertise has earned him recognition as part of Best Lawyers in America in Criminal Defense.

Over the years, Bill has worked with several legal organizations, including the Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association (“ATLA”) and the Arkansas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Bill served on the Board of Governors for ATLA from 1996-2014.

He is also a member of:

  • Million Dollar Advocates Forum
  • National Trial Lawyers Association: Top 100 Trial Lawyers
  • American Society of Legal Advocates: Top 100 Criminal Defense Lawyers
  • American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys: Top 10 in Client Satisfaction
  • American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys: Top 10 in Client Satisfaction
  • Rue Ratings Best Attorneys in America
  • Lawyers of Distinction: Excellence in Personal Injury Law

In October 2025, he was recognized by the Arkansas State University Alumni Association as a Distinguished Alumni – the association’s highest honor.

Bill currently serves on the Supreme Court Committee on Criminal Practice and formerly served on the Supreme Court Committee on Civil Practice.

Bill and his wife, Mekelle, are avid supporters of Arkansas State University. He is currently a Red Wolf Foundation Board Member and serves as the President of the NEA Sports Club, which is responsible for securing the amenities enjoyed in Centennial Bank Stadium, the Woodard McAlister Family Club, First National Bank Arena, and Tomlinson Stadium. As President, Bill was instrumental in bringing new amenities to A-State events in the past decade. He also served on the Mascot Selection Steering Committee during Arkansas State’s transition to becoming the Red Wolves in 2008 and continues to be active in the Arkansas State Letterman’s Club.

Bill and Mekelle have been married for 34 years and have two adult children, Hannah McFadden and Jennings Stanley. Hannah and Jennings were both student-athletes at Arkansas State, being letterwinners in dance and football, respectively.

Jared Woodard

Jared attended Arkansas State University and lettered in golf for four years. He received his B.S. in Marketing Management in 2001 and his Juris Doctorate from the University of Arkansas School of Law in 2004.

He is licensed to practice in Arkansas and Kentucky, and the United States District Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas. Jared has helped injured persons and their families through numerous settlements and trial verdicts, including several individual settlements exceeding one million dollars ($1,000,000). Jared is a 2009 graduate of the International Association of Defense Counsel Trial Academy at Stanford University and has been practicing in Jonesboro since 2004.

Jared is active in the legal community as a member of several legal associations. He provides pro bono counsel for both the NEA Humane Society and the Veterans Administration. He’s been selected for inclusion in Super Lawyers – Rising Stars and is a member of The National Trial Lawyers: Top 100.

In the community, Jared is a board member for the Bubba Barnett A-State Intercollegiate golf tournament and RidgePointe Country Club.

He and his wife, Lindsey, are proud parents of two children, Brown and Bentley, both of whom attend local schools in Jonesboro.

He is also a member of:

  • Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum (lifetime member)
  • National Trial Lawyers Association Top 100 Trial Lawyers

Jennings Stanley

Jennings Stanley attended Arkansas State University, where he lettered in football for three years, playing offensive line. He received his B.A. in Political Science from A-State in 2020. Jennings received his Juris Doctorate from William H. Bowen School of Law at University of Arkansas, Little Rock in 2024, graduating Summa Cum Laude.

During his time at the Bowen School of Law, Jennings was a member of the prestigious University of Arkansas at Little Rock Law Review. His work was published by the Law Review in 2023: Note, I Smell Marijuana-Why Arkansas’s Categorical Authorization for a Warrantless Automobile Search is Entirely Unreasonable, 46 U. Ark. Little Rock L. Rev. 269 (2023). Jennings also served as the Executive Editor for the UA Little Rock Law Review during his final year in law school.

Jennings is licensed to practice in Arkansas, the United States District Court for the Eastern and Western Districts in Arkansas, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.

Jennings practices in the areas of Personal Injury and Criminal Defense, as well as doing Appellate work.

In the community, Jennings is a member of the Board of Governors for the Northeast Arkansas Children’s Museum.