The Arizona Supreme Court has unanimously approved Grand Canyon University’s (GCU) proposal to establish a College of Law, marking the state’s first law school to operate without initial accreditation from the American Bar Association (ABA). This decision allows GCU’s future law graduates to seek admission to the State Bar of Arizona upon meeting all standard licensing requirements, including passing the bar examination and satisfying character and fitness evaluations.
Chief Justice Ann A. Scott Timmer highlighted the state’s pressing need for more legal professionals, stating, “Arizona faces a significant shortage of attorneys, and we are optimistic that GCU will provide an excellent legal education and help meet the need for more lawyers in communities throughout our state.” ([news.gcu.edu](https://news.gcu.edu/press-releases/arizona-supreme-court-grants-historic-approval-for-grand-canyon-universitys-new-college-of-law/?utm_source=openai))
Traditionally, Arizona has required law graduates to earn their degrees from ABA-accredited institutions—a process that typically spans several years and necessitates a law school to be operational for at least one year before seeking accreditation. GCU plans to open its College of Law as early as 2027 and intends to pursue ABA accreditation once eligible. ([azfamily.com](https://www.azfamily.com/2026/10/15/gcu-build-arizonas-third-law-school-after-state-supreme-court-approval/?utm_source=openai))
James L. Williams, appointed as the inaugural dean of GCU’s College of Law, emphasized the institution’s commitment to integrating a Christian worldview with legal education. “We are grateful for the Arizona Supreme Court’s willingness to consider an innovative approach to legal education and for the opportunity to demonstrate that a new pathway to licensure can maintain the highest standards of academic excellence, professional preparation, and ethical responsibility,” Williams stated. ([news.gcu.edu](https://news.gcu.edu/press-releases/arizona-supreme-court-grants-historic-approval-for-grand-canyon-universitys-new-college-of-law/?utm_source=openai))
GCU’s College of Law will become the third law school in Arizona, joining the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University and the James E. Rogers College of Law at the University of Arizona. ([azfamily.com](https://www.azfamily.com/2026/10/15/gcu-build-arizonas-third-law-school-after-state-supreme-court-approval/?utm_source=openai))
Under the Arizona Supreme Court’s approval, GCU’s College of Law will operate subject to conditions established by the Court and continued oversight by its Committee on Examinations and the Administrative Office of the Courts. The Court intends to evaluate the effectiveness of these new standards through GCU’s College of Law and has stated that, during this evaluation period, it will not accept similar approval requests from other non-ABA-accredited law schools. ([news.gcu.edu](https://news.gcu.edu/press-releases/arizona-supreme-court-grants-historic-approval-for-grand-canyon-universitys-new-college-of-law/?utm_source=openai))
GCU’s law school has also received approval from the Arizona Board for Private Postsecondary Education and will next seek approval from its national accreditor, the Higher Learning Commission. ([news.gcu.edu](https://news.gcu.edu/press-releases/arizona-supreme-court-grants-historic-approval-for-grand-canyon-universitys-new-college-of-law/?utm_source=openai))
While this approval provides a pathway for GCU graduates to practice law in Arizona, it is important to note that without ABA accreditation, graduates may face limitations when seeking licensure in other states. The Arizona Supreme Court’s order specifies that GCU must disclose to students that their eligibility to practice law may be restricted to Arizona unless other jurisdictions permit their admission. ([theamericanquorum.com](https://www.theamericanquorum.com/state-news-arizona-2026-10-19-a/?utm_source=openai))
GCU President Brian Mueller expressed the university’s vision for the new law school, stating, “We are not interested in simply creating another law school. We want to help shape a generation of legal professionals who will strengthen the institutions of our country, defend the freedoms that make opportunity possible, and use their education to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.” ([news.gcu.edu](https://news.gcu.edu/press-releases/arizona-supreme-court-grants-historic-approval-for-grand-canyon-universitys-new-college-of-law/?utm_source=openai))
The establishment of GCU’s College of Law represents a significant development in Arizona’s legal education landscape, offering an alternative pathway to licensure and aiming to address the state’s attorney shortage while integrating a Christian perspective into legal training.