Arizona Supreme Court Approves GCU Law School Without ABA Accreditation

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October 23, 2026

By Staff Reporter |

Arizona’s first law school with graduates eligible for bar admission without American Bar Association (ABA) accreditation will be rooted in the Christian faith.

Grand Canyon University (GCU) recently received unanimous approval from the Arizona Supreme Court to open its College of Law in Phoenix by the fall of 2027.

The approval is part of an evaluation period subject to certain performance conditions. The court advised that it wouldn’t approve similar requests from non-ABA-accredited law schools during GCU’s evaluation period.

Chief Justice Ann Timmer based the court’s decision on the shortage of attorneys. According to the ABA, more than 40% of counties nationwide qualify as legal deserts, which means they have fewer than one attorney per 1,000 residents.

“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,” said Timmer. “We look forward to getting to know the school’s faculty and students and watching the GCU College of Law grow and thrive.”

There are dozens of law schools without ABA accreditation in the nation.

ABA accreditation takes years to earn, and law schools may not enter the accreditation process until after operating for at least one full year.

Even so, GCU stated in a press release that it would seek ABA accreditation once it becomes eligible. The recent Arizona Supreme Court approval allows the university to begin producing bar-eligible attorneys years in advance.

Graduates of GCU’s forthcoming College of Law will be eligible for admission to the State Bar of Arizona, provided that they meet standards and pass the bar examination.

GCU President Brian Mueller said in a statement that their law school will draw influence from that which strengthens our nation, citing a Christian worldview and free-market principles.

“Free markets unleash human ambition, creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship,” said Mueller. “The Christian worldview provides the moral foundation that reminds us those gifts are not simply for personal gain, but should also be used to love our neighbors, serve others and improve the communities in which we live.”

Mueller added that the American justice system was founded on a common understanding of the inherent dignity of every individual and significance of justice, moral accountability, and the rule of law.

“Our nation’s founders understood that liberty cannot flourish without virtue, that individual rights must be accompanied by individual responsibility, and that a just society depends on people of character,” said Mueller. “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.”

James Williams, the dean of GCU’s College of Law, expressed gratitude for the Arizona Supreme Court’s willingness to innovate to meet the state’s need for attorneys.

“This is a historic moment for Grand Canyon University, for legal education in Arizona and, most importantly, for students who have dreamed of entering the legal profession by attending a Christian law school,” said Williams. “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. We recognize the significance of being the first institution to operate under these standards and the responsibility that comes with it.”